The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-15
SHELLEY'S PROPOSITION
 REJECTED / f UNDERWOOD
State Democratic Camps A Committee True to Its Trust--An z$ress to the People
 1 Alabama.

State DemOcrauc SannpalsH NASsSS met at State Democratic headquarters In the Metropolitan Hotel annex at l2:SO o'clock today. The chief business to come before the meeting was consdera- 1 ton of the proposition of General Charles M. Shelley and the anti-ratifica- ton campaign committee for white pri- mary to decide how white men shall vote | on the question of ratification, and the reading and approval of the address 10 the people which Chairman Underwood | was empowered to issue. When the | meeting came to order the following members of the committee were found to | be present: Chairman Oscar w. Under wood, Birmingham; George P. Jones. Montgomery; Congressman Henry b. | Clayton, Eufaula; E. K. Campbell, irm- ingham w. T. Sanders. Limestone Coun- ty; B. A. Thompson, Birmingham; Will liam W. Brandon, Tuscaloosa; Joe ". Nathan, Colbert County; Judge A. j.. Driver, Chambers County; B. F. Fillmore. Marenso County; A M. Tunstall. Hale | County; w. B. Browne, Shelby County; | Congressman J. L. Burnett, Etowah County.
 Henry Clayton is Confident. l Before the meeting was called to order there was informal exchange of views among the members of the committee and all brought good news as to the progress of the campaign for the ratifica- ton of the new Constitution. The con- sensus of opinion was that ratification is gaining ground everywhere and that the standardization forces are not well or- ganized Congressman Henry D. Clay ton, who two weeks ago was very conser- vative in his views is now sanguine. He said: There is now no doubt about rati- fcation. The sentiment is growing everywhere. 1 find that the quasi organi- | cations of anti-ratif1catonists are going to pieces in a number of counties. In the ratio that the people are informed on the provisions of the new Constitution and its they are turning toward ratification The new constitution will be ratified. That is assured.''
 It was 3:30 o'clock when the executive session of the committee ended. It was I . approved the reply of Chairman Under wood to geenral Shelley with regard tc the proposed white mans primary. The proposition they declined in the follow II ing reply which had been sent to General Shelley:
 The Reply to General Shelley.
 Birmingham, Ala, Oct. 14, 1901. General c. M. Shelley, Chairman, Birm-
 ingham, Ala:
 Dear Sir-In reply to your letters of October 7th and 11th. in the first of which you ask me to join you in submit ting the ratification or rejection of the new Constitution to a white primary of all the voters in Alabama, and in the second of which. in reply to my letter asking what power you had to bind the white Republicans of the State, to such a proposition, you candidly admit that you have none and propose that you and I should arrange some plan for white primary, and then secure the co-opera- ton of the white Republicans of the State:
 l do not recall any time in the history of the Democratic party of our State, when it has appealed to the Republican party for cooperation or assistance In determining the great questions that nave from time to time confronted it, nor do believe that such a proposition would
 
 masses of the Democratic voters in the State.
 The last Democratic State Convention pledges the Democracy of the State to submit the question of ratification or re- jection of the new Constitution to the people, which in my humble judgment is now party law.
 When the constitution was adopted by the convention at Montgomery, the Democratic State Executive Committee organized the Democratic State Cam paign Committe of which l have the | honor to be chairman. to conduct cam paign in the name of the Democratic party for the ratification of the new con | stitution. and the powers of my commit tee do not extend beyond those dele gated by the Democratic State Executive Committee. and we have no power to make an agreement with the Republican party, or such a one as you suggest. We do not represent any Republicans. But | without suggestion on my part, If you | think such an arrangement wise. you are free to negotiate with the chairman of the Republican State Committee for a | white primary, and If your proposition is accepted by him, you can then submit the matter to the Democratic State | Executive Committee, which alone has authority to bind the Democracy of the State to such an agreement.
 In the mean time l call YOun attention l to the facts that the election for the ratification or rejection of the new Con- stitution is to be held on November 11th; that the Republican party, and more | especially the negroes, have organized an opposition to ratification and that this 1 committee would be recreant to the trust reposed in 1t by the Democratic State Executive Committee if it should even temporarily lay aside its commission or ahate it's efforts to bring to the attention of the people the good to accrue to the whole State by the ratification of the new Constitution. Of course it Is need less for me to say that as our committee was created by the Democratic State Executive Committee. we will be bound bv whatever action that committee takes.
 I have the honor to be-
 Very respectfully yours, | oscar w. Underwood Chairman Democratic State Campaign
 Committee.
 An Address to People.
 The Committee also issued the following address to the people of Alabama on the | subject of the new Constitutions
 To the People of Alabama:
 The movement. having for it's purpose the framing and adoption of new or l ganic law for the State of Alabama, Is hot of sudden growth. For years 1t has been realized that the present Constitd- ton has apparent and real deficiencies | considered with reference to conditions obtaining in the State and its material | md political advancement. and, during | these years. public sentiment gradually | formed Tn favor of calling Convention | to frame a new Constitution