The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-01
GEN. PETTUS SPEAKS
HE HAD LARGE AUDIENCE IN
 CoLUMBIANA.
Elucidated the New Costitution and Criticised Ex-Governor John ston for Defeating Will of
 the People in 1899.

 tor P. w. Pettas spoke here today at the court house to large and appreciatiye audience At II a.. m. Hon: W. B. Committee introduced the distinguished speaker in the following words: "Fellow citizens 1t affords me great pleasure to introduce to you the grand old man of Alabama, the noblest Roman of them all, Senator P, w. Pettus, who will address you in behalf of a cause which should be dear to the heart of every white man in Alabama, the ratification of the new Con- etitution, which when accomplished will confirm the government in the hands of the white man forever"
 When Senator Pettus arose he was greeted with enthusiastic applause, and had the close attention of his audience throughout his address. He spoke of his long service in the Democratic party, and of the fact that three Democratic con- ventions and two Democratic legislatures had endorsed the calling of a Constitu- tional Convention. He said the constitu- ton therefore was a Democratic measure and was a necessity in order to get rid of the methods now necessary to keep the white man in power in some portions of the State. He said that Governor Johnston who is now one of the leading message to the legislature in 1896 strongly advocated the calling of Constitutional Convention, but that after 1t was called and the delegates selected, new light
 
 his powerful office to defeat the will of the people.
 The speaker further said that the new Constitution would come as near getting rid of the usual negro vote as the Con- stitution of the United States would allow and that therefore all men who were not negroes in fact, or white men with the principles and instincts of the negro should vote for the constitution in order to perpetuate the government in the hands of the white man.
 He said that in Shelby County the negro held the balance of power and had held been informed that 1t was being indus triously circulated that man would be compelled to possess all the qualifications mentioned in the constitution before he could register and vote under the tenn porary plan. He showed the fallacy of this contention and said that either of the no matter if he lacked all the other ouaii- fications, and he showed that the same was true of the permanent plan.
 He said that one of the great evils was new constitution would absolutely remedy this evil He held up and compared the general acts of the last legislature with the local acts. showing that the general acts contained less than 300 pages while the local acts contained over 2,S00 pages He stated that at present nineteen twentieths of the time of the legislature was now devoted to local acts. thereby  upon the people
 Senator Pettus said that if the new Con- stitution was adopted no one or two men could pick up and move the court house in a night without anybody knowing anything about 1t.
 The Generals speech was we'll received and will have a good effect as all por- tions of this county were represented In his audience.
 MT. Clayton in Scale.
 Scale. Sept. 30-(Special. .)-Hon. H. D.. Clayton made powerful speech here this morning, in favor of the new Constitu- tion, to a large and appreciative audi ence He did not make any converts, as the people here are all his way.
 Gen. Harrison at Tuskegee.
 Tuskegee Sept. 30.--(Special.)-At noon today Gen. Keorge F. Harrison of Opelika addressed the people of Macon County in earnest advocacy of the ratification of the new Constitution. General Harrison. spoke to a large audience in the County Court House.
 The defects of the old Constitution were pointed out and the merits of the new instrument were emphasized General Harrison was we'll received and his ad- dress was frequently applauded.
 Some doubt has been expressed hereto fore as to how Macon would line up. but doubt seems to be disappearing. and, with a few more speeches like the one deliv- cred here today, Macon will come up handsomely.
 After the speaking several who were known to be oppos2d to the new consti- tuition, came out fiat-footed and said they would not only vote for but work for rau- fication.