The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-29

HON. JOHN B. KNOX, 1 ! In Defending the New constitu- tlon, Says Jelks Should Be 1 Elected.
  news the demand. T submit he says, | to your patriotic consideration the se- | lection of the wisest course to pursue, | but I must insist that we shall be- re- creant to our duty If we tamporize with conditions that are pregnant with evil. At this session of the legislature a bill 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 this second session of the legisla- ture, those of us who were advocating the passage of the bill discovered that Governor Johnstons ardor had become materially abated. I remember quite well to have attended a conference with the governor and a number of other gentle men in the private room of the execu- tive office, which lasted until a very late hour. He had summoned number of gentlemen, some of whom were ad- vocates 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 receive his approval and hearty sup port Afterwards, I learned that he in- sisted upon the bill being submitted to democratic caucus and made a party measure. This was done. The bill passed and received his approval as chief execu- tive of the state. When the state con vention of the democratic party met to formulate its platform and nominate dele- gates to the convention, I was amazed to learn that Governor Johnston caused gr eat inharmony and came near in dis iupting the convention because it was proposed to make the demand for new constitution party question.
 Speaks of a Conversation.
 Several weeks before the issuance of his remarkable messe ge reconvening the legislature of Alabama for the purpose of repeating this bill, which authorized the submission of the calling and holding a convention to be voted upon by the people. I remember to have had a con- versation with c. B. Deans chairman of the state executive committee of the populist party, and at the time, . mem ber of the senate from the district com posed of Shelby Chiffon and Fillmore. When Governor Johnston issued his mes sage reconvening tho legislature, this conversation came back to me with great force. In 1t MT. Deans advanced the idea that the people were opposed to inter ferring with the right of suffrage and tEat Governor Johnston had the oppor- tunity of his life. snd said that if he would re-convone the legislature and re- real the bill authorizing the submission of this question to a vote of the people, as he could do by the aid of populst votes, that he would make himeelf the biggest man in Alabama, and would bring to his support not only those of his own rarty who opposed the movement, but the entire populst party throughout the state.
 Tt has been stated time and again in this state that Governor Johnston chang ed front on this great question. and from an advocate became a bitter and implacabale opponent of the movement, bee ause certain gentlemen were nomin- ated as delegates whom he did not think he could control
 Johnston's Motive.
 'In my opinion this was not the motive which actuated him-at least, not the mo- tive in chief which prompted his action. I was in position to know that Governor Johnston's great idea, at this time, was to absorb the populst party In this state and he believed that if he could so shape the policy of the. democratic party as to absorb the populist party that the popu- lists, returning to the democratic party through him as the gate way, would be- come his adherentS and his supporters, and by using these new recruits and add ing them to the number of his own sup porters in his own party, he saw, or thought he saw, an opportunity of defeat- ing General Morgan for the senate, which, if he believed if he could accomplish, would make him the biggest man in Ala bama. And thus it was that under the influence of this valuting ambition, like the third Napoleon, he entered upon his great coup d etat He reconvened the leg islature he defeated the will of the peo- pie, and postponed suffrage reform Tn this state for two years. It WIS upon this question, fellow citizens. that l parted company, with Governor Johnston.
 'I have nothing to say against him per- sonally. and I entertain towards him naught of bitterness, but Icould not stand idly by and without protest or resis- tance see this great reform movement trampled by him in the dust, only to be used as means of gratifying his selfish ambition. We ell know that his plans came to naught At this time I was not in his confidence, but If I could have been permitted to have counselcd with him. think I might have caught something of the inspii ation of Woolsey, and have said to him: Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. By that sin fell the angeis"
 ''rhe people of Alabama were not pre-
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