The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-15
MESSRS. KNOX
 AND STALLINGS
Continued from Page one.)

not agree about republican forms of gov. ernment and one of them would have peen knocked out on the understanding ciause Even the President of the United states himself would be disfranchised be- cause he did not agree with Democrats aoout the principles underlying repub. hcan form of government.
 A Question of Morality.
 The morality" clause Mir. Stalling, criticised as suspicious. He said that probably he and MT. Knox could get ir years ago they might have failed. He warned the young boys to pay some at. tention to the morality clause.
 MT. Stallings then referred to the op- position of Senator Morgan to ''the grand father clause" He said 1t was opposed by Governor Oates and Governor Jones' to whom he paid tribute taking occa- sion to say that he applauded President Roosevelt for having appointed Governor Jones to the federal judgship.
 He turned and pointing to General Hsr- rison paused to give his words the greatest effect and said that General Harrison was against "the grandfather clause
 He's for it now" shouted a farmer sitting in the back of the court room.
 Mir. Stallings paid no attention to the Interruption, but went on with his re- marks mentioning in rapid succession the names of the other delegates to the Convention who were opposed to "the grandfather clause"
 MT. Stallings then discussed the educa- tional qualification. He said that the law could be manipulated so as to dis franchise white men. There were dozens of men in every county in Alabama. he declared. who did not own $500 worth of A4.r . and write and who probably had not been employed the greater part of the year.
 There's where the devilment comes in," declared MT. Stallings "and I think can see the shrewd hand of the rail- road lawyer who wrote it.
 He said that if a citizen of Lee County moved to Russell County he could not register until he had been there one year. He asked if this would "get' any white men.
 Whats the law now?" asked a gentle man.
 That no white man shall be disfran- chised except for conviction of crime" Applause.)
 Alarmed About the Preachers.
 MT. Stallings declared that the new Con- sttution would have disfrapchised Jesus Christ and his disciples becaues they were constantly moving about; some of them were uneducated and none of them owned property. He said that preachers would be disfranchised as they were ire quently transferred from church station to church station. For himself, MT. Stall ings said he was a hardshell Baptist. be- lieved in clean feet and no contribution box and that he would stay at home and vote If he could. Naughter)
 If there were to be fair elections in the future under the new Constitution. MT. Stalings said the Black Belt would be dominated by negroes. He said in a number of the Black Belt counties the negro would be in the majority if the new Constitution was to be administered fairly.
 This is a white mans country" ex- claimed MT. Stallings and by Jo! the white man is going to rule in the Black Belt whether its right or wrong"
 MT. Stallings then paid his attention to the Board of Registrars provided in the new Constitution. He said he didn't know who they were to be but he knew they were going to run it to suit them- selves. He said that during the Kolb campaign politics had been run that way and if he had been managing an election in Lee County at that time he would not haveSlet Kolb men come anywhere near the polls. He said if this power was placed in the hands of three men they would use it to their advantage.
 Then MT. Stallngs got hack to the education clause. He said John Knox was an educated man. He was smart man-smart enough to go to the United States Senate and he hoped he would go there. He was a great man, MT. Stall ings said but he was willing to risk his cause on the one proposition that John Knox as smart as he is, could not write the Fifteenth amendment to the Federal Constitution after the accepted standard of the English language. This being the case Mir. Stallngs said the Board of Registrars could dsfranchise MT. Knox If the Board saw fit to do so
 MT. Stallings then again took up the several plans of suffrage and took a parting shot at each one of them He did not pay much attention to the soldier clause except to say that if man was 1t to fight he was fit to vote.
 In conclusion, Mir. Stallings said he had undertaken to give a few reasons why he opposed the new Constitution. He said he felt that the State had prospered un- der the old Constitution and he could see no reason for ratifying an instrument which gave opportunity for 80 much fraud.
 Mir Stallings had the audience In splendid humor, and when he concluded he was liberally applauded. He spoke one hour and fifteen minutes and resumed his seat at 12:15 o'clock.
 MIR. KNOX, IN REPLY,
 Sp0YE ONE HOIJR AND HALF.