The age-herald., 1901-11-10
KNOX CLOSES CAMPAIGN WITH SHOT AT DENSON Speaks to a Large Audience At CenrteTiIIe in Bibb
 County SHOWS UP EX-GOV. JOHNSTON Quotes Denson's Speech AssaiIing the Former Chief Executive When
 He Called the Famous "Extra Session"
SHOWSUP EX-GOV. JOHNSTON


 attentively to MT. Knox for two hours.
 In discussing the necessity for new constitution, Mir. Knox said:
 "The demand for a new constitution regard as the re-awalSening of the moral sense of our people. It comes not from any particular section, but from every part of the state. It Is born of the con-
 viction that things are not right in this state, and that the moral tone of public matters is not what 1t should be; that there are methods and practices openly indulged in nearly every part of the state which cannot be continued as a permanent condition; that the baneful influence of such practices if continued, will degrade and corrupt our entire citi- zenship"
 In support of his statement as to the
 necessity of prompt action, Mir. Knox
 called up the statements of opponents to ratification. From Governor Johnstons
 message to the Legislature in 1898, he
 quoted as follows: T submit to your
 patriotic consideration the selection of
 the wisest course to pursue. But must
 insist that we shall be reoreant to our duty if we temporize with conditions that
 are pregnant with evil"
 Gave Vague Promises.
 'Messrs. Johnston and Shelley give amendment which will be ever so much superior some day" he continued. When or what it is. they do not state. We re- member Governor Johnston's having the call for the convention, two years ago, repealed by a special session of the Leg 4-ln ts.wA kI.- AI.,k A. ...A would be more economical, but no amend ment was forthcoming. And now, after the Legislature has submitted a call for a convention, the people have sustained
 the call. the convention has drafted a constitution, giving them the reform for which it was called, and 1t is to be voted on. they want 1t voted down, to make way for their promised amendment. ''The four gentlemen who are leading the opposition to ratification" continu- ed Mir. Knox. >Messrs. Shelley. John ston, StalliRgs and Denson. are upon public record as recognizing the necessity
 for constitutional reform in this state. Johnston's One Objection. Governor Johnston in 8 signed state ment which he sent out recently to in- f1uence your votes. says that our present constitution Is all that could be desired. and that no one has been heard to object to 1t save with reference to It's suffra ge provisions.
 Refutes Himself.
 "But I can find an objector who will. I believe, command the respect even of the Governor himself. I beg to read you what he said in his message to the Legis- lature in 1896, when he was acting as the sworn officer of the state. and doubtless felt grateful to the people for the high honor which they had conferred upon
 him. In this message. he says;
 The duty is upon you to consider the
 necessity for a new constitution for our state. That the present constitution has | served it's purposes, and now embarras- ses rather than promotes the objects it should serve is manifest to all thinking men, "
 Goes After Denson. In discussing the position of Colonel Denson, Mr. Knox said:
 q was present during a joint discussion between Colonel Denson and Mir. Lomax at Montgomery, and understood Colonel Denson also to assert not only that our suffrage plan was unconstitutional, but that without the repeal of the Fifteenth Amendment we were remediless. After examining his record, I am somewhat in the condition of a gentle man who was arrested by policeman recently in Brooklyn. Iou know, they have been having in Greater New York very heated municipal campaign. in which MT. Seth Low was the Republican or fusion candidate, and MT. Edward M. | Shepard the Democratic candidate. When arrested the gentleman asked the police man why he was arrested, and was in- | formed that he was arrested because he was drunk.
 Why the gentleman replied. T am not drunk
 "'But you are,' the policeman insisted if you are not drunk you have been drinking
 '''No.' the gentleman replied, T have | not had a single drink
 "'Well. then. what on earth is the matter with you?
 '' Why, the gentleman explained, T have been examining the political record of Tammanys candidate for Mayor, and am simply dizzy
 Foaming at the Mouth. Colonel Denson Is travelling around the state fairly foaming at the mouth and seemingly perfectly outraged that we should have attempted to confer up- on the soldier any peculiar distinction. He says we are attempting to create a class of nobility with hereditary rights not enjoyed by other citiznes.' Fellow citizens, as has been well remarked, if 1t was in our power to take any class of our citizenship and place them above every other class. and place upon their
 
 of this state would with one accord con- fer this honor upon the Confederate sol- dier.
 But we have done nothing of the kind, nor have we attempted to do so. What we have done is to provide protection for | the soldier. and not only the soldier, | but the son of the soldier in rights with which they are already invested. But what of Colonel Densons past re- cord on this proposition? Let me read
 you from an address which he made be- | fore the state convention of the Demo- | cratic party of Alabama on March 31, | 1899, of which he was chairman. Indicat-
 ing the suffrage plan which he believed | the constitutional convention should | adopt, he said:
 "Now. how are you going to limit it? | Put an educational qualification? Yes. Will that be sufficient? No. How are you | going to do 1t? Put a property qualifi- | cation in it. Say three hundred dollars; | and a man that did not possess that much cannot vote
 'Ye gods and little fishes Is it possible | that this gentleman. who can now hard ] ly sieep at night for fear that some poor