The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-03

4,n that 'ffrht. it has kept the faith. And whether or not there Is, henceforthl la2d .up for 1t a crown of righteousness. 1t Is for the white people of this State to de- eide. By and with them, 1t proposes to stand or fall. It has always stood for white supremacy, which has been cur nrotection, and will continue to be our slogan and shield.
 Honest Elections.
 Honest elections are as sure to ioilow inc adoption of the new constitution, as that the day follows the night. It may not all come at once, but the Democratic narty has set its face towards honesty in elections and its policies will obtain
 Legislature Must Act.
 The new constitution requires the leg islature to pass laws, not inconsistent with the constitution, to regulate and govern elections. It requires the legis- lature to make provisions. by laws, for purging the registration list of any names which may have been fradulently entered thereon.
 Some More New Provisions.
 It expressly excludes from the right to register or vote or hold office, any person convicted of selling or offering to rell his vote, or the vote of another, or Of
 
 another, or of making, or offering to make a false return in any election by the people, or in any primary election or of suborning any witness or registrars to secure the registration of any per- son as an elector. It makes it a felony for any registrar to enter name on the registration list, without such person having made application in person to register, or who knowingly registers any person more than once.
 Most of these provisions are incorpor- ated, for the first time, in the organic law. It lays well the foundation. on which the legislature must erect the superstructure of statutory law. which will enforce honesty In elections. All or the details cannot be worked out In an organic law. Statutory law is necessary and behind it all must be an enlightened public sentiment.
 Want of Confidence.
 The doubt expressed in some quarters as to the probable action of the regis trars is but the expression of a want Of confidence which some people are indulg- ing in election matters. This condition ought not to be, and now that the new constitution offers the remedy to eradi- cate the evils which have produced this want of confidence, and to restore a healthy public sentiment. 1t ought to be ratified and tried. Shall we declaim against conditions which we refuse to rectify when opportunity is offered for their correction?
 Future Bright.
 With these things arrived at ana striven for, the State will advance Tn material and moral conditions; capital will come here to get some of the fruits of our natural wealth; immigration will be fostered and will increase; our lands will grow in value; our people, given surcease from too frequent elections, and from the fear that the vicious ele- ment may get the ascendancy. will be at peace and turn their attention to mak- ing Alabama, already first in the list Of States, first also in all those things that go to make up a great and prosperous commonwealth.
 Effect of Defeat.
 We do not contemplate defeat but we remind the people that the failure Of the preesnt movement for the new constitu- tion will set back the movement for years to come; 1t will plunge the State back into dismal conditions, from which the people have been striving to emerge; 1t will be almost tantamount to an endorse ment of the methods heretofore used, whether honest or dishonest, to control elections; and it will be heralded, at home and abroad, as the defeat of one of the cherished policies of the Democratic party. We submit that the pending question Is whether the old constitution with It's admitted defects and faults shall be retained or the new constitution which remedies these defects and faults and makes other Improvements shall be rau- fled.
 We invite. and urge all good men to aid us in this fight, for the improvement of our people, for the amelioration of our political conditions and for the upbuilding and advancement of our beloved State, and we respectfully submit this address to the people of the State in the confident belief that they will ratify the new organic law.
 Democratic State Campaign Committee by O. w. Underwool. Chairman; B. F. Fillmore, Demopolis: George w. Jones, Montgomery; Henry D. Clayton, Eufaula; B. A. Thompson. Birmingham; A. J. Driver, Lafayette: w. w. Brandon, Tus- caloosa; J. G. Moore, Birmingham; John L. Burnett, Gadsden; J. H. Nathan, Shef- field; A M. Tunstall. Greensboro; E. K. Campbell, Birmingham; w. B. Browne, Columbiana; w. T. Sanders, Athens; John Smith Scale