The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-14

EI8l <A1eEtHutys ebbAhts t&"e~~ W no prophets here, and no man can LOOK in the future for the next twenty-five or thirty yeaFs and say that c, General Assembly of some other political party might not some day be in power. or that at least the political parties may not when ths suffrage is relieved or us incubus be So divided that there might be some question about whether or not Democratic solicitors would be elected, fifteen or twenty years from now, by tile General Assembly, for the different circuits or different counties which they would provide. It seems to me that We have had this question up, have discussed 1t pro and con, and the Convention has acted upon 1t some four or i've different and successive times, and every time they have shown by their votes that they desire the so- licitors to te elected in their counties by the vote of the people of those coun- ties. Now it Is claimed here. MT President, by some delegates. that this would not be safe. and that we can- not trust the people i'll the different counties to elect their solicitors. The people elect their Sheriffs and elect their Probate Judges and I submit if 1t is right that the General Assembly should elect their solicitors in order that the solicitors might be Democrats in all the counties. and you follow that argument out to it's logical end. the General Assembly should elect trs Sheriffs and Probate Judges in every county in the State and every other county officer forsooth because some counties in the State are Republican or Popu'ist. It would destroy the whole system of Democracy and the whole system of self government. am one of the men. MT. President. while I am a Democrat. have always been a Democrat and expect always ts be one. am net one of those who absolutely distrusts the people. Some suggestions have been made by dele- rates, the gentleman from Greene Tor one, that he hopes to see those people welcomed back to the ranks Of the Democratic party. l say to you if you want to see them come back, the policy to pursue is, to show them that ycY trust the people and extend to them the same Tight of self government and win them back by fair methods. and show them that they shall have some voice in electing their local offi- cers, prosecuting or otherwise. It seems to me also that this discussion is not in place at this time. because It mas been stated that 1t Is well known that no amendment will be in order If the question is reconsidered, and certainly, MT President--
 M- co eman CGtene)-May ask the gentleman question?
 The President-Will the gentleman yield?
 MT. Pettus-Yes.
 MT. Celeman-would not this Con- vention have the right to recommit this article to the Committee on Judi ciary. if 1t saw proper to do so?
 MT. Pettus-As understand the par liamentary status if the question is re- considered, the Convention will have the right to reject the whole article. It has been ordered to a third reading and engrossment, and motion to reconsider this vote has been laid upon the table, and so I do not think it woul1 be in order for the article to be recommitted. The only thing the Con- vention could do would be to defeat the entire article on judiciary. because some section of that article does not please some member who favors circuit solicitors being elected by the General Assembly, and perchance they would rather vote down the entire article on Judiciary, because a certain part does not please them. This question has been settled by four or five distinct test votes in this Convention, put they are not willing 70 abide by the action of this Convention under the rules by which You have been acting for two or three months. lam opposed to the reconsideration of the article.
 MT. Opp--I 60 not desire. MT. Presi- dent. to make a speech. and if were permitted to explain my vote i would remain entirely silent upon this Ques- tion. Mir President, in behalf of the Democracy of Covington county, I beg to enter my solemn protest against what I conceive to be piece of mid summer madness. I dou't believe, MT. President, that this Convention should depart from the time honored mode of selecting solicitors who are to represent the Commonwealth of Alabama. While I esteem the Republicans and Popu- lites upon this floor as highly as any man, I for ono am unwilling to let it so abroad that they have dictated the policy of the great Democratic party upon so important a matter as this. It is matter of record, MT. President, that reconsideration of this vital prop osition failed the other day upon vote of fifty to fifty, from the fact that the solid pnalanx of opposition to the Democracy voted in favor of introduc- ing this innovation. If, sir. it had been bruited CT supposed in Covington. if the Democracy in that county had un- derstood when they sent their delegate to the Constitutional Convention, that the Porulists and Republicans who we have bee. lighting tooth and toe-nail for SO many years-:ecognizing the ef- feet that their action would have upon the future of the Democracy, would be allowed to hold and wied the .'X>lnce of power in this hall, why, Ss.'. they to a man would have registered their opposition by their votes to the as- sembling of thIs Convention. do not believe that the Democracy of the State Of Alabama should permit the Popu- lists and Republicans, however much we might esteem them personally. to dictate to or shackle to any extent or any degree the policy of the great Dem- .ocratic party of Alabama.
 Mir Fitts (Tuscaloosa)-Will the gentleman permit an inquiry?
 MT. Opp-Not at present-after a while, Twill hear the distinguished gentleman. want to emphasize that fact, and if there are those in this Convention in whose veins the tides of Democracy course freely and strong ly. ask them in behalf of the De- mocracy of Covington County not to allow Republicans and Populites to rule to any extent the Democratic party of Alabama. It Is merely a question of arithmetic-fifty to fifty-a clear and decisive majority of the Democratic party of Alabama being in favor of the retention of the old mode of selecting