The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-15

II was conceded by every member OF
the black belt that in order to get rid of
the incubus OF a fictitious vote, !" said Mr..
Macdonald I'VE were surrendering the
very privilege for which the gentleman
contends in order to make the change for
fair elections with which we are now
confronted. All know how the matorities
have been obtained. The question TO be
presented to you as gentlemen and hon
est Democrats, knowing that the con-
vention is founded upon fraud and way
being presented by which you can escape
fraud, will you hesitate as to whether you
have the power or not to do that-fearing
that the party OF the county will fail to
endorse your action2
Are we to continue the stunning Of bal
lot boxes and the fraud to which we have
heretofore assented. or are we to have Q
fair primary and fair elections as has
been contemplated by the new Constitu-
ton?
1.-THE committee knows 1t is right and
that II will be endorsed by the people,
regardless of the power"
Mr.. Pettus said he did not believe the
COMMITTEES had the right to change the
custom, which had been the plan from
time immemorial.
1.-THE country beats asked one more trial
to show that they would send men here
who were above trading and trafhcing
and who were honest"
He believer that the primary was a
deIusIon and a shade. He asked for one
more convention and then let the people
say what they wanted.
"You ought to be charitable and recog-
nize past services to some extent" he
said
Mr. Rushton said II was argued as
though It was a question between the
white and negro beats of the county. He
did not look at it that way. Democrats
of the white beats have submitted TO the
old plan a long time and only asked now
that it be changed He had nothing to
say against those honest Democrats who
have done their duty. but the time for
arbitrary representation has passed. and
IL was time for a change The people In
the country know more about the situa-
ton than do those In the city, and there
is no longer any good reason why one
mans vote should count any more than
another.
"You count the negro on the popula-
ton basis. Those Of you who live In the
negro beats--do you want TO have your
vote count any more than a white man s
vote does in the white beats? A white
man is the same everywhere, and there
ought not to be q man who wants of
five who is afraid to leave It to the white
people to decide who shall be the candi-
dates"
AS TO calling a convention to pass on
II, would such a convention have any
more power then the committee? You
have an overwhelming majority in the
committee from the country beats and
the same representation would prevail In
the convention as now In the committee
on that score"
THE time has come to stop conventions
and 1t is doubtful whether the people
would stand 1t any longer The people
want a primary and demand 1t. and we
should try it one time. We can try
another plan and IL 1t don't give salts
faction, the county can change IT,
II don't know Of any countryman run
ming for offiee. but IL there was he would
stand as good a chance as a man from
any other portion of the county. II you
believe the white people Of the county
want a primary 1t is your duty to give 1t
to them"
Mr.. shackelford was willing to give the
people a trial OF q primary to see how
they like the plan. Not much interest
Is taken in who shall be Senators or Rep
resentatives and he believed 1t was the
right OF a convention to say what should
be done and he hoped the people would
be allowed TO say through convention
what they want. Whether they will have
candidates nominated by primary or con-
vention.
The vote was then taken and primary
carried by 10 to 2 Messrs Pettus and
shackelford voting for a convention.
The plan proposed by Mr.. Teasley for
a primary was then adopted as printed
above. by an unanimous vote. being the
same as that adopted by the State Com
mittee.