The age-herald., 1901-08-12

Cronberg, August n.-People fiocked into Cronberg from an early hour today to see the august personages who would attend the requiem service over the re- mains of Dowager Empress Frederick.
 On either side of the coffin werce four officers holding the standards of the Elm pire of Prussia and of the deceased. Be tween them and the coffin wereother off1- cials rigid and bearing drawn swords Gradually the church filled with officers in splendid uniform and ladies wearing deep mourning.
 At o'clock the roll of mu ed drums announced the arrival of Emperor Will liam and King Edward. The Emperor, wearing the uniform of the Empress Own Posen Hussars. led Queen Alexandra into the church, while King Edward, in the uniform of the Prussian Dragons, con ducted Empress Augustus Victoria.
 As the organ played the funeral march pr. Dryand advanced to the head or the coffin. The choir from the Berlin Cathe- dral sang q Know That My Redeemer Idyeth." and pr. Dryand read specially written prayer after which Emperor <ss-s has been presented to the convention ana contained some admirable features. US chairman John B. Weakley Of Lauder dale Is regarded as an authority on this suhiect He Is Mayor of Florence, one of the model cities of Alabama, and has aavoted a great deal of study to these ouestions. The trouble with the report was that 1t contained innovations Wnicn were good in themselves but were many wears in advance of the times in Ala hama There is a sentiment also In the convention not to laden the constitution with too many changes. The report was taken up just after hot nght over the solicitor question, and 1t also suffered on this account.
 One provision in the report which ap- hears to be an admirable one, and which was rejected, was section prohibiting cities from giving away municipal fran- chises Similar constitutional provisions have been adopted in many states. Muni- cipal franchises in large cities are worth a great deal, and if properly guarded are the most valuable asset of city aside from its taxing power
 The Black Belt.
 Probably the most important section adopted last week and one of the most important politically in the entire consu- tuition was the Coleman amendment pro viding that all representation in the As sembly shall be based upon population and that this provision can never be changed by constitutional amendment. This was the main thing which the Black Belt wanted. It has persistently con trolled the politics of the State for years, but it is charged that 1t has done so by fraud and ballot box stuffing. The white men of the Black Belt have grown tired of this method and they were ardently in favor of constitutional convention which could relieve them of this neces- sity. The new suffrage amendment pre- pared under the leadership of Judge Cole man, one of the most prominent or the Black Belt delegates, practically eiim- mates the negro as a voter for the pres ent time. It was feared, however, that in the future, under the permanent suf- frage plan, there would be more negro voters than white voters in these coun- ties, where the negro so large predom- mates. in which event the lack Belt may again come to be at the mercy of the negro. The Black Belt counties would then have to look to the white counties and their representatives in the Legislature to enact laws for their re- lief. It was also feared that those white counties might undertake to place the basis of representation upon the voting population instead of the actual popu- lation. The Black Belt counties would never agree to this. and it would have led to stuffing of the registration lists in strength. The adoption of the Coleman amendment settles this doubt and obvi- ates this temptation.
 Exactly what is going to be the future of Alabama under this suffrage scheme, no one can say. Should there be more negro voters than white voters in the Black Belt, and should North Alabama go Republican and thus divide the white counties of the state may get Into such a fix that a new constitutional conven- tion will become necessary The white man will always rule. It is only ques- tion of whether he will be Republican or a Democrat
 Some of the Younger Set.
 One of the striking figures in the con
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