The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1901-08-04

Dana. belong to the part of the
state that Ii most deeply interested In
tnis question. the widely known Black
Bet OF Alabama. We have come before
TINS convention confessing to the CoTt-
vention and confessing to the world.
mat We need some method by which
we might extricate ourselves from con-
citizens of the State we have found un-
bearable
The men OF the Black Belt are not
inferior In intelligence, in moral char
acter and In nobieness of purpose. to
the men OF any part Of the State of
Alabama. We have found ourselves in
the midst OF conditions that have been
perplexins, that have been difficult,
ana that haze seemed to demand the
employment of questionable methoos
In order to extricate ourselves there
from. We have before us, as l said.
the finished work of this committee.
what does IL provide? The Black Belt
has come before this Convention and
we have asked with outstretched hands
ana with pleading voices for relief
from these conditions that have neces-
STATED fraud In elections. What does
this finished plan provide In the way
or relief? Mr.. President. 1t Is part
OF this plan, not the avowed purpose
or the plan as written in the plan it
self. but as expressed thousand
times on the floor OF this Convention,
to do things that are questionable in
their character. 1t has been said by
almost every advocate of this plan that
It's purpose. the plan itself does not
say SO, but the advocates of 1t and the
key which unlocks its mysteries. with
out which 1t would be utterly unintelli-
gible. show that the purpose OF the
plan Is to disfranchise the negroes of
the Black Belt. Now. l am not here
to advocate the acknowledgements Of the
negro. / am here to advocate a plan
by which we may have pure elections
in the Black Belt. and by which we
may deal with the conditions that ex-
list there. and that touch us on many
sides. What is the very first thing
necessary to be done in order to carry
out the plans that have been wrought
here. The Black Belt understands the
meaning Of the plan, and that It is
to perpetrate the most monumental
frauds In all the history Of the State.
Then what IL the next step? This plan
has no life In IL until II Is ratified by
the people. and II cannot be ratified
except. by the aid Of the Black Belt OF
Alabama. There Is no other chance to
breath life into 1t. and 1t is the Black
Belt OF Alabama and the men of the
Black Belt who are asking relief from
political fraud that are to be sent home
to perpetrate the most outrageous
fraud In all the history Of fraud. But
after this Is done, what comes next?
There is breathed into this ammacu-
late Registration Board. that is to ap-
pear clothed In partizan garb a brief
life in each county. It has to go forth
like the swiftness Of the destroying
Angel to finish the work of fraud and
corruption.
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the
Convention. are we then to have re-
lief? Yes. We are tcld that then we
may wash our hands, say our prayers,
and behave ourselves. and have pure
elections and good citizenship. Let us
see. What does the permanent plan
provide? The permanent plan provides
such low standard of citizenship
that statistics show that a majority of
negroes in the Black Belt may come in |
and register under the permanent
plan. Then what new conditions do
We face? Why. sir. this valley of dry
bones that was slain but few days |
ago by this registration board, is an |
army OF live men. who are ready to |
wreck vengeance on those who have |
wrought such grave injustice towards |
them.
Then what other conditions do we |
race! The Black Belt Of Alabama is |
In the midst OF a disorganized and dis |
contented laboring class of people.
that we are In large measure de-
pendent upon for our material pros |
perlty. But does this end our trouble? |
Allowing that we can stand this part |
Oh IL. allowing that we can manage |
this part of 1t. are our troubles at an |
end? By no means. A majority of the |
voters in many of thee black coun- |
ties Will be negroes, and negroes who |
are inspired with patriotism and with |
vengeance against those who were un-
lust and unfair to them. They will be
then more than ever in the hands of |
every adventuTer and more than ever
ready to believe at the mouth of every
man that comes into their midst that
the white people of the Black Belt are
their enemies and that Democracy
means to the negro damnation of every
nan.
L want to tell you what think it will
De in this Hall twenty years from to-
lay. and l want to tell you what 1
mink VIII be the result of the act of
ms committee twenty years from tod
iay.- North Alabama will be Republi-
IAN twenty years from today If 1 am
SASotiy HlSldheH ABOUT the trend
u anairs in that direction. A majority
u the men on the floor Of this Legis-
alive Hall twenty wears from TODAY
with the plan you have wrought, will
De Hepubllcans. and the Black Bella
VII be at their mercy, and absolutely
1t the mercy of the Republican Legis-
allure. Then the very guns that YOU
nave erected here for the ACCOMPLISH
nent and achievement of white supre-
many in Alabama will he turned
against the Black Belt of this State.
md then the Black Belt will Ander-
tand that they themselves have sown
he seed that has sprung up and pro-
iuced the thorns that are tearing the
'ery flesh from their bones.
The President pro tem-The time of
ne gentleman from jefferson has ex-
bred.
Mr. Banks-I am sorry 1t is out.
MIR. Smith (Mobile)-As stated by the
Gentleman from Jefferson, l think these
questions have been Gully discussed by
he Convention and are well under
tood. and l therefore move to lay the
ubstitute of the gentleman from JEFF
erson on the table.
Upon vote being taken, the motion
o lay the substitute on the table pre-
allied.
Mr.. Blackwell-I desire Co offer an
additional section to the article.
The section offered by Mr. Blackwell
vas read as follows:
New section to be added Ito the re-
'ort OF the Committee on Suffrage and