The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-27

But to return to the fertilizer propo- | sition. I think there is a large and corpulent African in the wood pile and we have sufficient negroes to deal with already without dealing with the Sene- gambian aforesaid. ana 1 trust. gentle | men, will remember that all of this legislation in behalf of fertilizers was originally conceived in a spirit of love for the farmer. Why, when the agita- ton was first made in behalf of gen. lline fertilizers. everybody was threat ened with dire penalties and pains if they didn't vote for 1t. It was a move ment in the interest of the agricultu- ral classes and the Hill Biilies all swarmed on Capitol Hill and they all had their clubs with them and the em- bryo statesmen were told that hepe is a movement in favor of the agricultu- ral classes and if you don't support 1t with your voice and vote, and your in- ffuence. we will do you up. Conse- quently, in deference to the wishes and desires of the Agricultural classes this beneficial legislation was placed upon the statute books, and now, they have discovered that 1t was a mistake and are threatening us with the same pains and purgatorial penalties that they held suspended over our heads before. I yield to no man in love for the farm l lawyer or merchant, in fact everybody who has a vote, and some who have not.
 Now this is all I desire to say. I want to go upon record as represent ing the Democracy, or rather the peo- pie of Covington County as being op- posed to this movement. I am opposed to stigmatizing this Constitutional Con- vention by a movement which seeks to blow up and destroy the schools de- signed and intended for purely unsel- fish and generous purposes. think you gentlemen all understand the mer- it's of the pending controversy and do not feel that or any man can add one jot or little to the able and luminous argument made by the gentleman from Syllacauga.
 Mir. Graham--I don't come from Syl- iacauga.
 Mir. opp-whatever place the gentle man halls from is honored in 8 high degree.
 Mr. Burns--I rise to ask the gentle man question.
 The President-Does the gentleman from Covington yield to the question? Mr. >Opp-Yes, 1t is customary. MT. Burns-I would ask the gentle man if he is aware that when Mir Hawkins and the representative farm- CTS advocated this measure, they be- lieved and honestly believed that these would be agricultural schools instead of such as they now are?
 Mir. Opp-I desire to say to the gen. tleman, who is a rare compound of Justinian and Josh Billings 0mmense applause) that I am wholly ignorant of MT. &Iawkins's connection with the pending controversy; know little and care less. The question we are dealing with is just this, aside from the hu- nor. which the always humorous gen. tleman from Dallas Is injecting into this controversy, that the great and crucial question is simply this: Shall we come down to brass tacks and build a Constitution for the State of Ala bama or shall we descend to guano taxes. butter taxes, cheese taxes and other things of that sort? say with out disrespect to any gentleman, be- cause it Is easy to be hurried beyond our original intention upon the flood tide of this and similar debates, that. 1t Is high time We were side-tracking all these immaterial issues; and if the farmers or any other gentlemen think the imposition of this tax is unwise and unjust they should make a solid concerted attack upon the next Legis- lature and see that this tax is removed and that the injustice is remedied
 submit that the legislatures of this State are always unduly sensitive and susceptible to any just and reasonable demand of the farmers of Alabama: and he has read the legislation of Ala -l ! oama to but little purpose who dares to assert In the presence of intelligent men that the Democratic party has been faithless or recreant in, the dis charge of its duty to the agricultural and to all working and other classes; and trust that The pending amend ments will be decisively defeated. that they will be cleared out of the way. and l will not say he who dallIes as a das- tard and he who doubts is damned, but l will say. when 1t comes to vot- ing for this, that he who daIlies is a daisy and he who doubts is a Dem- ocrat. (Applause)
 MT. Bulger--I have taken up very little of the time of this Convention. nave been content to listen to the arguments of learned gentlemen on the questions that have been presented to this Convention and then to cast my humble vote according to my Judgment Of the best interests of the people of Alabama. l am friend to all the in- stitutions of learning in Alabama, from the log cabin school up to the Univer- sity of the State, and I would not do or say anything that would detract from the interest of any school In our state. But would invite the members or this convention to go back to the question involved in this amendment, With all the eloquence I have heard upon this floor in opposition of this amendment, 1 have yet to hear one word or one syllable from any man saying that this tag tax upon the farmers of Alabama is a fair and just tax. None of them have said that. They all seem n put their defense on the side of the District Agricultural Schools in this State. But that Is not the question before this Convention. The question before this Convention Is will Alabama longer be a party U levying an unjust tax upon the people of Alabama whether it be a farmer. a lawyer or doctor. The diStin- guished gentleman from Talladega says If this amendment passes 1t Is a clear loss to the State of $75.0 .000.
 MT. Graham (Talladega)-$135,0 ,0Q0. I said.
 Mr Bulger-If this law passes 1t leaves that $1S5,0OO in the pockets of the farmers of Alabama, and if 1t is there 1t is far from lost.
 Mir. Graham (Talladega)-Will the gentleman permit a statement?
 MT. Bulger-Certainly?
 Mir. Graham CTalladega)-The$ $136,- 900 referred to is the school property, not the tax. l would like to know how the farmers wtu get the school prop erty.
 MT. Bulger-When the gentleman from Talladega interrupted me 1 was tellinO that he had suggested if tthis