The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-22


marked emphasis tine embarrassment 10
good government IN Alabama arising from
an obsolete organic law In various par
ticuiars and recommended with eioquence
the calling Of a Constitutional conven-
don. In the State Democratic Convention
Of 1888 this policy of the Chief Executive
was Included in his endorsement II IL
enough to say. beyond this. that the new
Constitution he then demanded he aid
temporarily defeat in his second term
and that his present complaint, II of a
public character at all. Is against the
continued life of the new Constitution
actually enacted
The Governor OF 1896 laid his plans to
succeed himself on a basis which the
people OF Alabama accepted. The Cover
nor of 1898 failed to command the en-
dorsement Of the party primaries Of 1880
and, therefore, has no foundation for his
complaint now that the Convention OF 1900
created by those primaries, with his con-
sent, deviated from Democratic usage
and precedent, extending back in I'M
"a OhOh knho AOi 6CtOt 0ttohS ONS"AcS ~
failed to repeat the party endorsement
of 1898.
What were the practical distinct ,ns OF
Governor Johnstons second term in the
Office of Governor? Three acts pre-emi-
nently his own are SUFFICIENT to be Sc
lected here in answer to that question.
Foremost lawyers of the State, Senator
Morgan especially. contended that the
Governor would have as much right to
send the militia into the hall of a Con-
stituuonal Convention and dispense the
body at the point of the bayonet as he
had to arrest the assembling of Con-
stitutional Convention that had been
elected according to law. Let us try this
theory Of Constitutional Convention SOW
ereignty by very recent events. The en-
abling act of the General Assembly Of
1900-o1 limited the Constitutional Conven-
ton so authorized to a session not ex-
ceeding fifty days; the Convention eat
ninety and odd days. The enabling act
limited the sum which the Convention
might draw from the treasury: the Con-
vention took possession of the purse of
the State and never at any time of its
proceedings or In any act recognized the
Governors authority over it's proceed
ings The people OF Alabama with prac-
teal unanimity decided that Governor
Johnston interfered with their exercise
OF sovereign power when he interposed
the influence OF his Office to arrest their
movement for a Constitutional Conven-
dorsement at the primaries Of 1900 Gov
ernor Johnston failed of endorsement in
| his second term because of certain trans
actions conducted by him which resulted
| In the return to the purchaser OF some
$4,000 and return to the University of the
Governor Johnston. In his second term.
admitted that he had not been able to
manage satisfactorily the Alabama Cot
ton Mill. worth. perhaps, 100000, the
property of the State under care of the
Governor. He admitted that the peni-
Tertiary plantations. involving property
of the State entrusted to the Governor,
worth more than 100000, had not been
successfully managed by him. He aban-
doned the mill and other property and
advised the sale of all that was used for
agriculture. His advice in these respects
was equivalent to an abandonment of an
enlightened system of penoiogy that the
wisest and most public spirited men p
the State had given time and profound
study to build up and the party did not
endorse the Governor in his views.
Governor Johnston was endorsed in the
measures Of his FIRST term. but the DEM
ocrats of Alabama will not give him a
third term as farther endorsement. Gov
ernor Johnston was not endorsed in the
measures of his second term and he will
not now bring forward a demand for en-
dorsement of these measures, as to the
| salient ones.