The age-herald., 1901-11-08
LETTERS FROM
 THE PEOPLE.
Points on New Constitution.

To the Editor of the Age-fferald. It has been charged that in order to reward certain worthy gentlemen for po- litieal services. some of the General As- semblies of Alabama, acting under au- thcrity of the defective constitution of 1875, have created courts of law and equity in some small counties, which could do without them, and are unable to bear the burden of taxation for their support. Under the new constitution in- ferlor courts can be established only in counties having 20,o00 inhabitants, and three and a half million dollars taxable values This is another saving clause in the new organic law, which was framed for the people.
 It was the Democratic party of Alabama that framed the new constitution-a party representing the manhood, the intelligence and the patriotism of this state, and it is this party that now urges the ratifica- tion of the instrument. No sane man can doubt that in the hands of such men the state will ever be safe. They represent every material interest of Alabama: and, in building a constitution. they built for themselves and for their children. No one can doubt their wisdom, and none | their desire for the prosperity and future glory of. the state.
 Ut may be true that the new constitu- 4ion docs not perfectly fit the tastes and the wishes of all men, but the careful and thoughtful reader will. by comparison, recognize it's superiority to the consti- tution of 1875, which was adopted before &t,a of ri oei. lad away The new certainly corrects many deficiencies and objections to the old. All intelligent white men agree that change is necessary; and now the opportunity is presented.
 The full purpose of the suffrage pro- vision of the new constitution is to purge and purify the electorate in this state. It simply means to eliminate the mass of vicious and ignorant negro voters with out force or fraud; and to make clear the way for hcnest elections. The plan is fair in that 1t does not disfranchise the better class of negroes. The new con- stitution recognizes the fact that there are men of the negro race whose good Character and intelligence entities them to sn exei else of the ballot.
 Undee the new constitution Legisia- tunes, elected by the people, are author ized to change or abolish any of the num- erous courts of law and equity. except the Supreme Court and the Probate Courts. This wisely provides that the pc, pie shall have 6 ssy, and if necessary limit tho number of courts to the neces- sity of the times.
 Those who object to the registration plan, under tho new constitution upon tho false assumption that the registrars may If they choose arbitrarily decline to register any man, surely ovci look the pro- vision stated that there shall be right of appeal to the Circuit Court, without se- cuiity for costs, and the court can com pei the registrars to register the man.
 The new constitution provides nearly eight times as much for the public schools of the state as the old. Neaiy one-half the state tax goes to this purpose, and the Legislature is ofjoined to increase this fund from time to time, as the re- sources of the stata may justify. Power is given counties to levy special tax for schools, not to exceed ten cents on each one cd dollars worth of tax. able property. if thr se-fifths>of the voters so will it. w. M. I,RENNEN.
 Birmingham, November 6, 1901.