The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-18
An Oath More Sacred Than Party
 Pledge.
GreenyilIe Advocate.

GIeenville Advocate.
 The principal object in calling q Constitutional Convention was for the purpose of eliminating the ignorant negro from the benefit of the elective
 franchise; no sane man, be he ever SC obtuse, can deny that was the most
 prominent feature of the call. The Convention had been in session many days prior to the meeting of the State Press Association in Montgomery, and the suffrage ordinance not only had not been proposed by the Committee, but 1t then seemed that 1t would not be seen. Evidently the Committee had hard problem before them. The President of the Association, General Rhodes, Editor of The Birmingham Evening News, in his address to the Association, made some reference to the Constitutional Convention and said that the memebrs of that body were under greater obligations to observe their sacred oaths to the common wealth of Alabama and to devise the best Constitution possible than to re- deem any party pledges that might hamper them in the proper discharge of their duty. That sentiment was listened to by nearly all of the mem- bers of the Press Association who were in attendance at the meeting, for it was at the first days morning session. It was most generously applauded as If that was the sentiment of the Asso- citation, and we do not hesitate to say that it met with the appreciation of 70 per cent. of those who heard 1t.
 The next day at a meeting of the Association at Jackson's Lake, the sentiment above expressed by the Pres ident, was put in the shape of a res olution. pledging the support of the Press to the members of the Consti- tutionaI Convention should they do as above described, observe their oaths to the State rather than redeem any Party pledges" The resolution was offered just at the close of the days exercises. and there were only some thirty members on the stand. Mhere was some objection to 1t, and consider able discussion, but it was adopted by two-thirds of those present.
 Since the meeting of the Association number of papers who were not present, as well as some few who voted against the resolutions, endeav- ored to make a lot of capital out of the action of those voting for the res- olution.
 We contend that there was nothing detrimental to the interest of the Dem- Ocratlc Party, put that lL WOulu Ue TUT the best interest of the State for the Convention to make the best Constitu- tion possible. and that is just what they will do.
 The Editor of The Advocate was present at the meeting and voted for the resolution. For more than thirty five years he has worked for the suc> cess of the Democratic Party. There has never been an election that the editor of this paper has not only la- bored for the success of the Party, but has given his time and money for the cause. He has never scratched ticket in all these years, believing that it was for the good of the State and county to have a political organization domi. mated by the Democratic Party.
 We are confident that many of those who are clamoring for the upholding of the pledges made in the State Con- vention do not care a continental. not only for the pledges, but for the Dem- ocratic Party. And it makes no diff ference what kind of Constitution is submitted. some of them will doubtless oppose 1t.