The age-herald., 1901-10-08
ANTI-RATIF|ERS
 HOLD 4 MEETING Large Attendance Represented
 Nearly Every County LEADERS ARE CONFIDENT Proposition Submitted To Chairman Underwood for Holding a PrI-
 mary Election On New Con-
 stltution-AnsWer Today.
LEADERS ARE CONFIDENT

The State campaign committee opposed Shelley is chairman, held its first meet ing yesterday Not only was there pret- representative men came by invitation from nearly every county to confer with the leaders of the standardization move ment.
 The company assembled at headquarters in the Hotel Morris must have numbered close on to two hundred. The lobby of the hotel before and after the meeting presented a scene of animation that re- minded one of some of the memorable campaigns of other days.
 Former Congressman Jesse F. Stallings was present early, and before the meeting said he felt sure that the anti-ratifiers would win victory.
 Among those In attendance when Gen. were:
 w. IT. Bartlett, Marshall County; J. M Foshee, Conecuh; Col. S. E. Wilson, Ma rion; Capt. James Crook, Calhoun; Bibb Graves, Montgomery; D. K. Middleton, Lowndes; J. F. Stallings, Butler; E. W. Booker Fillmore; L. A. Easterly Lowndes; Circuit Clerk A. Douglass, Lowndes; D. A. Mccall, Lowndes; P. c. Steagall, Dale; ex-Senator Hall, Jackson; N. D. Maske, Jefferson; V. Lee Cowart, Jefferson; J. A. Prestwood, Covlngton; J. DeB. Hooper, Jefferson; D. W. Waite St. Clair; M. w. Whatley, Clay; w. H. Denson, Jefferson; Judge A. E. Caffee, Jefferson; w. T. Terry, Jefferson; A. M. Prude, East Lake; B. T. Phillips, Lee; r. Nj. Pankay, Mont gomery; H. M. Wilson. Lee; T. P. Hud- man, Lee; l.. II. Reynolds, Chiffon; P. O. Stevens, Tallapoosa Edward Flynn, Bir- mingham; F. s. Moody, Tuscaloosa; E. B. Kirkbride, Mobile; I. G. Waite, Jeffer- son; L. Cook, Cook Springs; R. P. Wet more, Birmingham; Ed L. Pulley, Madi- son; P. J. McGeever, Birmingham; Pat O'Hare, Jefferson; W. H. Bernard of Jeff ferson and J. M. Anderson of Jefferson. It was a public conference and all visitors were free to speak
 General Shelley's opeing remarks were listened to with close attention. He said the adoption of the new constitution meant farewell to American citizenship and political liberty.
 His friends had told him, he said not to oppose the new constitution, as it was going to be adopted anyhow, by fraud. if necessary. It Is not one for special can didates, whose terms expire in a short time. This election Is for an organic law, which, if once fastened on us we cannot get rid of. The new constitution ensures perpetuation of fraud. We would be un- true to American freedom if we failed to resist it's encroachments on the liberties transmitted to us by our forefathers. Our liberties are dear to us. For injuries to our women we wreak vengeance. Then our political liberties The new constitu- tion gives insidious powers to encroach on our political liberties.
 We cannot afford to allow this to be done notwithstanding jfngling band wagons and attacks on private charac- ter. The party whip should not control us, neither the off.ce-hunters or the of fice-holders in their band wagon. Their band wagon leads to the grave of liberty. We have no newspapers. Therefore let us go to the belfry of liberty and ring the bell until all the people hear and are warned. (Applause) A minister of the gospel had told him that he was ready to take his gun and march to another conflict if the new constitution were warmly applauded.
 MT. Wilson of Marion made 0 short speech in which he said the people were rallying by General Shelley. Marion would give 300 to 1000 against ratification. Franklin a commensurate majority. and Fayette Is a good one"
 How about Bankhead?' was asked.
 Mir. Wilson: "Bankhead will stay at those springs if he knows what side his bread is buttered on." Naughter)
 MT. Moody of Tuscaloosa said:
 This good attendance of good men is a good augury. It means that the people are interested. I hope the gentlemen on the other side will remember that we are white men, too. and give us fair cleo tion. If they favor honest elections. let us begin on November Il. I hope they will counsel fairness
 Other speakers followed and all of them took hopeful view of the outlook against the constitution.
 After the conference the committee went into executive sess:on and dis cussed campaign measures until late in the afternoon. ss
 A subcommittee was appointed to pre- pare a proposition to be submitted to Chairman Underwood of the State Dem ocratic committee. The subcommittee