The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-15

l determine it. When the call was sub- mitted, the Democratic party. in State Convention assembled, took positive ground and declared itself in favor of the call. The question then became a party question. The Democratic State Executive Committee appointed a Demo- cratic Campaign Committee to carry on the campaign for a Constitutional Con- vention. and, it having been made a par ty issue, 1t naturally followed that the party's fight for the call of the Conven- ton resulted in the election of a large majority of the delegates to the Conven- | ton, who were members of the Demo- cratic party.
 Democratic Committee.
 When the Convention had assembled and had completed its labors, provided | for submitting the new instrument for ratification or rejection to the people, and ! adjourned, the Democratic State Execu- l tive Committee met and again appointed a Democratic State Campaign Commit tee. by selecting a chairman, and author l izing the appointment by him of fourteen other Democrats, and charged this com- | mittee with the duty of conducting the | campaign in favor of ratification of the new Constitution. In thus constituting a campaign committee, the State Com | mittee was following a precedent, uni- formly adopted by that committee, in all State campaigns in which the Democratic | party has taken part This Campaign Committee has been organized and in tends to vigorously and aggressively urge the ratification of the new Consti- tution.
 Democratic Document.
 The more so. because the history of the movement for new Constitution, the active part taken by the Democratic party in the call for the Convention to frame 1t, the election of nearly nine tenths of the whole membership of the Convention as Democrats. and the work of that Democratic majority in the Con- vention, and in submitting the instrument to the people for ratification, proclaim, in no uncertain tones, that the new Con- stitution is a Democratic document and that its defeat will be recognized and declared by the opposition to the Demo- cratic party, as the defeat of the party itself. This Committee does not desire to arrogate to itself any power, but 1t holds its credentials from the regularly constituted authority of the Democratic party, by the usual and customary meth cd of appointing a Democratic State Campaign Committee and 1t will conduct the campaign as a Democratic Campaign Committee should. The foregoing recital of facts is relied on to show. at once, the reason for. and the right of. this Committee to issue this address.
 Democratic Delegates.
 There were 1855 members of the Consti- tutional Convention. Nearly or quite nine-tenths of the members were life- long Democrats. The deliberations of the Convention extended over three months; the fullest and freest discussion obtained in It's sessions, and the new Constitution is the result of the most ar duous and patient labor and deliberation The cost of the special election last year upon the call for a Convention and the expense of the Convention will. of course. be lost If the people vote against It's rati- fication.
 Character Has Weight
 Included in the Democratic majority in the Convention were mon who had f1ll- ed the most exalted stations in the State; men who have been the honored and trusted leaders of the people in the past; men of distinction in the professions; men who had fought for Alabama in the war | between the States; men prominent in the affairs of life in peace in their sev- eral communities, and representing every material interest in the State: men of | substance and property holders; men of the Christian faith, who appreciated the high duty, which devolves on a citizen, ra!led upon to frame an organic law for his State; men of unblemished character in public and private life; men who are honest and fearless-such were the kind | of men that made up the Democratic ma jority. No abler or more patriotic body than these ever met for such a purpose in any State. They have framed the new Constitution, and keeping their pledge to do so, have submitted 1t to the people for ratification. Their names are appended to 1t. If it be ratified. these men and their children must live. enjoy liberty and pursue happiness under it. And we point to the high characters of the men who framed the instrument, as an evil dence that they would not submit to the people an unworthy Constitution.
 Comparison Invited of Old and New.
 In addition. however, we invite a care | full study of the instrument itself. It had been published and is being given the widest publicity and distribution It | is a great improvement on. and Is, there | fore, a better Constitution than the pres ent one. A careful reading of it will convince the voters of its merits, and We urge that 1t be read. and especially that its provisions be consulted and compared with the present Constitution before the statements of the opposition to it be ac- cepted.
 Needed Correction
 It must be remembered that the very | to correct deficiencies in and objections to the old, and that. if the present Consti- | tuition were perfect we would not need to change it.
 The very men who are now leading the opposition to ratification have, on former and comparatively late occasions. admit ted and urged that the present Constitu- ton needed alteration and amendment; and especially have they advocated and urged that the suffrage plan of the pres ent Constitution needed amendment.
 Some Beneficial Changes.
 It Is not our purpose to make an elab- | crate argument upon the several changes made by the new Constitution nor to at | tempt an enumeration of all of them. | Among the more beneficial, however we may mention that the new Constitution will effect the following:
 First-A reduction of the State tax rate from 75 cents to 65 cents on the $1OO | Second-A much larger donation to. | and provision for the public schools. | The new Constitution provides that near | ly one half of the taxes levied and col | lected by the State shall go to the SUD- | port of the public schools, and enioins | upon the Legislature the increase of this | fund. from time to time, as the State 8 revenues may admit This fund will in- | crease as the tax values increase. It l also allows the several counties to levy a special school tax of 10 cents on the $lO0 | upon the Vote of three -fifths of the voters | Of the county. The old constitution ap- propriates about $lO0000 to the public l school fund, and the new constitution ap- 1 pFOIriateS abOut SS00 OOO without increa se