The age-herald., 1901-11-06
LOWNDES COUNTY FOR CONSTITUTION. Black Voters Will No Longer
 Offset White BIG RALLY MONDAY NIGHT Congressman Thompson, Col. J. w. A.. Sanford and Senator Rogers Ad-
 dress the Voters-Thomp-
 son Tells a Story.
BIG RALLY MONDAY NIGHT

Fort Deposit. November 6-(special.)- Notwithstanding boasts by the anti-rati- fiers that Lowndes will roll up a majority on next Monday of from 400O to 5000 against the new constitution, the predic- ton is here made that the doubtful" black belt county will actually vote a majority for the new constitution. This prediction is made after conversations with leading politicians from different sections of the county who have recently interested themselves and profess to be posted as to the actual situation.
 This affirmative prediction could not have been made three weeks ago. AL most every one at that time seemed to concede that Lowndes would vote Ito the bad" No speakers of consequence were assigned to the county. The voters were left to work out their own saliva tion. They began to study the provisions of the new constitution for themselves, and with the same result as In all other sections of the State. The more they read the more convinced were they that the new was an improvement over the old. With enough literature to leaven the few, the work was begun to leaven the whole, and it Is now evident that at least the greater portion has been leav- ened, and the six thousand Triggers" of Lowndes are not to be counted against the assurance for future white suprem- acy In the State, offsetting an equal num- Der of honest white votes.
 The leaders are up and doing this week and their work is effective Senator c. P. Rogers and Hon. Joseph Norwood are among the more active of these, and as result of their labors many converts to the new constitution have been won.
 The greatest obstacle with which the ratifiers have had to contend has been the opposition of several of the county officials. These officials seemed to see a great elephant in the suffrage plan. To be plain, they did not want to lose their Triggers" Apparently they feared that other Black Belt counties were not hon. est in professions to rid themsely of the ignorant and vicious element but be- coming convinced of therr error in this. they are gradually coming over with the ratificationists.
 Meeting Monday Night.
 There was a rousing meeting here last night for the new constitution, and be- yond doubt much good was accomplished. The speakers were Congressman c. w. Thompson, Col John w. A. Sanford and Senator Rogers. Three-fourths of the voters of this precinct and several from surrounding precincts were present Hon. Joseph Norwood presided, and introduced the speakers, Senator Rogers speaking first. His effort was brief, but his words were convincing and his reference to the Roosevelt Booker Washington dinner was vigorously applauded.
 Congressman Thompson followed and he covered well his ground. One by one he pointed out the advantages of the new constitution over the old. and he soon had his audience completely with him. As is well known, MT. Thompson has been a follower of former Governor John ston in politics, and he said in his speech last night that he had no harsh words for those who were leading the opposi- ton now. He believed many of them good men, and he told a good story at the ex- pense of Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Mangum, a much loved Alabama Methodist minis ter, to illustrate the course of the oppo- sition-
 Thompson's Story.
 According to the story, as related, Dr. Mangum was at one time pastor of Mir. Thompsons church in Tuskegee, and while there he would occasionally preach for the negroes at Zion church. After Dr. Mangum had been removed from Tus- kegee by order of the conference, he at one time returned to visit his former con- gregation and preached for them on Sun day. At the earnest solicitation of old "Uncle Jim," the sexton, .Dr. Mangum agreed to preach for the negroes during the afternoon, and he delivered a power full sermon, which aroused the greatest tha Iar tion. Some shouted while others called out, Amen" 'blese God" Ego on, brother" and the like. The sermon con- cluded, the faithful old Jim rushed up and grasping the minister's hand, said:
 Mars Tom, dat sho wus CT fine sur mon; hit don my bery heart good ter listen ter dat gospel as you pounded it."
 Well, Jim," said the minister, ''be hon. est with me which do you think can preach the best the white man or the negro?'
 Jim scratched his head and reflected for a moment, and then replied:
 ''Marse Tom, femme tell yo', de nigger, he breaches de bes', but yo' sho does preach more like a nigger den enny white man I ebber heard"
 Mir. Thompson told his auditors that he believed Messrs. Johnston, Stallings, Shell ley and others were honest in their oppo- sition to the new constitution, but they were certainly acting very much like negroes. He said the white man was OCT tain to rule this country, and it was now up to the voters to say whether 1t should be done by fraud or legally. Mir. Thomp- sons speech was well received.
 Colonel Sanford closed the speaking with convincing argument for the new instrument.
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