The age-herald., 1901-07-26
Flow of OratoTy Continues at Montgomery, Hot Weather
 Notwithstanding
SEVERAL ABLE SPEECHES
Captain White Attacked Plan as Un- constitutions. and MT. Weatheriy Made Speech Supporting 1t.
 MT. Knox Speaks Today.
BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.

flow of oratory continued in the conven- ton today. the grandfather clause of the suffrage article being the subject of dis sion Able speeches were made by Cap tain White and MT. Weatherly, the for mer attacking the plan as unco1stitutiou- al and the latter supporting 1t. Among others who spoke against 1t were General Harrison of Lee, and Governor Jones of Montgomery.
 Among those who favored the plan were MT. Williams of Marengo, MT. Handley of Randolph, and General Jones of Wilcox
 President Knox will speak tomorrow in support of the plan of The majority.
 The gallery was crowded all day and a few negroes occupied one end listening to some plain truths about their race.
 Convention Opens.
 The fifty-fourth days session of the constitutional convention was called to order by President Knox at 9:30 o'cock. Roll call showed 1OS members present. The journal was reported correct.
 The roll was then called for the intro- duction of ordinances, and for the first time during the sessions of the convention not an ordinance or resolution was intro- duced.
 The convention then took up the pend- ing question which was section of the article on suffrage-which section con- tained the grandfather clause.
 Mr. Williams of Marengo said it was time the younger generation made known their views on the negro question. The older men have not as much to lose as the younger. They were striving to do what they could for the future. He had not known ante bellum slavery-the only slavery he had ever known was slavery to the votes of the negro race. It was not physical slavery but worse. The white race was held responsible abroad for the welfare of the state. What has built up the solid South? It is simply the fact that we have over us this negro vote, and it is to get rid of this that we are here for. say to those who oppose the majority report to stop and think what you do. My people at home believe in absolute disfranchisement of the negro as a negro. They are also opposed to disfranchisng any white man. l say 1t without fear of contradiction that 1t IS the Caucasian blood which flows in the veins of every eminent negro that gives him his ability. If there be a promi- nent negro of pure negro blood, say he is the rare exception that proves the rule
 The men of the Black Belt who helped to frame this report are impelled by the highest motives. We must conform tt the pledges made by our platform. l be- lieye this suffrage plan does that. HOW does it constitute an hereditary voting class? I wish 1t did, and l would favor A plan whichswould confer on our children God has put the seal on the negro race it was not us. He spoke of his friends who. after the Civil war, had not tho means to learn to read and write. Would you disfranchise these white men on ac count of their misfortune? This suffrage plan has been tried and it has not beer found wanting. Suppose we have a race war, as has been suggested. You wis want this lowly white man to shoulder his musket as well as any other. Here thu speakers time expired
 General Harrison Speaks.
 General Harrison of Lee, one of the four members of the suffrage committee who had signed the minority report, said 1, was with regret he felt compelled to diff fer with the majority. We are all white men, he said, and nearly all Democrats But we are here as delegates, and under our oaths believe we owe duty to our common country as well as to Alabama I do not see how under my oath to sup port the Federal constitution I can fa- vor the grandfather clause of the report I am gratified that both our United States Senators take the same position I do.
 The fourteenth amendment made the ne- gro a citizen and the fifteenth amendment says his right to vote shall not be abridged, I took an oath to support this feature as we'll as others of the Federa' constitution, and while I would rather have swallowed a mustard plaster, hay ing taken it will abide by 1t I am ir favor of eliminating the negro. and be lieve it can be done withou& this grand father clause. To what extent has the negro ever participated as soldier in any of these wars? We cannot dp indirectly what we cannot do directly. if you allow the white man ito retain his vote and not allow the negro, is this not a Asubtifnge Is 1t not an attempt to do indirectly what you cannot do directly? Wherlyou allow descendants of soldiers ito vote Simply be- cause they are descendants. ist not this hereditary? I believe the plan cf the com mittee aside from this grandfather clause will do everything that we wart Let us make a constitution that will stand the tests of the courts and of Congress.
 I believe some simple poll tax provision with feature excluding from voting those who have been convicted of certair crimes will be all that is necessary. Is 1t right to say that certain man shall have a privilege because he is a son of a cer- tain father? Is not this principle of he- reality what our forefathsrs fought against? I don't believe many sons of Confederate soldiers will qualify under it. If man is not of good character and does not understand the duties of citizen ship under a republican fosTn of govern ment will you allow him toSyote simply because he is the son of a Confederate
 He concluded by warning the 'cQnvention