The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-16
SENATOR PETTUS
Opposed to Grandfather Clause.

Birmingham Age Herald.
 United States Senator Edmund Win- ston Pettus spent yesterday in Bir- mingham, and the many admirers and friends who greeted him were glad to see him unmistakably in perfect health.
 Senator Pettus Is even robust a2d looks ten years under his noble age.
 The Senator was in good humor and kind spirits as he waited for a West End car at Nineteenth Street and Sec- ond Avenue. To friend, newspaper man, who stopped to greet him, he said he was going to the West End to make a hurried visit to kinsman, "who is in a store out there."
 The Senator's admiring friend ven- tured to observe that the Constitu- tional Convention appeared to be lit- tie slow.
 Well, I don't know about that" Sen- ator Pettus said. There have been some disagreements amongst the dele gates, arl l believe they are trying to arrive at the best possible understand ing in regard to the grave questions involved
 Asked if he were willing to say any, thing for the public regarding the suf- frage plan as submitted by the major ity of the Convention committee, Sem ator PettuS re piled:
 T am on record as being opposed to the grandfather clause.
 When Semmes first brought out the grandfather proposition in Louisiana studied the question carefully and found myself unable to agree with him. so stated at the time, and I have had no reason to change my views.
 If 1 were delegate to the Coneti- tutional Convention I should vote against the grandfather clause" Sena- tor Pettus declared.
 You must understand. however. that l shall vote for the new Constitution, even if the grandfather clause Is finally made one of its provisions.
 Tt is my purpose to vote to ratify whatever the Convention shall frame as the Constitution of the State, unless of course, there should be some out rage upon the people, which is not to be expected. When the proposition was made to interfere with the right of trial by jury. then I began to ask myself on which side I should stand. But there is now no dangerin that direction.
 We should always make allowances for difference of opinion amongst men. All men do not and cannot always have the same views regarding public ques- tions
 We have wise men in the Consti- tutional Convention, and I am willing to abide by their conclusions. We sent them there to make the new Constitu- tion, and I am willing to allow them to do the best they can. Personally I am not trying to shape their work. The people have given me one duty to per- form, and that is about the most I can attend to.
 Asked for his opinion on the regis tration plan. as propoesd by the Con- vention, Senator Pettus said:
 T am in favor of allowing the people of the counties as much control of reg istration and the management of cleo tions as possible.
 'I am in favor of the people of ev- cry beat controlling their own affairs in every possible or practicable particu- lar. The people themselves know best what they want"
 Senator Pettus left Birmingham in the afternoon for Blount Springs. He said he was going to join his wife and daughter at Blount. and that he had promised his wife to accompany her to Monte Sano this week.