The age-herald., 1901-11-10
Constitution Campaign Ends With Burst of OratOTy all
 Over Alabama,
CHAIRMAN UNDERWOOD TALKS
Feels Sure of Carrying Forty-two coun. tles-General Shelley Optlm. istlc In Predictions Up to
 Last Minute.

The campaign for ratification of the new constitution came to a close last night, with orators on the stump in every closely contested county in the state. Chairman Underwood of the Democratic campaign committee feels absolutely con hdent of success, and gave out the fol- lowing statement last night:
 ''T feel absolutely sure of carrying for ty-two counties in Alabama for ratifca- tion of the new constitution, and in that list are included all of the most popu- 1ous counties of the state. In eighteen counties I consider the result very doubtful, and I do not believe the ma jorities in those counties will be more thsn 100 to 200 either way. There are six counties in the state that we have no chance or expectation of carrying, and in two or three of these the Democratic party has been given no representation. We are unable. therefore. to predict what the result will be In those counties Con-
 
 extent of the voting population they can not come anywhere near affecting the large majorities we will have from other counties in the state.
 To Get tegro Vote Out.
 'There are large number of negro voters in the section of Alabama known as the white counties, and I understand t..e opposition is doing everything In fheir power to get this vote to the polls Monday and cast it against ratification of the constitution. do not think the negroes as a rule are disposed to take opposition succeeds in getting them out 1t may reduce majority; but even with that vote against us I cannot con ceive of anything that will reduce our majority less than 25,oOO If the full strength of the negro vote is not cast and the people turn out to the polls our majority will go as high as 4o,OOo
 "It is only necessary for those who favor white supremacy and honest cleo and good governm ent by voting for the new constitution next Monday aud the dark political days which came to us from the reconstruction days will be thing of the past in Alabama
 Claims Forty Counties.
 General Shelley remained close in his headquarters the greater part of yester- day surrounded by his friends from vari- ous parts of the State. He expressed the utmost confidence of success and said that he was certain to carry at least forty out of the sixty-six counties against the new constitution.
 You can rest assured,' said the Gen sral. ''we are going to carry the State and by large majority at that"
 Ex-Congressman Jesse F. Stallings spent yesterday in Birmingham, and he says after making tour of the state he thinks the constitution will be de- feated by at least 10000 votes
 They will try to count us out in the Black Belt" said MT Stallings, Out they will have to do some tall counting to do It. While Dallas is with them. they have lost Lowndes and they can't beat us. feel absolutely sure that we will carry Washington Choctaw, Butler, Montgom- cry. Covington. Crenshaw, Conecuh, Lee Bullock. Geneva, Henry Dale, Coffee Chiffon. Calhoun, Cleburne, Shelby. Tal- lapoosa, Clay, Coosa, Autauga, Elmore, Tuscaloosa, Walker. Marion, Etowah, Cherokee. Franklin. Morgan. Jefferson. Blount and Bibb. There are several oth- CTS which I regard as doubtful, and I believe we will carry half of those. With this showing. I cannot see how the ad- vocates of ratification expect to win"
 MT. Stallings left at 4:3O o'clock for Montgomery.
 Say 2,ooo In Jefferson.
 In Jefferson county the regular Demo- cratic organization claim a majority for ratification of at least two thousand. Bessemer will furnish the hardest fight and on the dawn of the day before cleo tion neither side has surrendered hope Speakers who have gone throughout the county say the misunderstanding and fear of the new law has to great ex- tent passed away and the people arc now ready to vote for the new consti- tuition.
 There is considerable difference of opinion as to the labor vote but the Democratic campaign leaders say the substantial element of laboring men are in favor eliminating the negro and have no fear of being disfranchised under the Democratic pledge.
 Lee V. Coward, chairman of the oppo- sition committee. says that he is as sure of carrying Jefferson county against the constitution as the other side is of car rying Dallas He says he expects a majority pf between two and three thousand and does not believe on fair @ornt that A single heat in fhe countv