The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-20
PUBLIC OPINION ON THE PAss
 fe. QUESTION. '

| QQ QE0TxON. On Thursday The Advertiser repro duced on it's first page in a conspicu- ous way. the three votes of the Con- stitutional Convention on the three diff ferent amendments offered on wednes-
 day for the purpose of remedying the official pass evil. Members ot the Convention took pains to have these records made by roll call. The inference was that they wanted the public to know just how they voted. Therefore, The Advertiser took pains to give these roll-calls and the questions at issue the most con- spicuous publicity.
 On the same day The Advertiser wired all of its correspondents accessi- ble by telegraph. to report public opin- ion on the action of the Convention in this pass matter, The result followed in yesterdays issue. There were about ten columns of the matter, coming from nearly every leading town in the State and from several hundred prominent citizens. Officials. lawyers. doctors. ministers and business men were all included in the canvass. It was very full and complete symposium of public opinion. The Advertiser confesses that it was surprised at the readiness and boldness with which so many leading citizens Tn
 every direction responded to this re-
 quest for their views. They not only
 expressed themselves. but freely per-
 mitted the use of their names-the best
 proof of their deep conviction. There
 can be no dispute of popular opinion on
 this subject. It is overwhelmingly in
 favor of reform. of doing away with
 the pass evil
 1t is very probable that this revela- ton of public opinion was astonishing
 to considerable part of the Conven-
 ton. Many members must have been surprised at the way the people on all sides talked out. There had not been heretofore any attempt to discover just what the public was thinking. The bulk of the press of the State, we are grieved to say, has been silent upon this needed reform. though The AdVer- tiser has been steadily agitating it for some time.
 A number of the interviews given yesterday contained notable express sions. but one of them is of especial force because it points such 8 plain
 moral. Colonel s. W. John of Bir- mingham, one of the best known men in the State. who has served frequent ly in the Legislature both from Jeffer- son and Dallas, said:
 was hopeful that some adequate measure would be adopted to remedy this evil and my disappointment was keen when 1 read today of the Conventions action. On three distinct occasions when I was in the Legislature introduced bills to make effective the anti-pass proposition in the old Constitution. but every one Of them was defeated. although one got through the House. The convention mas made a great mistake.
 He emphasizes the notorious fact
 that the present Constitutions anti
 pass provision is not only ineffective, but that the Legislatures have persist
 ently refused to make it effective. The reason is apparent. Legislators with passes in their pockets will not vote to stop the pass evil. This situation l has grown worse arid worse. It is re- ported that at recent Legislature one of it's officers was furnished with books of passes to issue to members. in order to relieve them of the inconvenience of
 going to the proper official. It is clear
 that no reform in this matter can be
 expected under such conditions. The
 Constitution must be made self-operat-
 ing. if the evil is to be broken up. The
 Convention alone holds the power to
 do this.
 We are confident that the majority
 of the Convention is only awaiting the
 right place and way to do its duty in
 this matter. Its action yesterday af-
 ternoon in reversing the decision of the
 Chair is most significant. The Chair
 ruled that another amendment on this
 subject was out of order. on the ground
 that it vas res adjudicata. This rul-
 ing caused an emphatic display of dis-'
 satisfaction and an impassioned. re-
 sentful determination not to abide by
 the decision. The ruling was appealed
 from and was reversed by vote of
 two to one. which shows that the Con-
 vention is determined to act upon the
 question as it sees fit at the proper
 time.
 Our faith in the Convention is again
 strengthened. We still believe that it
 will not make blunder in this matter.
 SOME SCHOOL METHODS.
 Lately we have been noting with in-