The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-29

 finally successful, I was warm friend and ardent supporter of Governor John ston, and as chairman of the Democratic State Executive Committee. conducted his campaign. At this time, Governor John ston was an earnest advocate of new Constitution Tn this State, and said to me on more than one occasion that he in- tended to make the calling and holding of Constitutional Convention, to elimi- nate the negro vote and generally to re- wise the Constitution of 1875, the main feature of his administration.
 Johnston's Opportunity.
 At this time I know and believe him to have been sincere in such intention. and 1 then expressed to him the opinion that if he did so, he would make his ad- ministration the most notable of any in modern times. not excepting the great administration of George 5. Houston, which marked the period of our redemp- tion from the evils of reconstruction.
 I had long advocated and felt the abso- lute necessity of suffrage reform in this State. I advocated it during Governor the leaders of the party at that time, all though the Governor himself favored the demand for a new Constitution, that the white men of the State were united, and such a movement could not be entertain ed because 1t would divide them and make possible the return of the negro to power.
 I advocated it again during Governor
  lieve, was in favor of suffrage reform, and was told that the white men were divided, and that the movement could not be undertaken because 1t would endanger the success of the Democratic ticket, but that, when harmony was restored, such reform should and would be under taken.
 Thus, our party leaders. upon this cle. We could not undertake this great reform, and remove an evil that was corrupting the youth and would ul- timately destroy the life of the State. be- cause, at one time, the white men of the State were united, and such a movement would divide them, and at another, be- cause the white men were divided and such a movement would endanger the party success.
 Constitution Record. I must do Governor Johnston the jus tice to say that at this time he was prominent and an active and an earnest advocate Of the movement As chairman | of the Committee on Platform and Res olutions, in the Convention which nomi- mated Governor Johnston for reelection as recollect 1.-the aided in having this 1 demand embodied in the platform of the Democratic Party in this State; and ne | and others of us who favored the move ment, consented reluctantly to withdraw " | the demand only because 1t was insisted | that party success at that time would | be endangered by such a provision. And we all remember, notwithstanding the demand for suffrage reform and a new Constitution was stricken from the platform: that the celebrated thirteenth plank. of which Governor Johnston was the author, and which declared that the functions of government should be re- stricted to the intelligent and the Virtu- ous was the subject of bitter attack, and aroused virulent opposition on the part of our opponents in every part of the State.
 When Governor Johnston was himself elected to office, and when, by lapse of time, much of the bitterness which had divided the white men of the State had been allayed, the friends of a new Constitution and suffrage reform were en- couraged to believe that the accomplish ment of this great movement was at hand.
 In his first message to the Legislature, | in 1896, as Chief Executive of the State, he advocated this reform in message | which bears the stamp of true states manship, and which. in force andf express sion, will rank with our very best State papers. Among other things, in this mes sage. he says:
 Advocated Convention. "The duty is upon you to consider the necessity for a new Constitution for our State. That the present Constitution has served its purposes, and now embarrasses ] rather than promotes the objects 1t | should serve, is manifest to all thinking men. It is essential that some of the | iron bands which have prevented our growth and development should be struck | off The fear of improper restriction Of | the right of suffrage should not be al- l lowed longer to stand in the way of re- | lief demanded more strongly each year. In concluding this message, he says: ''The security, peace and concort that would come from the successful accom- plishment of these changes would bless not only this generation but those to | follow us, by opening opportunities for | progress and demoving dangers some | times averted by resorting to methods | that all patriotic citizens deplore." In his message in 1898 he again renews | the demand:
 q submit" he says. "to your patriotic | consideration the selection of the wisest course to pursue. but must insist that we shall be recreant to our duty if we tsmporiEe with conditions that are preg- nant with evil.'
 was passed submitting to the voters of | Alabama the question as to the calling and holding a Constitutional Convention ! to carry into effect the recommendations | of these messages.
 At the second session of the Legisla- ture, those of us who were advocating l the passage of the till discovered that l Governor Johnston's ardor had become
 Conference at Capitol. remember quite well to have attended | a conference with the Governor and a number of other gentlemen in the pri- Vate room of the Executive Of1ce, which lasted until a very late hour. He had | summoned a number of gentlemen. l some of whom were advocates of the | measure and some of whom were not to
 advise him in the premises.
 The result of the conference was that
 we received the assurance that if the
 Legislature passed the bill, 1t would re- l ceiye his approval and hearty support. l Afterward. I learned that he insisted unon the bill being submitted to a Demo- | cratic caucus and made party meas l nra This was done. The bill was
 nassed. and received his approval as | Chief Executive of the State.
 l When the State Convention of the | Democratic party met to formulate its | nlatform and nominate delegates to the Convention l was amazed to learn that | Governor Johnston caused great inhar- l nonv and came near to disrupting the Gonyention because 1t was proposed to | make the demand for new Constitution l a party question ,. = | Several weeks before the issuance Of his remarkable message reconVenlng the 1 Legislature of Alabama for the purpose l of repeating this bill. which authorized the submission of the calling and hold- | ing a Convention to be voted upon oy the people, I remember to have had con | versation with Mir G. B. Deans, Chair | man of the State Executive Committee Of | the Populist party and, at the time l member of the Senate from the district | composed of Shelby, ChiltCn and ElHnora.