The age-herald., 1901-09-29

 Alabama, do they prefer to follow Sen ator Pettus or Ex-Governor Johnston. Senator Morgan has never declared that the soldier clause of the Alabama con- stitution violated any article of the Unit ed States constitution. MT. Knox showed in his speech on this subject in the con- vention that Senator Morgan had actu-i ally advocated the constitutionalty of the grandfather clause of the Louisiana constitution on the floor of the Senate of the United States
 It is charged that white supremacy will not be secured.
 If the registration of the white men in the State and the non-registration of a great majority of the negroes do not in- sure white supremacy, then what will in- sure it? Governor Johnston offers and suggests no plan.
 It is confidently believed by those who are competent to judge, and who are res ident citizens of the black belt, that all the provisions assembled together in the permanent plan, in connection with the exclusion of the bulk of the negroes un- der the temporary plan, would continue to disfranchise the bulk of the negroes in the black belt for many years, if not permanently. The negroes characteris- ties are now about the same that they were twenty-five years ago; careful rec ords made by representatives of his own race show that this improvidence and immortality are increasing rather than decreasing, and that it is fair to presume that the conditions imposed upon his right to exercise the suffrage now, and intended to exclude him. will continue to exclude him for an indefinite length of time.
 Objects to All, Good or Bad.
 The ex-governor objects to the provis- ion making the payment of poll taxes hU Ia course he does. He objects to everything in the plan, whether good or bad. It was intended to go along with the edu- cational and property clauses to elimi- nate the bulk of the negroes. and there by to prevent negro dominancy, especial ly in the twelve black belt counties named by General Shelly. It was not supposed, as insinuated by Ex-Governor Johnston, that would reduce the number of poor men as voters. The white men of the State of Alabama, between the ages of 21 years and 45 years, will continue to pay their poll taxes as heretofore. No one has been paying these taxes for them as in the case of the negroes; they are accustomed to 1t, and they value the privilege of voting sufficiently to pay the tax voluntarily. To say otherwise is at once a reflection upon their intelligence and their patriotism. Will the distin- guished ex-governor make the distinct
 
 they will not pay the poll tax of $1.5O per annum for the support of the public schools. and for the privilege of voting? Creating New Judges.
 He complains that the new instrument makes special grants of power to the Legislature to create more than 100 new judges. and sixty-six additional solicitors. This is denied. The new constitution, for the first time In our history, limits the ~R H.. judges, by providing that new courts shall be created only in counties of a population of not less than 20,000 and tax able property of the value of not less than three and one-half million dollars Heretofore the power of the Legislature has been unrestricted in the matter of the establishment of courts such as city courts and so-called law and equity courts in various counties, and under this unrestricted power many new courts have been established in the various counties of the State. Furthermore, for the first time, the Legislature is enabled to abolish unnecessary courts. or to con solidate courts. Heretofore the Legisla- ture could not do that so that the prob ability Is that the number of courts will be diminished instead of increased. The system of circuit solicitors Is maintained as at present, that Is to say, a prosecut- ing solicitor for each circuit, but the Leg islature is authorized to substitute for this circuit solicitor system, a system of county solicitors. should the people de- sire it. Under the present system there are already sixty-six county solicitors who fassist the circuit solicitors and who receive additional compensation for their services, so that the Legislature is au- thorized to substitute for the present system of circuit solicitors and sixty-six county solicitors, system which will contain only sixty-siX county solicitors. VIII not this be a saving to the people? and is not this another evidence of the | ex-governor's prejudiced state of mind? He says that lieutenant governor is created, and the imputation is, at an ad- ditional expense, but the lieutenant gov ernor receives no compensation, except as presiding officer of the Senate, in which capacity he receives the same compensation as the speaker of the house. Of course, when he acts as Gov ernor, he receives the salary of Governor He says this office was unnecessary but 1t was thought by the convention that 1t was better that the man selected to fill the office of Governor in the case of a vacancy in that office should be directly elected by the people. Other provisions have been made In connection herewith. which secure the orderly succession to the office of Governor in every contin- gency, and hereafter, under the new con- stitution. no Governor whose term is about to expire, and who Is on the verge of bidding goodbye to the office, can raise any question as to whether or not he shall vacate the office because for sooth the Governor elect Is too, unwell to take the oath of office, Is not this a good change for the dear people?
 As to Credit of State.
 He says that the limit of State taxa ton has been reduced 10 cents on the hundred dollars, and, if values decline, it will threaten the credit of the State or reduce appropriations to the common schools or to Confederate pensions. The limit of State taxation has been reduced from 75 to 65 cents on the hundred dol lars. It was done because 1t was thought by the conservative men of the conven- tion that it could safely be done. Dur ing the twenty-six years since the con- stitution of 1875, the 75 cents limit has never been reached single time up to date, except once, and that was under Ex-Governor Johnston's administration. The average rate for that entire period has been about 50 cents or perhaps lit- tie over and as to the decline In values, even during the panic which began in 1892. 1t was not found necessary to ad- vance the tax rate to the maximum limit. We would hardly go through a worse | panic than we did during that period. | Experience is a good teacher and the l experience of the past shows that 1t has | not been necessary, and will not be nec- essary under an economical administra- | tion of government for the Legislature to | impose a tax rate exceeding 66 cents on | the $10O. The convention was pledged to |