The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-13

night to hear the issues of the campaign for ratification or rejection of the new Constitution discussed by Colonel w. H. Denson of Birmingham and Hon. Tennent Lomax of this city.
 It was the first time the question was publicly discussed in Montgomery ana the audience assembled early and showed its eagerness for information on the SUD- tect. There were on the stage, besides the speakers, Messrs c. B. Teasley. E. J. Meyer and General J. w. A. Sanford TOT | ratification and Messrs Bibb Graves, | John Purifoy and T. J. Hall against rat- fcation The audience was very enthu- siastic and demonstrative. It was evident from the start that the majority was largely for ratification. There were a sprinkling of anti-ratifiers scattered here and there over the house, but they were so lonesome that after few feeble et- forts at applause they subsided until to- ward the end of Colonel Denson's second speech when he was engaged in his char acteristic sallies. Colonel Denson must have been pleased with the marked courtesy with which he was recelVeQ. ReSpeclIul dlleHllOH was accorded him. From the beginning to the close of his opening speech there was not a word of interruption, and only ap- plause now and then from his sympa- thizers to stop for moment his presen- tation of the questinon.
 The Time Allotment.
 The meeting was arranged by the anti ratifiers and Hon. Bibb Graves of Mont gomery presided and introduced the speakers. Having made the challenge for debate and controlling the meeting Colonel Denson had the allotment of the time It was agreed that he was to open with a forty minute speech and close with thirty minute speech. MT. Lomax was allowed one hour and fifteen minutes between Colonel Denson. This gave both speakers the same amount or time, but MT. Lomax being sandWiched between the speeches of Colonel Denson insisted that Colonel DenSon was to com fine his closing remarks to answering statements made by MT. Lomax and not to introduce any new matter. This was agreed to by Colonel Denson.
 Notwithstanding Mir. Lomax has made several speeches this week he was in good form and made an able exposition or the merits of the new Constitution. He spoke yesterday morning at Luverne ana rode in vehicle twenty miles to Troy to take train to Montgomery in order to keep his appointment with Colonel Dem son.
 When Hon. Bibb Graves called the meeting to order at TAO o'clock a pig audience was present. Hon. John F. Knox. Hon. Gordon Macdonald, Hon. w. w w. Hill and MT. Ray Rushton oc- cupied the box on the north side or the stage The box on the south slde or the stage was occupied by party or lauies. Mir Graves announced the allotment oI
 
 one who was no stranger to lhe PeOPie 'A this city and county.
 The audience expected an eloquent and interesting speech and they were not dis appointed . ,.,,, by promising to indulge Ill no ,jtuneration or to make any un- pleasant or invidious comparisons. lie said he was a Democrat and as sucn WAS onposing the ratification of an instrument framed by a convention the legality TOT the call of which was a matter or very grave doubt
 If was understood. Colonel Denson said the main purpose for the assennhne oI that convention was the disfranchisement of the negro and not to hurt the white pan He declared that he stood as an advocate of white supremacy on the nrlng line, and on the same line was opposed to negro domination. The reason he IS opposing the new Constitution is because if opens wide the doors of elections. If won have honest elections. where the negroes are in the majority and avoid negro domination, you have accomplish ed a thing unheard of since the negro has been allowed to vote.
 He objected to "the grandfather clause and said that while 1t was promised that ID white man should be disfranchised and denied the right to vote, that it did not accomplish that end He said that if man had come here from Georgia in the past few years and was not in the land or naval forces of Alabama, he could not vote No man knows what the guarantee of republican form of government means or what the obligations of citizeRships are and there was not man in the au- dience who could tell. They promised that not a single white man was to be disfranchised and Governor Jelks had guaranteed that it should not be done.
 Are we under Governor or the laws?' asked Colonel Denson. What guaran- tee can the Governor give that no white man will be disfranchsed? Does the Governor disfranchse or enfranchse people at wlll?"
 The Grandfather Clause.
 Colonel Denson then told in how many ways a great many white men are to be disfranchised under the proposed organic law He said the grandfather clause Is
 
 every Confederate soldier by conferring right or title upon him by the Bill of Rights of that Constitution. Privileges are granted to them al the expense of the rest of the people and plainly in con- fict with the Federal Constitution. The grandfather clause is clearly condemned by the new Constitution itself. You de- clare that no man can vote who is not registered. It has been heard that all white men were to be register and all negroes to be rejected as man or oad character or who does not understand the principles of our government.
 You are going to get white supremacy by dishonest elections or negro domina- tion. and honest elections" declared Colo mel Denson. The delegates were doubtful of it's standing and refused to own their own child. as they provided that if it was declared unconstitutional. 1t should not affect the ballot. Why did they refuse to publish the speeches of Governors Oates and Jones, Captain Waite and oth- CTS against that portion of the document? You prefer darkness to light, because your deeds were evil. he said. If we are to have Constitution. let us have a legitimate one.
 EAAv kicked out tbN petitions to put