The age-herald., 1901-08-04
CONVENTION
 IS AT LAST IN
 THE STRETCH The Suffrage Clause is Con- pIeted and the Stumbling
 Block is Passed LOVES SUBSTITUTE KILLED Nine Sections of the Report On Judi ciary Have Been Adopted and All Amendments Are Promptly
 Tabed-Working Fast.
LOVES SUBSTITUTE KILLED
BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.

Montgomery, August 3.-(Special.) )-The convention is now on the homeward stretch, and like horse with his head to the stable, is moving faster. The ar ticle on suffrage was completed today and ordered to third reading. MT. Lowe's substitute for the entire article was laid on the table, as well as numer- ous new sections offered to the article by various delegates. Two of these were adopted, one by MT. Browne of Talladega leaves to the Legislature the right to ex- tend the poll tax age beyond 45 years, and the other makes 1t a crime to pay any one's poll tax for the purpose of infiuenc- ing his vote. MT. Banks of Russell made a speech against the article, which he said meant that the delegates from the black belt were to go home and perpetrate the greatest fraud in it's history.
 The convention then took up the report of the committee on judiciary and adopt ed nine sections before adjournment. There are five minority reports to this article and it seemed as If there would be an interminable debate over it. But the nine sections were adopted as reported by the committee and all amendments offered were tabled. The convention shows a disposition to adopt further re- ports with little change and less debate. There was some discussion over the proposition to give the Legislature power to confer law and equity Jurisdiction on both the circuit and chancerv courts, but it was adopted. The Legislat are is also. authorized to establish an intermediate oppa11ata ont,vt it caac ff
 Convention Opens.
 The sixty-second days session of the constitutional convention was called to order by President Knox at 9 o'clock. A prayer was offered by Rev MT. Mar shall. Roll call showed S5 delegates pres ent. MT. Sanders of Limestone arose to correct errors in the stenographer's re- port. Several leaves of absence were asked for and granted. The journal was reported to be correct.
 Mr. Smith of Mobile introduced by re- quest an ordinance to exempt from taxes and license fees maimed soldiers of the Confederate war.
 MT. Mulcay of Geneva introduced pe- titfon from citizens of Geneva asking that the residence required in counties in the suffrage article be fixed at three months.
 MT Sanford of Pike moved that when the convention adjourned today at 100 o'clock 1t adjourn to meet at 11:00 o'clock Monday This was adopted by vote of 45 to 20.
 The convention then took up the pend- ing question which was MT. Lewis sub stltute to the entire suffrage article. It provided that the qualifications of cleo tors should be, besides age and residnece, the payment by electors under 45 years of age of a contribution to the public schools of s3 and by those over 45 years of age a contribution of $1.50 A list of these payments was to be kept by the tax collector which lists should be the registration lists. These lists were to be published in newspapers In each coun- ty and the General Assembly was to pro- vide by law for purging the registration lists of names illegally registered. An exception was made for soldiers, who could vote without the payment of the school contribution and persons convic- ted of certain crimes could not vote.
 MT. Lowe said he believed the conven- ton was ready to vote on the question and he would not detain them longer. His substitute eliminated the grandfather clause the registration clause, the prop erty and educational qualifications. He regretted to be opposed to the majority but felt sustained in his measure by the knowledge of the fact that many who had had much to do with politics in Alabama in past years favored it. He knew the majority report was going to be adopted and he hoped in time 1t would prove wise.
 opposes suffrage Plan.
 Mir. Banks of Russell said that after many days discussion they had before them a complete plan. yet he deeply re- greted that he could not support 1t as he did not think 1t accomplished the pur- pose for which the convention was called. tb., olr hal nd wanted fair elections. They had been forced to maintain white supremacy by methods which they abhored. They had begged for relief from those conditions which necessitated fraud in elections. The suffrage plan did not do this. Its ad vocates said it's purpose was to disfran- chise the negro, but there was nothing on its face to show this The n.saning of the plan was that the Black Belt was to go home and perpetuate the greatest fraud in it's history. The constitution had no force unless ratified and the Black Belt was expected to ratify 1t by fraud Are we then to have relief? Let us see. What does the plan provide? Under the perma- nent plan the statistics show that ma jority of the negroes can register in the Black Belt. The temporary plan Is sup posed to shut them out. The negroes will be discontented and believe that the white people are their enemies.
 Twenty years from today North Ala bsma will be Republican and a majority of the men on this floor Republicans and the black belt will be absolutely at tho mercy of Republican legislature. Here his time expired.
 MT. Smith of Mobile moved to table MT. Lsowe's amendment which was done.
 Captain Blackwell of Morgan offered new section to the article which provid- ed that any board or majority of a board of registrars who shall register person under the good character clause who is not of good character ard who does not understand the duties of good citizenship or shall otherwise illegally register a vo- ter shall be fined s25o and shall forfeit their offices.
 He spoke in favor of his section. say