The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-20
A RALLY AT OPELIKA
cABANIsS, WALLACE AND SAM
 FORD SPEAK.
They Review the Record of Johnston and Show His Inconsistency. Jelks's Able Administration
 Warmly Commended.

Opelika, Aug. 19.-(Special)-A large and brilliant audience, in which there was nearly 100 ladies. attended grand rally for the new Constitution. Governor Jelks and white supremacy here tonight. The speakers were Hon. E. H. Cabaniss of Birmingham, Hon. J. H. Wallace of Huntsville, and Thomas D. Sanford of Opelika.
 Ex-Governor Johnston's relentless war on the new Constitution was reviewed and his lack of consistency shown. The splendid benefits of the new Constitution and the able administration of Governor Ielks were fully reviewed. The people were urged to stand by the Constitution that had disfranchised practically the Af- rican race and to keep it in the hands of it's friends and not trust it to Johnston who had been from the start it's most deadly enemy. The speakers showed that he was seeking a vindication by asking for an office he spurned and said he would amend the Constitution which the people did not want amended and they asked what would he have done in the way of a vindication had Sanford lived. They showed up the attacks he is now making on the Constitution and urged the people to stand firm and not surrender the great blessing attained after long suffering, nearly three years of which Johnston had caused by having the enabling act for the Constitutional Convention repealed. The audience was practically unanimous TOT JelkS ana the COnStltutlOn ana was Highly enthusiastic.
 MT. Cabanisss speech was an able ef- fort.
 He examined the alleged reasons given by Johnston for his candidacy and showed that there was absolutely nothing in any of them Johnston says that he doesn't want the office and that the people are responsible for his candidacy. He has heard 8 voice calling him. In view of the fact that the same voice has been call ing him ever since 1890 and to so little purpose, wo may be pardoned for believ- ing that the voice comes from within and not from without. His personal grievance against the Democratic party for not en- dorsing him Is remarkable reason for appealing to the party to defeat Cover nor Jelks who is entitled to the same en- dorsement which he. Johnston. received, namely, an election for a second term. He professes to be friendly to the Con- stitution and yet he and his speakers are everywhere assailing 1t. Would it not be suicide to turn 1t over to the tender mer- cies of Johnston and his followers?
 In view of Johnston's attitude now and heretofore towards the Democratic party, his candidacy is an unparalleled piece of presumption. He is the greatest disor- ganizer the party has ever known. He has shown his hostility to the party in his attitude on the Constitutional Conven- ton question and his subsequent opposi- tioH to the Constitution framed by the Democratic party. He flies in the face term and deliberately fiouts the settled policy which has always prevailed. of giving faithful official a second term. Even now, he and his orators and his newspaper are seeking to cause discon- tent and disaffection because the authori- qualification for voters in the primary should be uniform thrOughout inc State