The age-herald., 1901-08-01
Yesterdays Session of the Con- ventiOn Was Very Dull
 and Thesome
THE GOOD CHARACTER CLAUSE
General Sanford Says Under It's Pro visions the Registrars Could Keep Christ and the Deciples From
 Voting-Many Speeches.
BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.

BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.
 Montgomery, July S1. = (Special) = The convention played to an empty gallery to- day. There were no gallery gods and only a few goddesses. The session was tame. although the suffrage scheme was the subject of debate. These was con- siderable discussion on the educational clause of the permanent plan, which clause also contained a provision that be- fore a man could vote he must have been employed at some lawful business for twelve months before the date of election. MT. Beddow offered an amendment which provided that, being temporarily out of employment, while on a strike. for in- stance, should not disqualify the voter. So many amendments were offered that the clause and amendments were recom- mitted to the suffrage committee to be gotten in shape
 The Property Clause.
 The property clause was adopted. This allows a man to vote who owns forty acres or who owne $500 worth of property. If his wife owns this amount he can still vote. although she cannot General San ford remarked in a speech this morning in opposition to this clause that if a mans wife should run away with her property it would disfranchise her husband. The general, also, in speaking of the good character clause, said that Christ and His disciples would not be allowed to reg ister under 1t unless it was known before hand how they would vote.
 Section of the article was adopted, which prohibits persons who have been convicted of certain crimes from voting. Most of the afternoon was spent in dis cussing a motion to reconsider an amend ment of MT. Beddow to section 1, adopted several days ago, which provided that foreigners who had declared their inten- ton of becoming citizens should vote. The convention finally decided not to recon sider its action and the section as former ly adopted remains.
 Convention Opens.
 The fifty-ninth days session of the con- stitutional convention was called to or der at 9 o'clock by President Knox. Roll call showed TOT members present.
 MT. Dent of Barbour, MT. White of Jefferson and MT. Long of Walker arose to correct an error in the stenographer's report. The committee on journal re- ported 1t was correct.
 Governor Oates, chairman of the com mittee on legislative department, asked that the article be read third time and referred to the committee on harmony.
 MT Brooks of Mobile said he would vote against the article as he opposed having quadriennial sessions of the leg islature which was an innovation as no state in the union had adopted 1t.
 MT. Rogers of Sumter said old pro bo- no publico' and ''watchman" and all the other guardians of the public, had been sounding their warnings against this change but that the people were not paving any attention to them as they favored the four year term Other pro- visions had been made for local legisla- tion and there was no necessity for bi- ennial sessions.
 The article was then read the third time. adopted by vote of 113 to Il, and referred to the committee on harmony.
 MT. O'Neal of Lauderdale introduced a resolution that special committee Of three be appointed to investigate the cause of confusion and delay in the dis tribution of the malls. The rules were suspended and this resolution adopted.
 MT. Kirkland of Dale introduced a peti- ton for citizens of that county asking that section of the suffrage article, re- uuiring a residence of six months in county as a prerequisite to vote, pc changed to three months. MT. Maxwell of Tallapoosa introduced a petition from citizens of Rockfort ask ing that no school teacher be deprived of his right to teach except by due pro cess of law.
 MT. Beavers of Shelby introduced an ordinance to amend section 3, article or the constitution so as to provide for the formation of a new county out of the counties of Shelby and St. Clair.
 Mir Handley of Randolph offered an or dinance to repeal sections and Of the article on banks and banking.
 The Suffrage Article.
 The convention then took up the pending question, which was section of the ar ticle on suffrage. This was taken up by paragraphs. Paragraph was adopted, as follows:
 Section 5. After the first day of January 1903, the following persons, and no others. who, if their place of residence shall re- main unchanged, will have at the date of the next general election, the qualifica- tions as to residence prescribed in section of this article, shall be qualified to regis Ter as electors, provided, they shall not be disdualified under section of this article The next subdivision was read. as fol- lows:
 First-Those who. unless prevented by phvsciai disability, can read and write any article of the Constitution of the United States in the English language and who. being physically able to work. have been regularly engaged in lawful business or occupation. trade or calling for twelve months next preceding the time they of fer to register. >.
 Amendments> Offered.
 Mir. Stanford of Pike moved to amend by inserting after word works the words, "and who are dependent on their labor for support"
 MT. Beddow of JeEsrson moved to strike out all of the sub7Sfision after the word