The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-01
HE ' 3RK
 COMPLETED Convention Adopts Con-
 StitutiOn as Whole. OPPOSITION IS SMALL Republicans and Populists Arrayed Against It. Attempt to Keep convicts Out of the Mines Fails-The Property Qualification Changed The
 Closing scsnss.l

the Constitution Article by Article and section by section on yesterday at half-past 2 o'clock, and adjourned uri- til Monday at noon.
 When the Convention assemblies on Monday there will be several ordi- nances that are being enrolled, and which are not part of the Constitu- ton, that will have to be read and adopted and signed by the President, and then the last duty will be the read ing and signing of the enrolled copy Of the Constitution. It IS probable that 1t will not be ready for that duty on Monday, and if not. the Convention will have to adjourn until 1t is ready, when. it is thought, will be by Tues day afternoon at the furthest, and then the Convention can set through finally some time Tuesday night. The work has been progressing so smoothly and rapidly for the last several days that there need be no surprise to see the final windup come on Monday.
 The voting for the adoption Of the Constitution as passed by the Conven- tion was the interesting feature of the proceedings on yesterday and the study of the vote will be found very interest ing. There were only ten votes cast against the adoption, and most or those were Populists and Republicans. The vote for adoption was s5 and that iets 50 not voting, most of them being ap- sent and others were present ana purs posely reffained from voting eoms OK them being opposed to the Constitu- tion. and 1t is said they are against ratification. Among those who did not vote were General Oates of Montgom- cry and General Harrison of Lee. from some cause 1t is not known, but IL IS stated that both were absent, not thlnkiug that the work would be con- cluded so early. MT. White of Jeffer- son. the Chairman of the Committee on Order and Harmony, and member or the Committee on Suffrage ana Elec- ton, one of the four who made the mi nority report against the grandfatner clause of the Suffrage Article, said ne would have to vote against adoption on thRt account. be ieving that section to in conflict with the Federal Constitution which he took an oath to support, but he said further that this was nis oniy ground of complaint, and he has stated that he win not oppose ratification TOT that alone.
 mo announcement of the vote was received with long and enthusiastic aI plaLse, and Mir. Reese of Danas'
 ceyed that tho President address the Convention. and wher he put the vote |: wag unsnimcusl; carried amidst much enthusiasm, the delegates rising and cheering the President, but he de- clir:ed, saying that he might nave something to say later.
 The most spirited debate of the day was on Mf. Beddows amendment to add 8 Section to the Article on Mis- cellaneous provisions, which forbade ihe hiring of convicts after January i, 1904. which abolished the present lease system entirely. That was tabled and anotl1e. amendment was presented restricting the lease of convicts. for biddint: misdemeanor convicts being worked in mines. He yielded his time to pr. Cunnin ghem, who made an earnest and eloquent appeal for the amendment, and was just in the midst of llls remarks when his time was ex- pired. It was attempted to give him ap extension of time, but MT. Jenkins o. Wilcos secured tho floor and de- clined to yield. He offered an amend men: which with both amendments were tabled and the Article adopted.
 Ms. Smith of Mobile. presented a resolution extending the terms of the present sheriffs two years. which MT. deGraffenreid opposed, characterizing dt as sop to the sheriffs. Mir. Smith re- pudiated the Insinuation and said the Committee was actuated by no such motive. Tho resolution was adopted, and 1t was 8 substitute to the resolu. tion O. MT. Long of Walker.
 Judge Coleman made motion to re- consider the Suffrage Article so that he might offer an amendment to the property clause. and after some debate It was reconsidered. He desired to strike out the aggregate of personal and real property to the amount of $500 and said 1t was asked by tho Black EeH.
 Mr. Rogers of Sumter. opposed the whll1 LMr. Sanders fa- vored it. Messre. Pillans and Harri- son also opposed reconsideration. Mr. Cobb made an able appeal for recon alteration ana Mfr. Hefiin of Chambers it. The motion to reconsider prevailed by ono vote and the amend men: by Judge Coleman was adopted.
 The Articles on Corporations was thu next and an amendment by Mir H@nna of Mobile, to forbid cities of six thou sand inhabitants granting 6rRnchIses for more than thirty yaara' wmEs 0a0Ssald- cred. and after snAaysp dstEate ailqpted
 Mir. Williams of MHmeng2,, nnfGmzxored to get in a section aGDlinst uhispnnsa.;ts but 1t went to the raIl1le fnu r.le Artl- c!e was adopted.
 The Articles on Banks and Banking and Militia were then adopted without and the instrument adopted and referred to the Committee on En- rollment.
 There was nuch>eonfuston and many motions to adjourn to Tuesday and dif- ferent times. but the President kept his k'ead and very quietly reminded dele gates that l. was important to com plete the work before them. Sorra ofh CT business was then transacted and adjournment taken to Monday at noon.