The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-08

proper in reference to Solicitors.
 Mr. Hood-Is 1t not true you did not move to reconsider the vote whereby the report of the Committee was lost in reference to solicitors?
 MT. deGraffenreid-No sir.
 Mir Hood-And that question is now before the Convention?
 MT. deGraffenreid-No sir Because this was simply adopted as a substi- ute and if you destroy the substitute the original Section stands. and if not you could introduce a section to take Its place. The delegates understand that. Now, on the subject Of county solictorship, as to whether the Con- vedtion made a mistake in providing for their election by the people. The Solicitor Is a person of some power and We all know that if the Legisla- ture permits him to succeed himself that that office will furnish him. un- less he be a man of first-class charac- ter. great leverage to secure his re- election and to perpetuate himself in office. There is no doubt about that. Now. something has been said, (and I will reply to 1t now), about the method which prevails in the State of electing Solicitors by the Legislature. The gentleman from Mo
 
 some time since, I do not remember when. a candidate for solicitor came bofere the General Assembly with the endorsement of the bar, the ministers and various people of Mobile. but he did not have any votes to put into a com bination and as defeated. I call your attention to the fact that no system was ever devised by God or man that has not been made the subject of abuse or fraud. In ancient times. amid the solemnities that surrounded the sum- init of a sacred mountain, God delivered to Moses the Ten Commandments on mankind has been breaking them ever since. They are not like the clause in the old Constitution about railroad passes. They are self-executing. To violate them means to incur a penalty in this world and in the next, but each day we see them violated by weak or vicious men.
 Abuses have occurred in the election of solicitors by the Legislature, but abuses have frequently occurred, also, in primary elections, in nominating conventions and in the genexll cleo tions. Why. they have primary elec- tions in this State in places. and this Convention was called upon at the
 
 upon a question as to whether in the county of Fillmore the privilege of the primary had been violated and whether or not fraud had been perpetrated in the primary there, and the will of the people overturned and how frequently are charges made that combinations are made in conventions that nominate candidates, from the Governorship down?
 Mir. Graham CTalladega)-I just want to correct the gentleman: this Conven- tion has never been called upon to do so.
 MT. deGraffenreid-I believe that it was the Democratic caucus that was called upon to determine that matter, but the Convention was called upon te ascertain whether or not the Hast Gen. eral Assembly was imposed upon in the matter of the Shelby Court House. It is humanity to sin, and yeu have fraud in every department, and the fact the privileges are sometimes abused by the General Assembly is no argument that we should go to the primary election or nominating convention, because the same abuses occur there that occur before the General Assembly in the election of solicitors.
 MT. Graham-I move to lay the mo- tion to reconsider upon the table, and upon that 1 call for the ayes and noes.
 The call was sustained.
 The President-The gentleman from Hale moves to reconsider the vote whereby the section was adopted Thereupon the gentleman from Talla- dega moves to lay the motion te re- consider upon the table. The ayes ana noes have been called for, and the call is sustained. As many as favor the motion will say aye and those opposed mo- as your names are called. Upon a call of the roll, the vote re-