The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-27
vranafatber clause in the fourth Sec

ton. l MT. Greer (calhoun)-I will state that will not detain the Convention pc. yond the hour of adjournment. IL hao not been my purpose MT. Presioent, up | to five minutes ago. to open my mouth on tnis question. To my mind the question has been discussed as ably as any question during the session Of this | Convention. and would not even now submit any remarks whatever, put TOT the fact that my distinguished friend, the delegate from Cleburne, one Of the counties have the honor to rep l resent, has taken a stand wnicn was very much of a surprise to me, know | ing as do the desire of his constltu- ents and of mine, in the county which he has the honor to represent l Will say, MT. President, that I have made a canvass of that county and in that canvass I made a pledge to those peo- pie that I would defend just such a measure and want to say, before the | Convention was called, 1 talked With a large number of people of that county, and I know, after making personal canvass of the county, and talking personally with the people of that coun- | ty, that they are overwhelmingly In favor of the grandfather clause as re- ported by the majority of the Commit l tee.
 | MT. Howell-May I ask question? l MT. Greer (Calhoun)-I yield. I have but a few minutes, MT. President, but | consent.
 | Mir. Howell--How long has 1t been since you were in Clebourne County?
 MT. Greer (Calhoun)-I was in Gle burne last Tuesday and talked to number of the gentlemen from Gle l burne during last Tuesday. I M, ,rth fir President, that I was in Cleburne County a number of days since this Convention began, and never heard a single man in favor of the grandfather clause in Cleburne County.
 MT. Greer tCalhoun)-I will ask the | gentleman if he made a canvass of the county before the Convention was called?
 Mr. Howell-I did in part.
 MT. Greer-I will state, Mir. Presi- dent, made canvass of the county, and was in part responsible for the gentleman having no opposition for the seat he now holds. I made pledges for myself. and made pledges for him, that he would support this very clause that | would allow the sons of the old Con- federate soldiers of Cleburne County to l register and vote under such a clause. I want to say, MT. President, that never will. by my vote. go back on the pledge that I made his people for my self, and I want to say, further, MT. President, I believe, and I know, after a canvass of that county, that the peo- pie of Cleburne County will applaud my action when I vote in favor of the report of the majority of this Commit tee. There Is no use to go into a dis cussion of the question; 1t is not my purpose to do so; it has been discussed ably, and you have been told that when the fathers were at the front in the battles of the country, the boys were at home working to support their motfi- CT and the smaller children there, and after the war. the privileges in coun- try districts for education were linn ited indeed, and they did not have the opportunity of receiving an education; | and to deprive them of the means of an education, and then to deprive them of the right of suffrage would, in my mind. be an unpardonable sin, if com mitted by this Convention, in view of the pledges made to the people of Ala bama.
 MT. Howell-Do you understand be- | cause man opposes this grandfather clause, that he is in favor of disfran- chising single white man?
 MT. Greer-I understand when a man opposes this grandfather clause he is certainly opposing a measure that will allow the sons of Confederate soldiers in Alabama to qualify and vote under the provisions of this report; and it was a very strange thing that I heard a few moments ago, that because Ala bama proposes to, and will adopt white supremacy in the State of Alabama that capital would become timid and refuse to come here for investment It seems to me the very fact that Ala Dama proposes to put her affairs in | the hands of white men Of Alabama and forever place 1t out of the possibility of Its going elsewhere, should be an in- vitation for capital to come to Ala bama because capital wants virtue and intelligence to rule, and they will ap- plaud the actions of the people of Ala bama in placing her in line with other States, in eliminating the vicious and started to say, Mr President, and will say-largely the criminal element of the State.
 Now, have said more than expect ed to say. I feel very much like the gentleman who was elected to the Leg islature in Georgia once, a farmer, like myself, and not an orator. Some gentleman made a telling speech on the floor one day and he got up and said. MT. Chairman, am no spokes-
 
 thinks" Now, I am no orator, and no lawyer, but want to say, in conclu- sion. l think just what the distinguish ed gentleman from Calhoun, the Pres ident of this Convention, has expressed on this floor today.
 MT. Fitts-Mr. President, move that vote upon the pending question be made the special order for Monday at 12 o'clock, and that vote be taken at that time. I make that motion because tomorrow is Saturday, and have every reason to believe we will have the usual thin house of Saturday here. require motion to suspend the rules, and the motion to suspend the rules is not debatable.
 MT deGraffenreid-I move to lay the motion on the table.
 | Upon a vote being taken, a division was called for. and by vote of "A ayes and 31 nays, the motion to table was | lost.
 Mir. Greer (Calhoun)-I rise to a point of order; there is not a quorum vot- ing.
 The President pro tem-The Chair thinks he could count a quorum if he had time
 MT. Fitts-Now, move that the rules be suspended, and that a vote on this question be made the special order for 12 o'clock on Monday.
 | Mr O'Neal-I move to postpone that question until the evening session.
 MT. Proctor-I make the point of or