The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-10

DR.. r. NJ. Cunningham. in his cam
paign for Lieutenant Governor, is making
grand canvass for the new Constitu-
ton and Governor Jelks. He has spoken
this week at Opelika, Tuskegee, Dade-
vile. Camp Hill, Alexander City and
Goodwater and at all those places he was
greeted by large and enthusiastic and re-
sponsive audiences. receiving almost an
ovation at some of those places
1t was my good pleasure to hear the
Doctor and Hon. w. IL. Sanford at Ope-
lika on Wednesday night and they were
| both happy in their efforts, making able,
| eloquent and most telling speeches. Very
| full reports were made of both those
| speeches in these columns and l will only
say in reference to them that they were
/ both vote makers and made lasting inn
preston upon all who heard them Lee
| Is always a battle ground and this con-
test is to be no exception. There Is al
ways some local issue that divides the
factions there and they always subordi-
nate all other questions to their personal
feelings and prejudices. and each side
goes into the fight with their whole heart
and soul, just as though everything de-
pended upon their triumph. | am not pre-
pared to say how Lee will go. but l
really and truly believe that several more
good and effective speeches like those
above mentioned and the splendid work
| of the Jelks organizations that the county
will go for Jelks.
In Tallapoosa the receptions rendered
| DIR. Cunningham in this magnificent
white county, composed and made up of
| a white and intelligent yeomanry. good
and true men, who have always had the
best interests and welfare of the State
at heart and who cal always be depended
upon to do the right thing when they
know it, amounted to an ovation and
were duly appreciated by him and must
have been the inspr alton to arouse him
| to the full measure of the occasion and
! the incentive to make the most eloquent
and able speeches that he made at all
| his appointments there. He spoke first
| at Dadeville on Thursday, at Camp Hill
at night. at Alexander City on Friday
at II a. m. and at Goodwater in Coosa
| County at 8 p. m. and had large and
| attentive and enthusiastic aud enees at
| all of those places. He is speaking for
| the new Constitution. for he considers it
| to be on trial and is very anxious to have
| its enforcement placed in the hands of
| its friends. for he fully realizes, and i'm
| presses upon his audiences. that its effect
| can be greatly marred and interfered with
| by having its execution entrusted to those
| who have been its avowed and open enc
1
| tarded in every way the work of the con-
| vention and who earnestly opposed its
| ratification. He does not think these are
| the men who should be charged with max
| ing or executing the laws which must be
| depended upon to make it a success and
| to carry its provisions out in such way
| as they will meet the requirements or
| expectations of those who framed the in
| strumant. He tells the people that the
| ic hi fhan
| or any set of men, and that as Governor
| Jelks has always been its ardent friend
| and enthusiastic, earnest supporter since
| he has been in the Senate and sue seeded
| to the Governors office, he Is indissombly
linked to it, and that they must stand or
fall together. The Doctor speaks with
| force and power. is never at oss for
an argument and in repartee he cuts like
two edged sword and woe be unto the
| man who has the timerty to take ssue
| with him or PROFOUND a question. He
| often grows eloquent and arouses his
| audiences to the highest pitch of enthu-
| siasm and causes them to laugh or cry
| at will. He is one of the most ready
| and fluent speakers l ever listened to
and as a campaigner he has few equals
and absolutely no superior in Alabama.
Ex-Governor's Record.
The Doctors review of the record OF
| ex-Governo: Johnston in endeavoring to
overthrow the effort of the people to
| secure new constitution which would
| enable them to shake off the yoke of
| nero OF position and threatening Coml-
| nation told in his own inimitable. con-
| vincine and humorous way, has to be
| heard to be properly appreciated he
| refers to the widespread and irresistible
demand of the people for reform foe some
| wears past how Captain Johnston had
taken an active part in favor " the
| movement and how, when he was first
elected Governor In 1896. the people saw
| a raw Of hope and were encouraged TO
think that the day of deliverance was
near at hand when the white people
would not only he able to rid themselves
of the negro burden, but be enabled TO
abandon the methods of necessity they
had been forced to pursue and practice
in order 10 secure and insure white sdpre-
macy How when he came into the Gov
| errors office in his first message 10 the
legislature Governor Johnston urged upon
them the demand for change ana now
the old constitution having had IFS day
must Civ. way to a new one that met all
the requirements of the occasion ana re-
move existing conditions, and how all
his influence as Chief Executive OF the
State had been brought to bear TO secure
the passage of a bill submitting the queS-
ton of the call to the people
how the bill was passed pv
the House but defeated by the
Senate and how he had received all his
lessons from the Governor and stood by
him as a Senator in his efforts to pass
the bill working for it and voting for II
in the Senate but it went down He then
, told how the Governor had urged the
Legislature in 1898. to do something in
the way of Constitutional reform and
had called their attention to the fact that
the demand was urgent and that they
must arise to the requirements OF the oc-
casion. The Legislature responded and
rose IN in response to the Governor s
demand and at that session passed a bill
; for submitting the question of a call for
{ a Convention to the people, and how the
Governor very promptly and gladly signed
it. After the people had selected the can
didates for delegates to that Convention,
should one be called, Governor Johnston
became alarmed, clouds began to arise
and he saw no good in it for him. He
heard the imagined mutterings of the
people and seeing the goal of his ambi-
ton slipping away from him. which was
a seat in the United States Senate, when
he looked over the list of delegates he
became panic stricken called the Legis-
Iature together and had the law repealed
, He he had taken a somersaut backward
and changed his position. The Doctor
told how. up to that time, he had follow
ed and supported the Governor. but there
they parted and had not been together
noliticaIIv since He tells a story right
| b<ro that f,Ily illustrates and eXplains