The age-herald., 1901-09-14
Reported That a Meeting of
 Leaders Will be Held in
 Birmingham Today STALLINGS | EXPRESSES VIEWS
General Shelley, ex-Governor John ston, Captain Booker Judge Cas- ton and Others Are Said To
 Be Organizing Opposition.
BY E. kERsh.


 Montgomery, September 13-CSpecial.)- Unless the well laid plans of men ana mice gang aft aglee," the ratification of the new constitution in Alabama Is to have very serious opposition, and this op- position is to be organized in Birmingham tomorrow.
 fort came to light here today. It has been heretofore rumored that there would be opposition to the instrument, but 1t has been impossible to ascertain who would lead the fight.
 It now seems that Gen. Charles McCon. nell Shelley, many times leader of the state Democratic forces, Is to lead the movement with the assistance of former Governor Johnston, former Congressman Jesse Stallings, former Convict Inspector Ed Booker, Probate Judge Zell Gaston ot Butler, Delegate Lee Long of Butler, others of the late Johnston brigade.
 Rumors Have Foundation.
 Evidence of the meeting in Birmingham tomorrow was first known here tonight. It had ben previously stated that former Congressman Stallings was ready to join with the opposition to the friends of the new constitution, and when 1t was an nounced here today that the opposition would organize in Birmingham tomorrow and Congressman Stallings was found on the northbound Louisville and Nashville train enroute to Birmingham, the evidence seemed conclusive. On the train with MT. Stallings were Probate Judge Zell Gaston and Delegate J. Lee Long, also of But Ter. They claimed to be going to BirTn- ingham on purely personal matters, but the rumors of the Shelley meeting on tomorrow caused many to believe that they were going to attend that meeting.
 It is stated here that General Shelley will lead the movement in opposition to the ratification of the new constitution, with former Governor Johnston as his chief adviser. Whether or not these for ner leaders can hurt the opposition to the ratification movement is doubted question here. Congressman Stallings spent today in the city, and he did not hesitate to declare his opposition to the new constitution.
 Mir. stallings Talks.
 To a newspaper correspondent ex-Con- gressman Stallings said
 ''I shall not urge or advise the people of Alabama to ratify the new consttu- tfon.
 ''I think it vicious in principle, undemo- cratic and completely out of harmony with the spirit of our institutions.
 'I do not think that a white mans right to participate in the election of his rulers should be measured by his worldly posses sions, nor do I believe in the doctrine sought to be promulgated In this instru- ment, for the first time in Alabama, that white men should possess a certain amount of education or understanding CT good character, to be measured by three partisan registrars, as prerequisite for voting.
 "No higher or greater qualification should be required of white men to vote than that contained in the present or ganic law. The poor and uneducated white man was good enough to be shot st in times of the States greatest peril, and they are good enough to vote in times of profound peace, when they are called on to defend the nations flag and honor as well as the States. They have been and always can be trusted, and surely can be trusted to vote to maintain the institu-