The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-07
DEFENDS ORGANIC LAW
CONGRESSMAN BOWIE DISCUSS
 ES ISSUES IN CAMPAIGN.
Says Republicans Attack Basis of Representation Which Was Old
 Constitution-Smith's Posi- tion Same as Crumpacker'.

Anniston, Oct. 6.-(SpeciaI. .)-Hon. Syd- ney J. Bowie. Democratic Congressional nominee from this District has just re- turned from canvass of Cleburne Coun- y. He spoke at eight places in the county and Is very much gratified at the eood crowos and the great interest man nested by the Democracy of that Coun- ". He thinks the County is in splendid shape and will give substantial major aty for the entire ticket
 !s an interview today MT. Bowie said:
 notice that the Republican leaders m opening their canvass at Fort Payne, nave decided to make an attack upon the new Constitution as the keynote of tneir campaign. This was to be expected ana Is an issue which we gladly accept. The new Constitution has given us white supremacy by law. It has given us an absolute assurance of honest elections. It has given us less frequent legislatures. IL has consolidated our State and na- uonal elections. It has abolished the evils of local legislation and re-estab- hshed home rule in local affairs. Other blessings which might be mentioned have followed in the wake of the new Con- stitution.
 Tn the face of these manifold virtues II seems a little peculiar that in select Ing their point of attack upon the new Constitution, they have omitted to com plain of anything that was new and have confined their criticism to that which was oid It would seem that if the new Con- st1tution is to be fairly criticized, 1t would be upon the things which are changed and not upon the things which are unchanged
 ''The precise point of attack is the ba- SIS of representation. This basis was, round in the old Constitution. It is found in the Constitution of the United States. It is found in the organization of the electoral commission and of the House of Representatives.
 But the amusing feature of 1t all is that these men who are now straining their lungs to their utmost capacity in denouncing this provision in our new con- stitutfon had not word of condemnation Tor it when it was found in the old!
 Tn the work of revising the old con rtftution. the Democratic party had no lid, assistance or comfort from the Re publican party With the single honora- ble exception of MT. Lane. not one of them raised his voice in behalf of calling the Constitutional Convention or of the ratification of the new constitution after t was framed. A few may. and doubtless lid vote for it, but the vast majority of )he lily whites were up in>arms and open hostility against the whole movement. MT. Vaughan the State leader and chairman of The party declared his opposition to the new constitution because he said he favored manhood, suffrage.
 What Republican leader except MrI Lane gave any real aid or comfort to the reform and redress of evils which cried aloud for correction? Where, by speech or by pen, did they lead in the agitation of this movement? The basis of repre- sentation against which they now enter their solemn complaint was fixed in the old as 1t Is in the new. If no change was needed in that basis then, how happens 1t that 1t becomes of overwhelming inn portance now? If they could get along very we'll with the legislature as it was then constituted, what makes 1t so dan gerous now.
 '"The truth is that if we abandon the population basis of representation in our State legislature we cut all the ground from under the feet of our representatives in Congress, who have up to this time successfully resisted the passage of the infamous Crumpacker bill. The position assumed by MT. Smith and his associates te identically in the State the same as that assumed by MT. Crumpacker at Washington. If we desire to. cut down by half the representation of the Southern States in the electoral college and in the House of Representatives and still further swell the power of the Northern States in the Union at our own expense, the unrest and best way to do 1t is to fol- low in the leadership of the lily whites. 1ut if we wish to preserve our rights in the Union and maintain our dignity and our proper influence we will continue to walk in the well beaten paths Of our fathers. ~
 "The people of Alabama have better constitution than they have ever had be- fore and they will not turn it over to the tender mercies of tinkerers who nave n,ai,oved for forty years the camel of negro equality and now strain at the gnat of legislative appointment based upon population.