The age-herald., 1901-09-22
Opening Speech of the Cam paign by Hon. John B.
 Knox
AT ATHENS ON OCTOBER 7
Committee Holds Meeting to Discuss conditions-FaVorabI Reports Come From All Over
 the State.

The Hon. oscar w. UnderWood, cnalr- man of the state campaign committee, created by authority of the state Demo- cratic executive committee for the pur- pose of prosecuting the fight for the rat ification of the new constitution, and the party workers associated with him, press themselves as confident of victory for their cause. Considerable apathy pre- vails now, but this will pass away, they say, when the campaign work gets well under way.
 Hon. John B. Knox will open the cam paign with a speech at Athens, Limestone County, on October '.
 Democratic leaders from various sec | tions of Alabama were decidedly in evil dence in Birmingham yesterday, and cam | paign headquarters in the Metropolitan Annex, where the committee was called | to hold at noon it's first meeting, and the | courthouse. where the Democratic exec utive committee of Jefferson County held a meeting. presented scenes of political animation, and recalled some of the stir ring contests of other days.
 Prominent Democrats Here.
 Among the prominent Democrats who came to town, besides members of the campaign committee, were Sid Bowie John B. Knox, J. J. Sebels, Pat Mo Gauly, Chancellor W. H. Tayloe, w. c. Tunstall, John V. Smith. Charles Teas ley J. D. Riggs, Gordon Mcdonald, w. H. Hubbard, F. N. Julian, w. R. Waller, Sam Jenkins, G. w. Halls, and MT. Cox of Pickens; Chancellor Carmichael and ~. ent at headquarters.
 Mir Underwood decided that 1t would be advisable before converting his com mittee in executive session, to hold an open meeting or conference in order that the party leaders, who were not members might be heard. At a few minutes past 12 the chairman called the gathering to order.
 The campaign committee named by MT. Underwood a few days ago consists of Ben F. Fillmore, Demopolis; George w. Jones, Montgomery; Congressman Henry D. Clayton, Eufaula; w B. Brown, Co., lumbiana; A. J. Driver, Lafayette; w. w. | Brandon, Tuscaloosa; Congressman John L. Burnett, Gadsden; J. H. Nathan, shef- | field; B. A. Thompson. Birmingham: A.
 
 Birmingham; W. T. Sanders, Athens. The only members not present were Mr. Elmore. MT. Brown and Congressman Burnett. The latter sent a telegram to say that he had missed railroad connec- | tion, and 1t was supposed that the other two were unavoidably absent
 Visitors Express Their Views.
 Colonel Brandon moved that the chair be requested to call on the visiting Democrats present to express their views and his motion prevailed. | MT. Stanford of Pike was the first called on He said his section was in a waiting but in a kindly and receptive at titude to the ratification question. All that was needed, he thought, to secure ratification of the Constitution was the education of the people. Good, conserva- ] tive speakers were needed to explain the l Constitution. Ratification would, in his opinion, receive more votes in Pike county than the call for the Constitutional Con- vention got.
 Gordon Mcdonald of Montgomery being called upon for report on the situa- | ton in his county stated that there was opposition, especially in the country pre- cincts, but 1t was due largely to misap- prehension, for opposition was already disappearing where explanation had been made. He favored quiet house to house canvass. The city of Montgomery he said was safe.
 | Chancellor Tayloe of Perry reported that there was no fear of defeat in his county All that was needed was to get out the vote.
 Enemies of Good Government.
 The Hon. John B. Knox who was presi- | dent of the Constitutional Convention said he believed in active and progressive l campaign. We are on the safe side" he declared, 'and stand for what will benefit the people. The gentlemen op | posing the movement are simply enemies of good government in this State as their campaign, if successful, would result in retaining the menace of the negro" MT. Knox concluded by saying that he thought Calhoun and all that section would vote for ratification.
 MT. Cox of Pickens said 1t was hard to tell how his county would go. It went against the call, but he believed 1t could if work of education was pushed, be brought into the ratification column. The people of Pickens were not informed 1 They needed, MT. Cox said. literature on the subject of the new instrument.
 MT. Teasley of Montgomery, endorsed what MT. Mcdonald had said. His county would give majority for ratification If the proper canvass was made.
 John " Smith of Russell said that on the surface the opposition was stronger than 1t would appear on the final show down." He urge vigorous campaign in all the doubtful counties. He was in- formed that even Dale County might be carried for the constitution. He found no opposition in Russell, but on the con- trary great enthusiasm. Russell would give a big majority for ratification. With 1 a proper canvass could be brought into | line.
 To Educate the People.
 MT. Siebels of Montgomery was con- vinced that the country people needed in formation. Good speakers, he said, must l be sent to them.
 MT. McGauley. president of the Bime- talic Club of Montgomery, said that there was no trouble whatever in his city and that in the country districts quite a change in favor of ratification had taken | place.
 l MT. Hales of Montgomery had found | opposition in his county. He said the (Continued on Page Eight.l