The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-12
WE SHALL HOLD IT TO ITS
 PLEDGE,

The Birmingham Times is the organ of the Republican Party in Alabama, so far as that party can be said to have an organization. It fought the movement for a Constitutional Con- vention for no better reason, apparent ly, thun because it had become a Dem- ocratic measure and had the support and endorsement of aaIsgeod Democrats and of the party organization. Now that the Convention has become a cer- tainty The Times has this to say:
 Let them provide for an absolutely fair and honest ballot for those who are en- titled to vote. Let them provide an abso- lutely fair and honest registration of all voters who have right of franchise under the new law. Again, what Is of equal importance to all parties Is legal and possible for ali parties to make their pominctlons through legal channel, Surround the primary with every safe guard. permit no illegal voter to partici- pate in the selection of party candidates. When a people are assured that nomina- tions are honestly made by all parties, and the trial of strength will be honestly tested at the ballot box, then, ana not until then. will Alabama be able to pre- sent for office its purest and ablest men,
 The Advertiser bases it's predictions as to what the Convention will do on the character of the men composing that body. There will be men in 1t who have no experience and possibly little fitness for their impol tant duties. and it may be possible that there will be some who have not a proper regard or appreciation of what is expected of them, and who may care little for the interests of the State and the people, but such men, If there are any, are exceptions, The majority of the delegates are conscientious and patri- otlc men. Some ofrthem are the peers in intellect and capacity of any citi- gems of Alabama, and We give them credit for honesty and for desire to do their whole duty. We endorse fully the suggestions of The Times as to what the Convention should do. though some of the measures outlined in the extract may more properly belong to a legislative body. and may be left for the General Assembly to enact into laws under such requirements and linn itations as the new Constitution may adopt.
 And The Times seems disposed to await the action of the Convention, and declares that eff a Constitution is presented that all men can live under, that all men will have chance to choose their champions in an honest primary and measure them, with their opponents, at an honestly conducted election, then we, in that event, stand ready to hold up the hands of the Con- stitution makers and assist in secur- ing its ratification
 This is the position that Republicans, Pcrulists and all other political organ izations or beliefs should take. No one of them is more anxiously earnest in its desire for pure and honest cleo tions than The Advertiser is. We long to see the day when the intelli- gent citizens of Alabama can hold cleo tions in such manner that the title of the successful contestants will have no shadow of fraud or even of unfair ness. We want to see in Alabama government which shall be. as Daniel Webster expressed j., The peoples government made for the people. made by the people, and answerable to the people," and we want to see, in the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes:
 The freemen casting with unpurchased hand
 The vote that shakes the turret of the land.
 The Republicans have an equal in- terest with the Democrats in good Constitution, and se expect such Con- st!tution to be framed. and then we expect to see The Times carrying out