The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-02

SuDSCTlDeu Dy tuG 1G8 8ea a. aIo httsu in the office of the Probate Judge of the county.
 Mfr. Reynolds iChilton>- Presi- dent and gentlemen. While I arise here to discuss this question, feel like this Convention looks at the opposition here as being of no importaAss and fourteen or fifteen men out of body ut 15s does seem very insignificant but when we look at the vote calling the Con- vention. there is not so much difference after all, and when we take In conSid- eration where the opposition vote came from the Convention ca mot afford not to hear both sides of this question. for if 1t does there will be time and place where the opposition will be heard. I read from The Montgomery Journal: A few days ago The Journal said that about a half dozen of the black belt counties had furnished about twenty thousand of the twenty-four thou sand majority in the state Tor the Constitutional Convention. The exact facts and figures are: The black teit counties, or rather counties in which the negro population prcdominates, gave the Convention 25,325 majority.
 I am sorry could not get an op. portunity before to express my viGws on this important matter and will not take up much time. 1see some papers now getting estless. I road from a Decatur paper: Everything in Ala bama is burnt up by the heat except a lot of Constitutional Conventioners who are too tough. and few country editors who are too green to burn.
 I reckon these are the editors that Jumped on me about free passes
 At the outset, I would respectfully n hA ;v.A l would be glad to answer any ques- tions when I have concluded.
 In speaking against the majority re- port of the Committee, feel like the blind candidate seeking admission to the temple of the Holy St. John. How ever. I conceive it my duty, both to my constituents and myself. to make known my objections. On account of serious illness in my family my at- tendance here of late has been irregu- lar. much to my regret, as desired to hear every argument pro and con. Even now ought to be with the loved sufferers at home. but think the ma jority report Is greatly wrong in prin- ciple and calculated to work great in- justice. and am here to oppose it.
 Mir. President. 1t is no doubt well known that 1 opposed the calling of this Convention and that urged my friends to vote for No Convention" |" We are here. though. and it behooves us. one and all, to study carefully the questions presented and do what is right in Gods sight" Now. we are confronted with the great problem of the Convention-reformat and re- striction of the suffrage. f dare as- sert that no one will be heard to say that there Is no intention to restrict "a FFrSA Ar ha Ht1NP l. be restricted-linited. under the tenn porary plan, to those of good charac- ter soldiers and descendants of soi- diers-under the permanent plan. to persons of intelligence. or to owners of property over a certain amount. A mere cursory glance at the plans sug- gested would show that some persons, who are now entitled to vote. wifi be deprived of that privilege. We are told however. that the discrimination Is to be confined to the negfo-that no white man is to be disfranchised. Then, why. pray. have we partisan board to pass on the qualifications of applicants? Right here 1 would ask, and pause for reply from the dis tinguished Chairman of the Commit tee. would you yourself vote for the plan suggested if the Board of Regis trars should. by the law itself. be com posed wholly of men opposed to the Democratic party?
 want to ask my friend from Jef- ferson that question. and I pause for a reply. Would you vote for the adop- ton of the. plan submitted under those conditions?
 MT. white-Just what I would do in- dividually possible would not be en- tertaining to the Convention Mr. Pres ident.
 Mir Reynolds (Chilton)-1 never saw a lawyer in my life that did not know how to get out of answering a ques- tiofi We common folks have to an swer them. impute to no one dis honorable motives. but it does seem that the organic law should not itself create a partisan political board. But. 1t is said. that those who hold the of- fices named merely happen to be Deni- ocrats and that they are good men. This would be no reply. however. for we all know their political affiliations. Now, I want to say that I would op- pose any plan that would create a Board of Registrars consisting exclu- sively of members of one party. be that party Republican. Democratic or Populist. Judging from the election returns from Dallas, Lowndes. Hale, Greene and other black belt counties, the Democratic party has nothing whatever to gain from disfranchlse- ment of the negro. Such disfranchise- ment would be beneficial alone to the parties in opposition to the dominant party in this State. We are all famil- jar with the fact that 1t was the large matofities from the black belt that have kept the Democratic party in power in this State. We hear it said that the negroes of the black belt ac- tually vote the Democratic ticket. About this I do not know, nor do l doubt the honor and integrity of the officers named as registrars. but, in all Candor. would 1t not. be little too much to expect them to disfranchise their party and political frfends-those party friends. upon whose votes their reelection depends? Solely to dis franchise the negro? Why. l have been told by a gentleman of great po- litical influence in his county--a gem tleman, by the way. from black belt county-that, in his county. the negroes would not be disfranchised. that the white people of his county had and have no idea of giving up this great political power and would not do SO. That gentleman approves, so l under- stand, of the majority report.
 During the course of this debate, 1t has been said that the officers are pre- sumed to do their duty. That we should not indulge the presumption that they would act dishonestly. Yes, in the past, we were told that we must presume that the election officers would do their duty in accordance with law and justice. Has such been the