The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-21
THEY MEEr ropAY.

itol Hill there will assemble today a body of men on the most important occasion that this generation has seen. All things considered, it is perhaps, the most important convention ever held in Alabama. Questions are to be settled of momentous and far-reaching consequence, and on the proper settle ment of those questions will largely depend the future welfare and peace and prosperity of the State and the peo- pie. The delegates will have .opportu- nity to serve Alabama in a way that comes to but few men more than Jnce in lifetime. and their work will mark an important epoch in our his tory. and their labors may make or mar the fortunes of a great people.
 And the men who are to thus signal ize their fitness and patriotism will form a body of men of which any State may be proud. Many of them come with the record of long and hon. orable service in the councils of the State and the national government, and their qualifications and experi- ence will be of inestimable value. There are others of recognized capacity and patriotism who lack experience, but who are known to possess the fitness and qualifications necessary to faith fully serve the State as Constitution makers. and who can be depended on to do their whole duty in their new positions. If there are some who have neither experience nor qualification, they will be powerless to do harm or prevent good being done.
 The Advertiser has at times had somewhat to say as to what 1t believes would be best. and is willing to leave to the intelligence and patriotism of the delegates the duty of doing their l work wisely and we'll, feeling confi- ! dent that it and the people of Ala bama will not suffer any disappoint- ment at the result of their labors, but there is one point upon which we de- sire to place especial emphasis. The Convention ought, as one of its first | duties, to provide for full and accurate reports of its deliberations. It is not | enough that such reports as a we'll equipped newspaper can afford to SUD- ply daily should be made. The Con- vention itself should provide for an of- ficial report. not only of what is done but of what is said. and of who says 1t.
 It is not because there may be a natural desire on the part of any speaker that his words may go into print that we insist on a record being made. but because that record may have an important bearing hereafter. It is a fact well known that some of the most important and warmly dis puted points in our Federal Constitu- tion have depended for their construc- tion on the language of those great men who framed that instrument. The language used by those statesmen. the Iconstruction placed by them on cer- tain sections of the Constitution and the reasons given why certain provis- ions were inserted therein have more than once had an important bearing i'll the settlement of grave Constitu- tional questions, and it may be that
 
 reasonings of the statesmen who will today assemble in the Capitol will in future times be anxiously studied as a help to the construction of the in- strument framed by them.
 And there is another consideration of no little importance which ought to be considered in this connection. We confidently expect good Constitution, and with equal confidence we expect the people to ratify it at the polls. The party is solemnly pledged to submit the new instrument to the people an 1 it is not only proper but essential that the people should have ample oppor- tunity to know just what they are voting for. Everything that is done by the Convention and all that is said by the delegates in their open sessions should go forth to the public in order that the people may go to the polls with a full knowledge of what has been done. Then they can vote under standingly and their endorsement will be binding and invaluable in its future bearing. If they full understand the new constitution and adopt 1t as their own there need be no fears for the fu- ture.
 The Convention has solemn and mo- mentous duties before it and not the least is the duty 1t owes to itself, to the people and to the State that it take all of Alabama 'nto it's confidence and give all the people ample oppor- tunity to know what is being done as 4 h.