The age-herald., 1901-10-20

Tn party history this Is the first time have ever heard of the people not being allowed to select their own representa- tives. He said sixty-six sheriffs ] been given two years term without any elec- ton whatever.
 MT. Bowie here interrupted the speaker and said the sheriffs had to have their terms extended to make all of the con- stitutional officers elected at the same time.
 MT. Hall replied: We understood that one reason was that the sheriffs con- trolled the ballots" Laughter.) Con tinuing he said: They have donated to every hoid over Senator two years time" Now I want to ask about that com promise with the solicitors" turning to MT. Bowie. Didn't you give them office, too7'
 Mr. Bowie-"No, sir; we made them elected by the people. Resuming MT. Hall said the constitu- ton was born in sin and conceived in iniquity.
 What does the distinguished chairman of the Democratic party say of the fran chise scheme? In substance he said it was as rotten as the bottom of the grave. MT. Lowe said: Ut is a plan that rem ders possible infamous frauds in Ala bama, the most infamous ever perpe- trated in Alabama because they will be written In our conslitution.' while he was saying those words the president tried to floor him but he would not be floored.
 1t Is a Deception. q want to say that the scheme does not do what 1t pretends to do. Charley Waller told me there wasn't an 18-year- old negro boy in Hale county who
 couldn't read and write Now If the permanent plan is carried out Charley
 Waller will try to have all those negroes registered"
 Senator Hall then denounced the prop erty qualification and said the Democratic party had always been against it. Discussing the educational clause, he said when the question was brought up for fear the constitution would not be ratified a chill went up the backbone of certain members of the convention. He said under the clause Mobile can come and take up $40,0O0 of your public school funds.
 MT. Bowie: That is in the old constitu- tion.
 MT. Hall: We'll, if 1t is, 1t was put there by similar methods, and besides, the new constitution perpetuates it. MT. Bowie then quoted the constitu- ton, which claimed that the Legislature could change the law whenever it saw fit.
 On the taxation question MT. Hall said
 
 funds and then tell you that we are bet ter off.
 q want to tell you, when you disfran-
 chise these negroes and some white men you are going to throw away some of your school money" Mr. Hall declared the educational sec tion ''required a man to read and write correctly a section of the new consr1tu- ton. I don't believe there are many law yers in the State of Alabama who can do it." r
 Turning to MT. Bowie he said: "Ain't that soY' MT. Bowie replied: NO; there's no such provision in the constitution"
 Discussing the placing of the power of qualifying voters in the hands of three registrars MT. Hall said:
 The nearer you approach centraliza- tion of power the more dangerous is the position of our republican government. Election of Knox.
 This appointment of registrars. I sup pose, will mean the election of John B. Knox to the United States Senate, the re- election of Governor Jelks, and maybe others"
 MT. Knox is not a candidate" inter- rupted MT. Bowie. but is supporting Senator Pettus''
 ."well." replied MT. Hall T don't be- lieve a good lawyer would reject a good thing if 1t came along" Senator Hall then went into a discus sion of the recent election calling the convention. He said in Dallas County there were about 2600 voters. and they gave about 5000 majority. In other words, several thousand negroes voted to dis franchise themselves He said 1t was common talk on the streets of Birmingham that one gigantic steal was contemplated to ratjfy the constitution. They say they will make one big steal and quit the business. Gen