The age-herald., 1901-10-13
Says Opposition to Constitution Has Done Nothing in
 Way of Work
MEETING THURSDAY MIGHT
Governor JeIks Will Preside and Mir. Knox Principal Speaker-Every Judge on Bench Favors New
 Organic Law.

NhaH HdH Ifay or the county Demo- cratic executive committee declares that 1t Is ridiculous for the opposition to the new constitution to claim a single beat in Jefferson County at the present time.
 He says the opposition has done noth- ing. and points out, as an indication of what the Democratic committee is do- ing, that their headquarters are crowded every day with callers from all sections of the county.
 For the coming week Chairman Ora, has speakers in Birmingham on Thurs day night. with Governor William D Jelks presiding and Hon. John B. Kno, making the chief address. On Tuesday night, at Woodlawn, Hon. William " Brandon and Dr. J. II. Phillips, superin- tendent of the public schools of Birming- ham. At Cardiff Saturday night Hon William IT. Stanley and Hon. John J. Altman speaking. At Irondale Friday night Hon. Hugh Morrow speaking.
 Will Cover Every Beat.
 In this way the entire county is being worked, and Chairman Gray says that before the 11th of November shall have come there will have been delivered an address in every beat in the county. It is his desire to present through the best speakers in Jefferson County and in the State of Alabama to all the voters the new constitution In g. fair and logical way, making no claims for it that can not be sustained, but not permitting the opponents to make claims and state ments that cannot be rebutted
 Chairman Gray says It is a well known fact that the Democratic party of the State, in convention assembled, is com mitted to the disfranchisement of the negro, but that in doing so it sacredly pledges itself not to disfranchise a single white man, and whenever one states that the effect of the new Constitution Is to disfranchise a white man, he says they are making nnisrepresentations that can not be sustained.
 Chairman Gray's fight In Jefferson county is largely based upon white supremacy and negro disfranchisement. He makes no secret of the fact that his construction of the Constitution is that any and every white man can be regis tered and vote and that practically no negro can either register or vote. He states there are three ways of disfran- chising the negro-force, fraud, and by legal enactments.
 Negroes Were Killed.
 For few years after the war he says that force was tried, and when necessary in order to carry the election and main tain white supremacy negroes were killed. Since that time, fraud has been resorted to, and when necessary to keep negroes out of office and put white men in, negroes have been counted out. But the time has now come when legally the negro can be disfranchised, and the new Constitution accomplishes this fact. He is urging an active and energetic cam paign all over the county, and is most enthusiastic as to the results.
 ''It Is perfectly absurd,", says Chairman Gray, "for any outside claim as to Jeffer- son county In view of the fact that the whole strength of the county has demon- strated it is for the new Constitution"
 Chairman Gray presents the following letter. signed by every judge on the bench In Jefferson county, the chancellor, practically all the county officials, includ- ing four members of the board of reve- nue, all the clerks and registers of the county and practically all the members of the bar and several leading business men, which he claims shows that as far as Jefferson county is concerned the sen timent is almost unanimous in favor of adoption of the, new constitution. The following Is the letter referred to: Y
 They Approve Constitution.
 Birmingham, Ala, October 12, 19o1.. MT. Henry B. Gray, Chairman Demo-
 cratic Campaign Committee, City.
 Dear Sir:-We, the undersigned, wish to express our approval of the new constitu- ton, and state that we are going to sup port it's ratification. We consider 1t by far better instrument than the consti. tuition we now have, and believe it is tc the best interest of Jefferson county abd the State that it be ratified. Yours very truly,
 william W. wilkerson, judge of Cit. Court.
 A. A. Coleman, judge of Circuit Court. Charles A. Senn, judge of Second Di vision City Court JOnn v. CdTTllclael, cndncellOr NOrIn eastern Chancery Division. Samuel E. Greene. judge of Crimina Court.
 Daniel A. Greene. judge Second Division Criminal Court.
 James P. Stiles. judge of Probate Court Walter K. McAdory, clerk of Circuit Court
 J. B. Francis, county tax collector. J. F. Mclaughlin, county tax asses sor.
 F. A. Hewitt, Jr., assistant tax asses sor
 William c. Garrett. register in Chancery.
 John c. Bradley. clerk of Criminal Court.
 John S. Gillespie, register and clerk of City Court
 B. A. Thompson. tax commissioner.
 H. F. Hefiin, county solicitor.
 Edmund c. Winston, Jr.. assistant county solicitor
 Charles W. Ferguson, solicitor of Cir cult Court.
 A. J. Tarrant, chairman of Board of Revenue.
 w. II. Wilson, member of Board of Revenue.
 F J. K. P. Laird. member of Board of Revenue.
 H. w. Crook, member of Board of Revenue.
 Andrew w. burgin. sheriff.
 M T. Porter, formerly judge of Probate.
 Hugh Morrow. Senator from Jefferson county.
 c. P. Beddow. member constitutional convention.
 Frank P. White, member constitutional convention.
 A. c. Howze, member constitutional