The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-30

ordered. and the petition was as fnl- lows:
 Petition No. 9. introduced by re- quest by MT. Spragins (Madison):
 To the Officers and Members of the Alabama Constitutional Conventions:
 Humbly petitioning. the undersigned would respectfully state that he is a citizen of Alabama and . tax payer of Madison county therein. hence he feels at liberty to submit to your hon. crable body such suggestions touching matters that you have been called to- gether to consider. as in his judgment VIII tend to advance the material in- terests of the State and her people.
 Profoundly impressed with the belief that Alabama possesses natural re- sources and advantages which would place her citizens among the most prosperous. the most influential and with attainments of the highest cfvili- xation of any other of our Republics, provided conditions are made favorable for their development and utilizatin. am therefore led to suggest that your honorable body make such provisions In the organic law of the State as will best tend to secure and maintain ami cable and just relations between labor and capital herein, the same being the base of all human progress and the foundation of all human welfare and happiness.
 The right of the individual citizen to earn an honest living free from inti- imitation or undue influence from any source whatever, Is, and should be so, held by all propertly constituted su- thority in the State. as sacred as life itself. since on the exercise of that right the lives and happiness of de- pendent loved ones frequently depend. It should not bs in the power of any one ever to jeopardize that right much less to deprive . citizen of it.
 I refer plainly and more specifically 10 the denial of that right and its fre- quent deprivation, at the hands of la- bor unions and labor leaders. when they demand and obtain the employ r1ent by any one of "only'' union la- bor. This demand is not infrequentiy successful through the silence of an in- timidated press. and a vitiated public sentiment: for these would otherwise protect the freeman in the exercise of this right without the dictStion of terms by others.
 A Equal rights for all. and special privilegee to none' should be so just maxim in the economy of domestic life. that no one could be found who would seek to interfere in It's impartial operation. It is this privilege that places before the humblest in our land those incentives for noble action and effort as makes human progress pos sible. It Is standard that guides the motives and serves to uplift the strug- gling masses of mankind around us.
 A boycott from any organized source Is a crime against society. and should be classed along with the deeds of the highwayman and the midnight robber.> These latter hold up their victims and take their money by force. but the boy cot often operates more wantonly and often more cruelty against it's victims. Personal gain animates the highway man and the robber. while personal enmity most frequently actuates the leaders in c boycott. Not only is the victim brought to face financial ruin at times. but innocent and dependent ones are deprived of the necessaries of life. Such things should never be pos- sible under any form of civilized gov ernment. A strike at the command of an organization is likewise a crime against society, for 1t is well nigh inn possible for strike to occur without tnhictinR injuries on innocent persons whom society is obliged to protect. Falling in which the ties of citizenship are loosened and respect for law and authority. the foundations of good gov- eEnnaent destroyed. Likewise a ''lock- out" or combine by employers to force employees to accept arbitrary wages that may be insufficient to provide an honest living is a crime against that right heretofore alluded to, and should never be permitted to occur.
 A measure of compulsory arbitration provided in the organic law, that will prohibit strikes, lockouts and boycotts, would tend to remedy and prevent the foregoing evils. Such @ measure is only what is now applied to other citizens, None are permitted to take the right ing of real or supposed wrong in their own hands. but are compelled, under proper penalties. to apply to the duty constituted courts of the land for that purpose; and no burden can be placed on. or wrong done to, either labor or capital by putting these under the same remedial measures and civic dis cipline that governs all others in so- ciety.
 Respect for the foregoing principles the best safeguard of A good government, and no measure may be considered too drastic that is neces- sary to preserve this among the peo- pie. Deal justly by both, and place both under equal obligations to pre- serve industrial peace and you will rem der a service to present and future generations greater than any words of mine can express. Praying for Divine Wisdom to guide you right in your de- Alterations. and that you may act for the best interests of our beloved State. am, Your most obedient servant,
 N. F. Thompson.
 Huntsville. Ala. June 2e, 1901.
 Upon the call of the Standing Com | mittees, the Committee on Suffrage and Elections submitted its report, as fol. | lows:
 Report of the Committee on Suffrage and Elections.
 MT. President:
 The Committee on Suffrage and | Elections have requested that the fol- l lowing report be submitted:
 The Committee has read and con- | sldered with care the many resolutions | and ordinances referred to 1t and have | had the benefit of an extensive corres- | pondence with leading men of other | States upon the question of suffrage and elections. Many of them contain | suggestions and have been of | great assistance in the important work | assigned to us.
 Our main purpose has been to elimi- | nate the venal and incompetent from | the exercise of the elective franchise | and not violate any of the provisions | of the Constitution of the United | States. We are of the opinion that the | Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitu- ton of the United States does not in- | terfere with the sovereign right of the | State to prescribe the qualifications of | t,