The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-25

cd in maintenance of good government in Alabama alone shall vote in Ala bama. was astonished when the dis tinguished Chairman. after contend ing, as the stenographic report shows he did. that the report meant it should be paid in each year, when I showed him it did not, as the stenographic report in this morning pa per shows, he backed out of his org inal proposition. Nov I say that, 'the man that is willing to bear the burdens of government. and to do that within the first three months of each year, Is A worthy citizen to vote. How do they propose to eliminate the negro vote! They have given us no suggestions. The majority of the committee nave given you no suggestions as to now they are going to eliminate the negro vote. They do not intend-I won't say they do not intend-but their propo- sition does not contemplate the elimi- nation of the negro vote.
 The President-The time of the gen tleman from Jefferson has expired
 MT. weatherly--I move that the time of the gentleman be extended hfteen minutes
 MT. Rogers (Sumter)-I move that the time he extended until the hour of ad1oul nment.
 The motion was carried.
 MT. Lowe-Bentlemen of the ConVen. tion. I thank you, but I do not need that long, I think. What l nave searched this report in vain for, what I have listened to speakers who nave represented the majority on this noor in vain for, is to show me. to show us. to show the people, how the great question of fair elections is to De met. You can have fair electioi",. gentlemen of the Convention. when every man who is entitled to vote shall pc re- ouired before the first of March of eaca wear to come up to the Tax Collectors s office and pay his poll tax, his contri- button to the public fund of three dol- lars. But if you appoint Committee on Registra tion. gentlemen, with pow CT to appoint local representation Tn sixty-six counties in Alabama. teii you, you are building machine and you will regret the day, if not the day you were born, you will regret the day you were sent to this Convention. To be honest is always to be plain and simple, The man that intends to deal l honest with you can deal plainly With you, The man that intends to be dis | honest shields his meaning behind veneerinz of words. What Is the report | of this committee? What does 1t mean Does any man understand 1t! Does | any one here thoroughly grasp the fuli scope of it? Why, Er. President, take | the names of the officers Of the State | that .compose the committee In Mont | gomery. How did they take them? They 1 did not take the Governor. Secretary or | State. Attorney General, in the order | they come. They did no even take the men retiring from office next time ,out | they took the names of the men who gre | to De candidates for office next time. | The only three men who will be candi- dates next time they took to constitute l the Central oBard. That is not refiectins | upon those men at all. each one Of | them I expect to vote for to succeed | himself but I say it was an arbitrary arrangement. and I say it provides for | a sv&em that we have never known | before and will give us central syS-
 tenn emanating from Montgomery. Ii
 that Central Board are State officers | seeking reelection. that gives them
 the appointment of something like
 two hundred Registrars in Alabama
 and with those two hundred voters have the right to pass upon the quail fications of the voters of Alabama l Gentlemen If you want to be honest ! We came IlSTe tO Iildke dH HOIitSl SIcC-
 tion law, let us make plain and sim.
 pie and define the qualifications of g
 voter Then If one who Is not qualified
 seeks to vote, deal with him in tht
 criminal courts of Alabama. 1 do no
 want any number of men in Alabama
 appointed by a Central Commission il Montgomery to determine my right t
 vote. The gentleman from Madison thi
 morning referred in the early session
 to the fact that all these people, thu
 veterans and sons of veterans had
 right to vote already. Nobody is pro
 posing to take away their right t.
 vote, but will the sons of soldiers 0
 the ConfUderacy ask that in competi
 ton with him. the son of a slave should
 be handicapped by such provision l wish 1t was so that we could say tha none but white men could vote in thi
 republic. It is not so, we cannot sa.
 that, but we can say only those shal
 vote who are willing to bear the bur dens of a fair, free and honest govern 1 ment. MT. President and gentlemen O the Convention, l have spoken longe than I intended, and 1 thank you fo the consideration you have extende'
 me.
 MT. Proctor-I move that we now ad journ.
 The Convention adjourned until 9:3 tomorrow morning.