The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-03
VIEWS OF GOV. OATES
CONTEST IS BETWEEN OLD AND
 NEW CONSTITUTIONS.
He Writes Chairman Underwood That the New Instrument is Great Improvement Over
 the old One.

The following is a copy of a letter sent
 to Hon. O. W. Underwood. Chairman of the Democratic Campaign Committee, by
 Governor W. C. Oates of this city in re- spcDse to a request from Mir. Underwood for Governor oatess views on the pros poets for ratification of the new Consti- tuition. It will be seen that the Governor handles the situation in very judicial ms rner. and Is very sure that the new instrument will be ratified Here Is the letter:
 Montgomery. Ala, Sept. %, 1901. Hon. o. W. Underwood, Chairman Dem ccratic Campaign Committed:
 Dear Sir-In reply to your letter of tn- quiry of the 27th inst, have to say that since the adjournment of the Ccnstitu-
 ticIial Convention, I have seen and con- versed with a good many men in Mont gomery, Bullock. Barbour. Henry. Dale and Pike Counties. and, while there Is considerable opposition to the ratification very stubborn character, and unless stir rcd by men of character and ability, in whom they have confidence, into con- suming blaze. it will die out before No-
 vemper unti the opposition will not be great.
 There are grave objections to some af the provisions of the new Constitution, but the race on ratification Is between the old and the new Constitution, and the practical and patriotic question for solu- ton is, which is the better Constitution?
 What can the opponents of the new offer to the voters to reject 1t, if the old Con- stitution be no better? Nothing what ever. There would. in that event, be no change in the fundamental law. The old -4AL Constitution. Many good men are op- posed to the new Constitution because of one. two or three objectionable provisions contained in it. but when such men insti- tute a comparison between the two Con- stitutions, they are bound to admit that the new. notwithstanding its objection able features, is better than the old or present Constitution.
 While the recent Convention Is criticis- able in many respects, no one of it's dele gates encountered more irritation, so far as having measures offered by him re- jected. than myself; yet I never have for gotten the fact that I was there to do all could to frame a good Constitution for our people and not to serve personal ends and ambition. 1 am, therefore, in position to pronounce an impartial judg- ment between the two instruments. 'I had a conspicuous part. as shown by it's journal, in framing the old Constitu- tion, which was we'll adapted to condi- tions prevalent when 1t was framed in 1875. tried to take an equally active and efficient part this year in framing the new, but my large experience in pub lie affairs and consequent conservatism were not in accord with the so-called progressive and radical ideas of a major lty of the Convention. While ali that was not gratifying to me and was well calculated to, engender a suspicion of po- litical combination. 1t did not blind me to a sense of public duty, and finding, on careful comparison. that the new was upon the whole better than the old Con- stitution. I waived my objections and voted for 1t.
 Tn the Declaration of Rights, Legisla- tive Department, Executive Department, Impeachments. Taxation, Municipal Cor porations and Mode of Amending. the Constitution. 1t is an improvement on the present Constitution-most decidedly so in the Legislative Department. The provis- ion for quadrennial sessions of the Legis- lature may be good, but Is experimental.
 ''I doubt very much whether I could add anything to the prospectus of ratification by a discussion of 1t before the people, and at this time my private affairs, which neglected all the summer to attend the daily sessions of the Convention, require
 my time and attention. Without going into further particulars. am of the opin-
 ion that the new Constitution will be ratified. Very respectfully. 'WM. c. OATES"