The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-02
DELEGATES WORKED HARD
Registration Plan Passed Fire
 of the Body.
Section 19 Providing for Legislature Remedying Defects Proved to Be Stumbling Block-Sev-
 eral Speeches Made.

Contrary to expectations, the Suf- frage Article was almost completed by the Constitutional Convention yester- lay, and the sixtieth working day o1 he body was marked by more work than any day which has gone before Three sections of the Article were re- committed to the Committee and the Convention progressed as far as Sec lion 19-the last Section-when the hour of adjournment arrived.
 Section 19, which provides for the Legislature remedying defects which may be found in the Article by the courts, proved to be stumbling block and will no doubt cause some debate to- day. It was assailed by MT. Lowe of Jefferson, who declared that it showed the weakness of the whole plan.
 Judge Coleman of Greene. Chairman of the Suffrage Committee. was indis- posed yesterday afternoon and the Committee report was piloted by Cap tain White of Jefferson, acting Chair man of the Committee.
 Proceedings of Convention.
 The Convention was opened with prayer at g o'clock yesterday morning by Rev. A. J. Lamar. and 112 dele gates were present.
 Upon call of the roll for introduction of ordinances. petitions and memorials, MT. Pettus of Limestone, sent up a petition from citizens of his county protesting against free railroad passes.
 MT. Chapm of Sumter, introduced a resolution authorizing the Rules Committee to fix a time for the Con vention to adjourn sine die.
 The Suffrage committee reported a substitute for the employment clause of Section so as to read that the per son shall have been emplo @d "the greater part of twelve months, and ths subdivision was adopted; '>''-- '--''
 MT. Long of Walker, undertook to strike out the property qualification clause, but he was unsuccessful and the clause was adopted
 Section 10 providing for a Board of Registrars was read, and the first bar agraph was adopted.
 The first subdivision precipitated a lengthy debate. It sets out at great length the duties of the Board of Reg istrars, the manner of registration and those who shall be registered.
 MT. Reese of Dallas, sent up an amendment excluding ilIegitimate per sons from registration, and made an elaborate speech in which he showed that tine amendment was aimed at the loafing class of negroes. There were no white men of this class in his coun- ty. If there were such white men in North Alabama they should reap the consequences.
 Judge Cojeman opposed the amend ment and upon his motion 1t was ta- hled.
 MT. Reynolds Speaks.
 Mir, Reynolds. the Populst delegate from Chiffon. got the floor and made an elaborate argument against the registration plan. He said there was no penalty attached to the Board for failure in it's duty to the people. It was not ignorant persons who corrupt ed elections. He declared that he was only in favor of disfranchising negroes who sold their votes.
 Governor Oates sent up an amend ment that nor more than two mem hers of the Board of Registrars should be of the same political party and ad- dressed the Convention. He wanted it Eo go out from the Convention that no wrong was contemplated.
 Judge Walker of Madison. replying tO '1pNViIOI NJdICSs Sdlu that lne tom mittee had considered this matter and had concluded that nothing indicative of partisanship should be put into the Constitution.
 On motion of MT. ONeal of Lauder dale. the Oates amendment was tabled. "A to 49. @ ..--:
 Subdivision | as reported by the Committee was then adopted
 Subdivision was then read. If pre- scribes the date and number of hours on which the registrars shall be on duty and no person shall be registered except at the county site or in the precinct in which he resides.
 An amendment by MT. Foster of Tus- caloosa, allowing a greater time fQI reg istrars to be on duty in counties of over 1000 square miles. was presented and the amendment was accepted.
 A further amendment by Mir. Will Hams of Marengo. to extend the great CT time to counties of 900 square miles or over was adopted and after several unsuccessful attempts to amend the subdivision it was adopted.
 The Convention then. at 1 o'clock, recessed until 80 o'clock.
 THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
 The Convention reassembled at 3:3s o'clock with 133 delegates present.
 The order of business was subdivis- ion of Section 10 of the Article on Suffrage which provides for the per sons who shall be registered and the duty of registrars.
 The subdivision was adopted without division.
 The fourth subdivision was then read. It provides that the Board of Registrars shall hold sessions at the court house of their respective coun- ties during the entire third week in November. 1902. and for six working days next prior to the goth day of De cember. 1902. during which sessions they shall register all rSrsons applying who possess the qualified tions,