The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-08
Former Governor an Enemy
 to Organic Law.
He Appealed to Legislature to Call Convention and Finding it Against His Personal Inter- est Thwarted Will of the
 People.

| cunningham. Aug. 7.-(Special. .)-The | oeiKs State Campaign Committee today | issued the following address reviewing
 the record of former Governor Johnston | upon the subject of a Constitutional Con ventior and constitutional reform in Ala | bam,
 TO the Democrats of Alabama At this time when Democrats are callc1 upon to select their nominees for State officers and thereby select those who vii fill these positions for the next term we, who are charged with the duty | of pro IT. ting the candidacy of Hon. Will liam D. Jelks for Governor deem it not Inappropriate to set forth in an orderly manner the record of his opponent on the great question of constitutional re- form which the people of the State are | making the paramount issue of the cam paig..
 For some years prior to 1896, there had been more or less of demand by the peo- pie of Alabama for changes in the organic law O. the State, particularly upon the subject of suffrage. but the movement for a Cor st.tutional Convention did not take al oigaIized form until the year 1S96 when the Industrial Association Of the State, composed, in the main, of business
 
 pointed a committee to ascertain and dev.l Jp public sentiment on behalf of this great reform. This committee obtained expi essons of opinion from thousands of the leading citizens of Alabama, nearly all of which were favorable to the move ment. and caused a bill to be prepared providing for the submission of the ques- tion of dSrvention or no convention to the people, Which bill 1t was proposed to have ls.A N sNL i,.fr at the session of the General Assembly of 1S96-97
 "In 1896, Joseph F. Johnston was elect ed Governor and the friends of the Con- stitutIonal Convention movement were greatly gratified and encouraged in their efforts to learn that he would throw the weight of his influence in favor of the measure. In his message to the General Asse mbly, bearing date December l. 1896, he took strong ground in favor of new constitution, using language of such em- phasis and force as to send thrill of hope through the hearts of those who were laboring to cure the defects in the constitution of 1875, and to relieve the State of conditions which had become in tolerable.
 Johnston's First Message.
 "The portion of that message devoted to the subject of a Constitutional Con- vention was as follows:
 "'The duty is upon you to consider the necessity for a new Constitution for our State. That the present Constitution has served its purpose and now embarrasses, rather than promotes, the objects 1t should subserve is manifest to all think ing men. We should approach the con- sideration of this question divested of all party spirit, and with patriotic pur- pose to consider only the good of the State and the prosperity and advance ment of all it's people. Various attempts to secure amendments to our organic law have demonstrated that the very require ments of the Constitution prevent any amendment.
 Tt is essential that some of the iron bands that have prevented our growth and development should be struck off. "'The fear of improper restriction of the right of suffrage should not be al lowed longer to stand in the way of re- lief demanded more strongly each year. The necessity for local taxation in aid of our public schools, and the extension of the system; reforms in our judicial sys- tenn, the preservation of municipal growth and credit, the encouragement of immigration and manufactures and the necessity for securing more equal laws in distributing the burdens of government all demand that we should take this step.
 It is also well known that a large and fruitful section of our State has had a constant menace to its growth and to the security of life and property that should be removed with such moderation. wisdom and justice that even those de- prived of the power to imperil these things would in the end find a blessing for themselves and their children in the restrictions imposed Many compensa- tions can be found for the expense, the agitation and the danger that may con front your affirmative action in this mat ter.
 The security. peace and concord 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 removing dangers sometimes averted by resort 10 methods that all pat riotic citizens deplorc.
 "A provision requiring a substantial poll tax to be paid by all who vote would probably give all the security needed, and at the same time largely increase our school fund.
 All of us recognize the fact that this