The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-16
SUFFRAGE
 DISCUSSED Article Made Special Order
 by Caucus. DEMOCRATS HELD MEETING Futile Effort to Hold Debate in Executive Session.
DEMOCRATS HELD MEETING
Minority Led by Chairman Lowe of State Committee-Judge Cole man Appealed for Early Con-
 alteration of Report

After a session lasting nearly three hours the Democratic caucus of the Constitutional Convention at Il o'clock last night adopted a resolution making the Suffrage Article special order for Tuesday, July g, immediately after the reading of the Journal. This action was taken after numerous speeches. an effort on the part of Hon. Robert 2. Lowe, Chairman of the State Den1- ocratic Committee to have the debate on the Article in party caucus. and a stirring appeal from Judge Coleman, Chairman of the Suffrage Committee to give the Article an early consider ation
 In the course of his remarks Judge Coleman denounced statements that the friends of the Article wanted early consideration because of impure mo- tives as a perversion of the truth and stated it as his deliberate conviction that there would be more ease among the delegates after disposition of the Suffrage Article.
 The caucus met at s:Se o'clock, and was called to order by its Chairman. Mr. Lowe of Jefferson. In the absence of the Secretary, MT. Herbert, Assist ant Secretary of the Constitutional Convention, was named as Secretary of the caucus.
 Eighty-two Democratic delegates an- swered to the call of the roll and Chair man Lowe explained that the caucus had been called in compliance with a request by sixty-four Democratic del- egates. He said he would not under take to limit the scope of the caucus.
 The Pettus Re solution.
 Mr. Pettus of Limestone, opened up the batteries of oratory by sending up the following resolution, which was read:
 whereas. The vast majority held by the Democrats in this Convention ob- viates the necessity of a party caucus pn any question, except the nomination of officers. and
 "Whereas, The Suffrage Article as re- ported by the Committee should not be considered in Party caucus, but should be taken up in the Convention, leaving delegates free to vote their conviction upon the said question; therefore be it
 Resolved. That it is the sense of Ihs caucus that the Suffrage Article bs not considered in caucus, but be taken up in the Convention at such time as the Convention may determine.
 Resolved, further, That this caucus stand adjourned to meet at the call of the Chairman"
 MT. Heflin of Chambers, addressed the caucus in opposition to the resolution. He said he was in favor of discuss ing the suffrage question in caucus. He thought it would be unwise for the hof foa hn tn On to the world by the medium of the steno- graphic report. He said there was a minority report that would cause con- siderable debate, and he therefore thought the matter should be settled in caucus. It had been suggested, he said, that if the State Constitution ever went to the United States Supreme Court that tribunal might go through the stenographic report to find a mo- tive by which to reverse the Constitu- ton.
 Mir. Heflin declared that tha respon- sibility for the new Constitution would rest upon the Democratic Party and the Suffrage Article should be set tied in a family caucus. He declared that he for one was in favor of dis franchising every negro from Booker Washington down.
 This sentiment was applauded by
 
 of the older men appeared uneasy.
 Continuing MT. Hefln said that in discussing the Suffrage article the race problem would be injected and many sentiments would go out to the public that would not look well in print. If he had beer correctly inform ed. said MT. Heflin, South Carolina and Mississippi had discussed the matter in caucus. Therefore he said he earnest Yx,b aa ffat. 11e rJI in caucus.
 Mfr. Rogers of Sumter said he favored holding a caucus for the purpose of seeing what amendments were to be offered to arrange how the debate was to be conducted and perfect a plan of eXpediency. He declared that the eau GUS had no right to cut off debate. Each delegate represented a constituency, Mir Rogers declared, and he had a right to be heard in the Convention.
 Mr. Davis of DelSalb said he had been in a measure responsible for the caucus. He was one of the first dele gates to suggest it. He said his idea was to debate the Suffrage article in caucus and when it is settled in caucus the Convention would be ready for ac- ton upon the measure. He sald he did not believe. however, that delegates should be bound by the caucus He thought 1t would be unwise for dele gates to send out to the people of Alabama utterances with which the opposition could hammer the Demo- cratic party when the instrument is up for ratification. For example, Mir. Davis said if he should argue on the floor of the Convention that the major itv or the minority report was uncon- stitutional he might be placed in the unfortunate position of having to go on the stump and eat his own words when appealing to electors to support the instrument.
 Gov. Jones said that it would be ex- ceedingly unfortunate for the party to undertake to deal with this question in caucus. He said it would be as bad as undertaking to expel the Populist and Republican delegates from the Convention. Referring to the statement that the Federal Supreme Court might look to the debate he said