The age-herald., 1901-09-29
MIR. WEATHERL Y REPLIES TO EX- GOVERNOR
 JOHNSTON ON SUBJECT T OF NEW CONS UTION
Quotes fromMr. JohnSton's Varied Record on the Question of
 the New Constitution.

To the Editor of the Age-Herald
 The article which appeared in the Age Herald of the 18th instant over the sig- nature of Ex-Governor Joseph F. John- ston, is so fallacious and misleading Tn many respects, I deem 1t my duty as a member of the recent Constitutional Con- vention to make some reply to 1t.
 The distinguished ex-governor assumes high ground in discussing the matter. He says he writes the article in response to the request of many citizens 10 give his views on the new constitution; that he has given the same careful study, and, in conclusion. says that he will oppose the new constitution simply in his exer- else of his right as an eector, seeking and desiring no office or reward, and con sidering only the good of the State and the prosperity of the people who were his comrades in war and neighbors in peace. In other words he claims to be advising the public simply as an unprejudiced cit izen of the State, and not as an office seeker or politician; it would not please him to defeat the constitution, except for the good of the State alone, and he hopes to derive no benefit from it's defeat
 The Governors Aspirations.
 Let see about this. He is the same distinguished gentleman who, while Gov ,ernor, became candidate for the United States Senate, to succeed Senator Mor- E gan, and although he had solemnly ap- proved the first act of the Legislature calling a Constitutional Convention, he afterwards called a special session or the .cpfal alat act after the delegates to the conVen- tion had been elected. He prejudged the case against the delegates to that con vention by stating that he had no con fidence that their work would be in the interest of the people. His conduct in that matter led many to the belief that he was simply playing card In the race for the Senatorship; and so much aroused were the Democrats in the State that un- der the leadership of Senators Morgan and Pettus the rescision of the act calling for the convention was made an issue Tn the Senatorial campaign, and the distin- guished ex-governor was oVerWhelmngly defeate The new Constitutional Con- vention was called in spite of him, and against his opposition, and now that the constitution has been framed and submit ted to the people for ratification, 1t IS not surprise to anyone that he opposes it, indeed it was expected as foregone con-
  flee for many years, and 1t would be 1n- teresting to inquire just at what moment of time he ceased to be ambitious Tor public office. He is now in cooperation with two defeated candidates for Gov ernor, inaugurating a systematic cam paign against the adoption of the new constitution, and they are apparently provided with ample means for that pur- pose. The article in question shows on it's face that it issues from the mind or a partisan and not from that of an un- prejudced student of the new constitu- tion. He finds not a single good thing in it. It is altogether and wholly bad from beginning to end. This fact alone raises a suspicion that he Is trying to make out a case against the new constitution, and is not simply advising the dear people from the high standpoint of pro bono publico Is the distinguished Governor really trying to reorganize his routed and scattered forces? We cannot say and yet we know that if he should succeed with the aid of that long-headed and master craftsman in politics, Hon. Shel- ly in defeating the new constitution, the distinguished ex-governor and ex-candi- date for the United States Senate would be strictly fin it," so to speak.
 Some Things He Overlooked.
 Is it not a little singular that this un- prejudiced adviser of the dear people did not call attention to the following i'm portant provisions, for instance in the new constitution, namely: Providing for duadrennial sessions of the Legislature, thereby saving the State the cost of a Legislative session of S50,00O, every four years; fixing the terms of State officers, including State Senators and Representa- tiXes, at four years, and providing for the holding of all State elections at the same time as nearly as practicable thereby saving the dear people many q more thousands of dollars, and relieving them of the trouble, inconvenience and disturbance of business attendant upon so many eIections various provisions, in tended to safeguard the actual work of the Legislature so as to prevent frauds and irregularities in the passage of bills.
 Under these provisions it will be im- possible for bill to be sneaked through the Legislature as is claimed it was done fin the case of removing the county seat of Shelby county in the last Legislatures general revenue bills will be more care fully. prepared and deliberately enacted thereby preventing any successful attack upon such bills in the courts for uncon- sstitutionality; careful provisions, sug- gested .by past experiences. were made requiring that all steps and proceedings necessary to the passage of bills must ap- pear more. particularly and fully on the journals of each House; the important ties of the lobbyists are restrained by de- nying to them the privilege of the floor