The age-herald., 1901-10-08
Former .CongreSsmen Speak
 Against Constitution
THEIR SIDE OF THE ISSUE
Anti-RatificatIon Campaign In Jeffer- son Opened With Meeting In Seals Hall Last Nlght-Gen-
 eral Shelley Presided.

new constitution opened it's campaign in Jefferson County last night with two speeches at Seals Hall.
 Col. William II. Denson of Birmingham, former representative in Congress from the Seventh Alabama District and Hon. Jesse F. Stallings of Greenville. former representative in Congress from the Sec ond Alabama District, were the speakers. Colonel Denson occupied the platform over two hours and MT. Stallings nearly one hour.
 Considerably more than half of the 400 seats in Seals Hall were occupied, and the speakers were given the strictest at- tention. Their remarks were frequently interrupted with applause, and at times considerable enthusiasm was manifested.
 Both speakers devoted most of their time to the suffrage plan in the new con stitution. and both declared 1t contrary to the federal constitution.
 Colonel Denson was introduced by Gen. eral Shelley, chairman of the anti-ratifl- cation campaign committee, and he imme- diately took up the suffrage clause of the proposed constitution.
 SoiOnCt GCHSOfl 0pCCCHs He said that if the new constitution Is adopted the men of Alabama will not have the privilege of voting for another within fifty years. He disclaimed any in- tention of indulging in vituperation or villiffcation, but would urge every man in Alabama to vote as his conscience dic- | tated. He said that those who opposed the ratification of the new constitution did so because they favored white su- premacy and opposed negro domination.
 He designated those who advocate rat ification as the "400'' and said they had made the issue of the campaign white supremacy and honest elections. He said the 400 contained only office holders, of- | fice-seekers, and place-hunters, and that they sought to make the people of Ala bama accept the new instrument because they themselves wanted 1t; that they gave no, reasons why it should become the organic law of the state.
 "The convention was a revolutionary body' exclaimed Colonel Denson. 50 far as choosing officers was concerned. The method of their selection was In di- rect opposition to local self-government. It Is true that every county was given representative, every senatorial district one, every Congressional district two and the State at large, four. They had power to do this and do not assail the | plan.
 | Each county selected its own represen- tative, it is true, and this was all right, but the convention at Montgomery named the representatives for the senatorial and Congressional districts, and they were elected on the general ticket. One hum dred of the representatives were elected according to Democratic usage, but the other fifty-five were not.
 "Why did they do this? Was 1t not for yers on the ticket undoubtedly this is true.
 Was it for the purpose of stripping the white counties of their representa- ton? Undoubtedly this Is true.
 Was 1t for the purpose of placing the white counties of North Alabama under the power of the Black Belt? Undoubted- ly this is true.
 ''The instrument was the product of the
  the control of corporate influences con- trolled by the Black Belt.
 "The purpose of the convention" con tinued Colonel Denson. was to disfran- chise the negro and eliminate him from politics. That was in the platform and was so declared in all the literature sent out.'
 Colenel Denson read section IFS of the new constitution, which fixes the qualifi- cations for voting. It provides that two years residence in the State, one year in the county and three months in the pre- cinct or ward Is necessary before per- son can vote. It also provides for the payment of poll tax and registration. Section 1sO. which is known as the old soldier or granddaddy clause. was also read.
 | He declared this clause to be unconsti- tutional because it. conferred distinction upon certain individuals which the decla- ration of rights prohibits. | He said the 400 had thrown out little sop to the G6 sheriffs and probate judges by extending the terms of the former and by giving the Legislature authority | Io dDoiiSH every COutI III the State ex- cept the Supreme Court and the Probate | Court
 Taking up the registration clause the speaker said it would be impossible for any person coming into the State subse- quent to August l. 1901. to register. He said 1t is provided that in order to vote person must register, and he cannot register unless he has been citizen of the State the two years next preceding the election.
 Referring to the understanding clause, ''Who is to determine wno understands a republican form of government? The | registrars?"
 He said if the old soldier clause Is de- clared unconstitutional the franchise will be based upon education and pr \,erty. In order to vote a person must pay taxes on $500 worth of property. There are from HOO to 1400 old Confederate soldiers in Alabama, declared the speaker, who | draw pensions from the State and fin or l der to draw this pension they must swear that they do not possess $500 worth of | property.
 He said the convention aimed blow at strikers when it provided that a person. | in order to vote, must have been em- ployed the greater part of the next pre- l ceding twelve months.
 ''rhe 400 say they want white supremacy and honest elections, but 1t is impossible