The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-20
EX-GOVERNOR JOHNSTON
GIVES OUT STATEMENT oPPos-
 ING RATIFICATION.
Denies That His Recent Trip to California Was for the Purpose of Securing Funds for the
 Anti" Campaign.

nor Johnston has given out the following interview:
 Since my return from San Francisco l have been amused. but not surprised, 10 learn that my absence was ascripeo 10 two reasons; one, that had gone to get money for the campaign, and the other to abandon it. One Is just as true as the the matter to any man directly or indirectly during my absence.
 I am informed, however. that during my absence some gentlemen favoring rati..ca. "a paid their respects to me. l love to be re- membered by my friends and I greatly appreciate the importance given me by my opponents
 i thought the real issue was whether the new or the old Constitution was the best. and that the judgment Of the free white men of Alabama would not be se- riously affected by the possible calamity of my holding office again.
 But it seems that my declaration that I am neither a candidate for office and desired none is distrusted by some gen tlemen who will probably not make the same declaration themselves. I suppose that they can not comprehend how man can possibly be content to remain prl- vate citizen. ~ said on tie stump that not thing that I predicted in 1S99 that might be done 1T |e Constitutional Convention was held, was in fact done. cu.;
 
 tutional Convention for so carefully oo. serving my wishes. Had l known that they were so generously disposed to meet my views and suggestions l would nave been glad to have warned them agalnst some things that they did do.
 I should have earnestly advised them 10 fix the qualifications and right Of every man to vote in the Constitution itseil and not leave it to the arbitrary and IT, responsible discretion of three registrars not chosen by the people.
 I would also have urged them not to | insert a provision in the Constitution that many of the ablest lawyers of the state | believe to be unconstitutional--amon them is the honorable gentleman recently appointed District Judge, who will proo- ably be the first to pass on It.
 I would also have advised them against authorizing the creation of a vast number | of new courts and officials to be support ed by taxation of all the people. | I would have earnestly advised them | to put in some one provision, at least, | that would secure honest primaries and | elections. Had this been done, MT. Chair l man Lowe of the Democratic State Exec utive Committee would not have said: 'It | is a plan that renders possible infamous frauds in Alabama. the most infamous ever perpetrated, because they will be woa,ssn woald have saved ars HsniS' Chairman Un' derwood tof the Campaign Committee | of those favoring ratification) this humil, | iating confession in his address issued | come all at once. but the Democratic | party (not the new Constitution has sci | its face towards honesty in elections ane | it's policies will obtain. Evidently NIT | Underwood does not apprehend that non est elections will come so suddenly as tc paralyze us; but he has hopes that in the | distant future the party. not the new Constitution, will give us honest elections No doubt MT. Underwoods s Committed | were embarrassed by the fact that not only not thing had been put in the Con | stitution to secure fair elections but that the Convention itself had absolutely re | fused to provide that in this very cleo. | tion; those opposing ratification shoulo have one inspector and one clerk at eacf polling place. and had also refused t' | pass an ordinance allowing contest ol l the result before a Democratic Supreme | Court. The most that was done for com mon schools was an apparent endeaVor tc secure for the future the appropriations made during my term as Governor with | out the aid of any new Constitution. | regret too that the proposition of Gen eral Shelley Chairman of the Democratic Committee against Ratitication), to sub init this question to white primary was not accepted. White supremacy' is em- blazoned on the banner of the ratihers but when it comes to actually giving II doubts about its desirability.
 Those opposing ratification were willing for the white men or the white Democrats | to decide the question and then to have | stood as unlC Dy the result W WHeliei lpi | or against us; but our friends on the other side seem to prefer white suprema cy with colored variations and "addl tions."
 So far as I am concerned when l se' | some gentleman leading the ratification | cause denouncing those who are oppos ing-for daring to exercise the right of 2 free man on question so important as z | fundamental law, question which tho State Democratic Committee refused tc make a party issue-I am more fully con vinced than ever that the new Constitu tion should be defeated; for, if those as piring to lead the people can do these things. what map we hope or fear from the partisanship of three registrars Wht can admit or reject any white man to tht suffrage.
 shall prefer that my right to vote rather than on the discretion of three
 men appointed by any man or set of men I agree again with MT Chairman Lowe in saying that such a plan is an abomi
 nation"
 I am afraid that the politicians are O
 the same opinion as to this suffrage
 scheme that the little boy was whose ia ther was whipping him for telling a lie and demanded of him to tell what thu
 Bible said about liars; after some sob
 and hesitation he said: "The Bible saw
 that liar is an abomination in thu sight of the lord but a very presen
 help in time of trouble"
 | shall heartily oppose ratification anC stand by the old Constitution.
 Buffalo Day" Breaks Record.
 Buffalo. N Y, Oct le -" Buffalo Day a