The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-25
GRANDFATHER CLAUSE
Judge C0leman'S Speech Or
 dered to Be Printed.
MT. Lowe of Jefferson Attacks Re- port of Committee--Remarks of Judge Walker and
 Governor Oates.

The fifty-thir day of the Consti- tutional Convention did not show any waning of interest on the part of the public as the Hobbies and galleries were crowded with spectators and so continued all through the morning and afternoon sessions.
 The cause of this interest was the anticipated debate on the suffrage or dinance, and the section containing what IS known as "the grandfather clause" prescribing the qualifications of voters in Alabama under the new Constitution which the Convention is endeavoring to adopt and Is to sub- init to the people for ratification.
 The first business of the Convention after the usual opening ceremonies was a motion by MT. Chapman of Sumter to reconsider the vote by which Section was adopted Tuesday, admit ting foreigners to vote. With Section ? the vote was reconsidered and further consideration postponed until Section has beeen acted upon.
 On motion of MT. Davis of Etowah one thousand copies of Judge Cole mans opening speech on the suffrage question was ordered printed.
 MT. O'Neal offered a resolution pro- viding for ballot boxes being placed at polling places at which voters may express their choice for United States Senators. The Convention refused to suspend the rules and the resolution went to the Committee on, Legislative Department.
 Mir. Williams of Marengo presented a petition from citizens of Marengo County asking that the members of the Railroad Commission be elected by the people and their powers be increased.
 The Suffrage Ordinance.
 The regular order was then resumed. consideration of Section of the Suf- frage ordinance.
 MT. Sanford of Montgomery moved to amend by striking out "civil' wher- ever it occurs before war between the States, which was adopted.
 MT. Sanford of Pike moved to strike out the clause limiting the registration to January lst, 19O3, so as to make the plan permanent.
 MT. Dent of Barbour spoke against the part of the section as reported by the committee relating to ancestry and descent known as the grandfather clause" and which he had opposed as a member of the committee in minor ity report. Captain Dent thought that Sub-division,2 was unconstitutional and violative of fundamental principle of republican government.
 MT. O'Neal of Lauderdale spoke for the majority plan, and said that 1t was I race rather than a sectional issue, and the white men had already shown their ability and their power to rule and they were determined to continue to do so MT. ONears speech was fre- quently cheered and his time was ex- tended.
 General Oates of Montgomery spoke for the minority report, and declared that he did not think 1t the purpose of the Convention to disfranchise the ne- gro vote alone, as that was narrow and distorted. The real purpose was to devise ways and means to stop dis honest elections. He told of the trouble with the negro in the past, and of the conferring of suffrage on the negro. He had come here to purify the elec- torate, and if white men were to go down in order to do that, let them go down. He added that some white men had no more right to vote than me- groes, and others not as much.
 Judge Walker of Madison, who is a member of the Suffrage Committee spoke for the majority report and stood for the pledges of the party made by the State Convention and on the stump during the canvass. He explained tht intent of the grandfather clause" and said the door was wide open to men oi good character and who are intelligent enough to properly understand the du ties of citizenship. He paid high tribute to the old soldiers. and said fl was due to them to allow their descend ants to vote. He said that if this sort of plan had prevailed after the war there would be no use for this discus sion.
 When the time for adjournment ar rived, the Convention offered to extenc the session for Judge Walker to con clude his remarks. but he said he pre- ferred to conclude after recess, and the recess for dinner was taken.