The age-herald., 1901-05-07
JOHN '. SMITH
 DISCUSSES THE CONSTITUTION Says the Pledges of the Oem-
 OcraHc Party Should
 Be Kept SUFFRAGE QUESTION IS FIRST 
 Campaign Chairman Says Delegates Should Let Nothing Stand In the Way of a Parer Bsnot-con- ventlon Meets May 21.
SUFFRAGE QUESTION IS FIRST

Montgomery, May o.-(opecial )-don John V Smith. chairman of the recent State Campaign Committee and President of the Alabama Railroad Commission, to- day furnished n representative of The Age-Herald his views relative to the work of the coming Constitutional Convention Coming from source so high. Mir Smiths remarks will be read with much interest. Discussing the issues to come before the convention he said:
 '-rhe paramount issue is suffrage re- form. No other question should be per. mitted to overshadow, or In any manner interfere with tbe primary purpose ir calling the convention. First of all the delegates should wrestle with and settle this problem, and then adopt such con stitution embodying the new qualifications as the people will ratify.
 "I desire now to sound note of warn ing; the people will not submit to oI ratify a Constitution containing too many new ideas and methods. The changes should not be too radical, and every de parture from the present Constitution should be supported by reasons so strong and cogent, that one familiar with tn, 1 law can readily see and feel the necessity i for the change. In my humble judgment 1 (and I may be pardoned for saying tha am somewhat acquainted with the sen ument of the people upon this question the less done and said beyond the settle ment of the suffrage question, the bette 1t win be fy-s the State of Alabama ant l the Democratic party. There was mucl 1 opposition to calling the convention, bu i let tho delegates bear in mind that thi. ! opposition. except on the part of the negro, was not against the avowed pur- pose to reform the suffrage, but upon the fear that the convention would delve into other matters, which would unsettle oul judiciary system, impair the efficiency oi , our school laws, and raise the tax li&li and many other reasons, each one oi which existed only in the imagination anG certainly without foundation. Now, if thu very apprehension of these things stirs ur such strong opposition, what would the reality do?
 Several Propositions Agreed Upon. The people. I think, are agreed almost unanimously upon several propositions, vi8t
 Il Suffrage reform.
 "2 That we now have too many cleo I1O1S anu LHdL u tcTIu ol iOuI years lOl state officials would relieve them of much expense and anxiety.
 "a That the evils of too much local legislation should be remedied In such manner as the wisdom of the convention may deem most efficient.
 "A That our public school laws should be modernized, and a more equitable dis tribution of the fund made between the races-for it Is almost unbearable that the r1x, al vet the negro shares approximately as well in the distribution-still no injustice should be done either race.
 "5 A poll tax should be required of every man for school purposes. and the right of every man to vote should be con ditioned upon the payment of this poll tax This clause will not disfranchise any man, white or black: 1t leaves 1t in the power of the elector to disfrsnchise him self, If he prefers to lose the right, rather than pay his just dues to the government. What honest man would object to this? .'s The pledges of the convention as to taxation, and In fact every pledge there In mentioned. should be strictly kept. and if anything further Is lTne, 1t were well 'twere done slowly and after full. careful and prayerful consideration. I do not mean to convey the tdea- however. that other matters might not. with equal propriety be put into the new constitu- tion, but In my humble Judgment the less the better.
 Suggestion.
 Tt occurs to me that the convention would be wise to shape It's policies in the line of these views, for this opportunity to purify elections in Alabama should not, and must not, be lost by the mistake of loading this moral question with unpop- ualr amendments that would defeat It's ratification In the line of suffrage re- form of course a primary election law must be passed, for to stop short of this would reach only half of the disease. It was not my purpose, however, nor do presume to intrude my advice upon the members of this conven tion-to do SO would be arrogant and .mpertinent-for the men who compose this convention are tried and true, learned in the law, and each one, perhaps, more capable than to graple with these problems, but hav- ing set my heart upon the question of purifying election methods in this State and having had the distinguished honor or assisting in the management of the two last campaigns along this line. l nat urally become earnestly soiicftous and look with grave concern upon any issue or effort which may tend to rival this great question. l have full confidence in the wisdom and integrity of the men who compose this convention and having dis charged 10 the utmost of my ability the small duty imposed on me in the recent campaign, I invoke the blessings of AL mighty God upon the work and leave the problems in the hands of those upor whom the people have imposed the duty of solving them "E. E. K"