The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-15
FINE AUDIENCE LISTENED TO
ADDRESS OF MR.. CLARKE

Mr.. Clarke said much alarm was Gre
ated among members of the last Legisla-
| ture over the serious illness of Governor
| Sanford. 1t was feared that Governor
Johnston, in the event of the death of
Governor Sanford, before qualifying.
would attempt to usurp the Office. Two
of the first bills passed by the Legisla-
| ture provided that the Governor might
qualify away from Montgomery, and
provided for his successor in case of
| death. He said 1t was his recollection
| that one of these bills was vetoed by
Governor Johnston and was passed by
| the Legislature over his veto.
Then, as though to ratify the action
of the Legislature. the Constitutional
Convention had wisely provided for gu
bernatorial succession.
] "Oh, yes" Mr.. Clarke went on with
scorn, Governor Johnston had more to
do with the making of the new Constitu-
ton than ne suspects. A great deal of
the new Constitution was inspired by
| the course of Governor Johnston; a
great deal of it was framed as protec-
ton against future Governors who might
| hold views which he has held"
This sarcastic reference to Governor
Johnston was greeted with cheers by the
audience.
/ Mr.. Clarke referred to the abolition by
| the new Constitution of local legislation
| by the Legislature. In the future Mr..
Clarke said, the Legislature could devote
| its time to general legislation and locali-
| ties could legislate for themselves.
| And 1 believe after ALL" declared Mr..
| Clarke, that this is the spirit of Democ-
racy." (Applause)
| The pardoning power, Mr.. Clarke said,
had been restricted by the Constitution.
The Constitution had declared that the
law should be for the people and not the
man for the man. This was, in his opin-
ion, the keynote of the new Constitution.
As to Federal Senate.
Then Mr.. Clarke caused laughter and
applause by calling attention to the fact
| that a Governor under the Constitution
could not be elected to the United States
| Senate.
who inspired that?" asked Mr.. Clarke,
| and the audience applauded again.
| Applause was again brought out when
Mr.. Clarke referred to the love and in
| terest which the people of Alabama man.
ifest in Montgomery. The people loved
the historic old Capitol on the hill he
| said. and the people wanted the Capitol
to remain or the hill In this respect
Montgomery had decided interest in the
new Constitution because for the first
time it was written in the organic law
| that the Capiol should not be removed
from Montgomery.
Mr.. Clarke denied a report that 10000
white men of Alabama had been dsfran-
chised by the new Constitution. He said
this report had been circulated by al
least one Of the speakers in this cam
paign.
After showing that no man who had
failed to pay his poll tax or to register
was permanently DISTINGUISHED Nj
| soi6 ha6 fat aI tn hi
poll tax ne had simply denied himself
the right to vote in elections this year by
his own supineness. He SOLVED thai
electors would be given another oppor-
| tunity to register in November and De-
| cember.
In a brilliant flight of eloquence Mr.
| Clarke paid a splendid tribute to the mer
who made the present Constitution whose
| names he said would be written upon the
| immortal roll of honor.
Comparison was made between Cover
nor Jelks and Ex-Governor Johnston and
| their attitudes toward the new Consti-
tuition. Governor Jelks was in his opin-
ion5 naturally the person to put the ne \
instrument into operation while the ex-
Governor was the expressed enemy OF
! the new instrument.
At this point Mr.. Clarke read from the
message of Ex-Governor Johnston to the
|
| declared that 1t was imperative that g
new constitution should be adopted AND
said many compensations could be found
for the expense and possible danger tc
come out of the movement.
Mr.. Clarke said that no one could have
expressed the need of Constitution with
more force than did the Ex-Governor al
this time. Mr.. Clarke then read the
message of Ex-Governor Johnston to the
legislature in 1898 in which he modified his
language of 1896. In this message, he
said that some revision" Of the Con
stitution was necessary.
Evidently Mr.. Clarke said, Governor
Johnston had decided that no convention
should be held unless it was dominated
by him.
Johnston's Remarkable Message.
Reaching the special session of the leg
is lature called by Governor Johnston
Mr.. Clarke read extracts from the re-
markable message sent by Governor
Johnston to this special session. Mr.
Clarke said 1t read like the message OF
a Republican Governor and added that
Governor Johnston would never have the
opportunity to write another such q
message to an Alabama legislature.
This intmation that the Ex-Governor
was forever out of office was cheered with
enthusiasm by the audience.
II Governor Johnston had been success
full Mr.. Clarke declared the people
would now be living under the old con
stitution.
Should we for this" asked Mr.. Clarke
with fine scorn. elect him Governor OF
the State? Should we for this send hin
to the United States Senator"
These questions were applauded
Replying to his own questions Mr.
Clarke called attention to the rebuke ad
ministered to Governor Johnston two
years ago the most remarkable politica
unanimity in the history of Alabama,
and said the rebuke was about to be re
peated.
This prediction was received witt
cheers.
Mr.. Clarke said Governor Johnston hac
said he objected to the new constitution
because white men were to be disfran'
!, chised in North Alabama and negroes
were to be registered in the black belt
Mr. Clarke called attention to the fact
that but about $500 negroes had beer
registered in the whole State and sale
that white men of the black belt hac
made great political sacrifices notwith
standing the prophecies of Governor John
|, | stOn.
, And now what are you going to dc
with the prophet" he asked.
This point evoked laughter and applause
from the audience.
Weak and Puerile Objections.
, Mr. Clarke spoke of other objections
, made 10 the constitution by Governor
Johnston in his speeches and characterz
ed them as weak and puerile.
1