The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-18
me to ask a question?
 Mir. Spraggins-Yes.


 Mir. Spraggins-Yes.
 MT. Oates-It has just been called to my attention by the Adjutant-General, who is our reading clerk here. that the probabilities are that of the $S0,eOO ap- propriated by Congress for the use Of the militia in Alabama, onc-half Of 1t probably, or nearly so. will be with held, in the event that we adopt the word white so as to exclude the negro and there Is but one negro company now in service. would like to ask of the gentleman If that is the case!
 MT. Spraggins--I don't know whether that is true or not, but the judgment of the Committee is that the appropria- tion was made upon the available strength in the State that was subject to duty in the Alabama National IGuard, whether white or black. ,.1 ,
 MT. Harrison-The language of the first section here reads, after specifying who shall be, that there shall be liaoie for military duty in the State-doesnt that exclude any but white men from being liable?
 MT. Spraggins-Yes.
 MT. Harrison-Then wouldn't 1t be Taken away from you on your state meut? Under this appropriation rom Congress, would not you be excluded!
 Mr. Sprasgins-The appropriation is not made on who is liable to duty put upon the available strength or the State, that is. the number Of male m habitants in the State between the ages of IS and 45 That Is our Juosnenl os what the law means. The majority or ltbe Committee was of the opinion that even if we lost one-half of the appro- riation of the general government or nearly one-half, as the proportion o. whites is more than the proportion or hIacks in the State; but if we lost tnls appropriation, we thought 1t wise anu prudent to lose 1t.
 During the Spanish American war, there were four negro companes n the | Alabama National Guard out or the three regiments. Three of those com Inanies have been disbanded or mustered out under the State authorities put there is one still existing. NoW' the history of any troops, when there are some white and some black, you put regiment composed Of eleven "hi.e companies and one negro company II. camp at Mobile. and there Is constaSt friction between the members oI Una. regiment. between the white troops ana the negro troops, and our Judgment was that it would be wise, even Tn tne event that we lost one-half of the ap- nronriation from the National Govern ment, it would be for the pest interests of the State of Alabama and the people of Alabama to lose 1t.
 MT. Oates-In encamptment as you mt 1t. they would necessarily pc pu' and kept together, or near ., The Adiutant- General would never ai- low that. He would put them so there would be no friction. No sucn thins aver occurs of being encampeo to- MT spragins-wer. you do that by outhoritv of office, then, ana not by authority of law. II 'heIe av is a brigade encampment oL
 troobs within the brigade at one plaU. p;I,, then the negro troops must heceest he a part of that brigade encampiieht; xr oates-Not necessarily at all. did not construe the law, and during nv administration. had brigade en- camnment of all white troops Tn MO hi,e and the next week after they u's- persed the negro battahoh was
 canned on the same ground:
 MT Spragins-Well, you might do lt that way. but certainly if there were any trouble, if they do not orlI -ue them together or do not encamp them together in regimental camps, Il tneae ae were trouble at Birmingham as we once had among the strikers. mob, then certainly if the troops were all neces- sarv the negro troops would have to come up with the white troops, ana tbev would be brigaded to- gether and encamped together as reg liment. It was done that way at Tampa Fla, during the Spanish-Amerlcah | war. 1,,,
 Mr. Jones (Montgomery)-No Cover nor has ever ordered the State troops to come in contact with the negro troops.
 MT. Spragins-But some Governor might. We have heard enough on the floor this morning to suspect that the time may come when some GoVernor might do that. (Applause) And 1T IL is necessary for us to lose from the Ma tional Government that part of the na- tional appropriation the majority or this Committee says that it is to the hest interest of the people of Alabama that 1t should be lost. We had enough of that thing in Huntsville, and l sup | nose the gentleman from Anniston had | enough of it in the winter after She | Spanish American war when the neSro troops and the white troops were guar | tered in and around those respective | towns, and I for one think that II IS for the best interest of the people or Alabama that our National GLdro should be composed exclusively or "hite people.
 Mr. Aehcraft-It is with great reluct- ance that I undertake to say anything upon this question because l know that our first sentiments are for the reten- ton of this word white" in this Sec | ton of the Constitution. But there are other matters ot eXpediency than those of accidental or possible associ- alton of the white and the negro troops. We not only have to live among our selves, but we have to live under the view of all the civilized world, and If it is the desire of this Convention to awake up every sentimental agitator in the whole country outside of the State of Alabama, then let them keep this word white" in this Constitution. Everywhere the agitators will be re- mindng the negro of the fact that he does not possess the right to enter the military, that he does no possess the right to volunteer to defend his coun- l try, that he does not possess the right to exercise any of the higher obliga- tions enjoined upon him by any patri- otic sentiment. They would have the best of the sentimental argument. The rnegro at present does not demand any Representation in the State troops. It Is 1 true he has company that has been | here for twenty years and there are very few citizens in Alabama who know | that there is such d company, l dare l say. He has not been obnoxious; he 1 has not been in the way. He can never get among the troops except in the dis l cration Of the Governor. The white