The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-12
UP IN ELMoRE.
How Good Democrats View the
Situation.


Eclectic Ala, August 9, 1902
Editor The Advertiser.
Today has been a big day in our town,
for Jelks, the Constitution and white su-
premacy. The inimitable Billie Brandon
was with us. holding his large audience
spellbound and deeply interested for at
least two hours. l tell you Billie is a
host in himself. A few more such speech
es as he made here today and Gilmore will
surely cast her vote on the 18th inst. Tor
Jelks and white supremacy. At the close
of his wonderfully interesting and in
structive speech he expressed a wish to
shake hands with friends of Jelks, the
new Constitution and white mans gov
eminent for and by white men in fair
and honest elections. 1t would have done
your editorial heart good to have witness
ed the grand rush to the stand to grasp
Billies outstretched hand. There were but
few in that big crowd who failed to shake
his hand. l noticed a few eX-Pops and
Johnston" Democrats that held back,
although they looked as if they. too,
would like to shake the hand of the man
who had spoken so straight from the
shoulder on the issues between Jelks and
Johnston. Let Billie and Knox. Cunning
ham, Sanford, Helm, Bulger and all the
other able speakers in this campaign for
Jelks and the new Constitution push the
fight all over the State and the 18th of
August will see Jodie buried in his po-
litiCal grace for all time
There was a time that | had the ut
most confidence in the Ex-Governor as
a good Democrat and able statesman and
1 willingly followed his lead up to the
hour when for his own selfish purposes
he convened the Legislature in extra ses-
sion to repeal and annul the act which he
himself had recommended and approved
This and other shady acts OF his have
fully convinced me that my good Demo-
crat and able statesman has descended
from the high plane upon which my
confidence and political esteem had placed
him, down to the very low level OF a
CHEAP, selfish demagogue. seeking his
own selfish and ambitious ends, even
though the most vital and best interests
of the State and party he professed to
love might suffer thereby. / can under
stand, Mr.. Editor, how the ex-Pops whose
favor he has all these years been court
ing is coming to his support in this eff
fort To disrupt and dsOrganize the Dem y
cratic Party, but, sir, when l see
Democrats who have always been in the
thickest of the fight for Democratic
methods and principles aligning them
selves with Johnston in this demagoSic
effort to tear down and destroy the new
Constitution, the best and Srandest work
of the party for a half century, l am
puzzled and amazed. | ask myself how Is
ii that men of known integrity, intelli-
gence and undoubted party fealty can
support this effort to nullify and make
void the best work of the old Democratic
Party since the war for cover up and
try to hide the true issue in
this campaign as he may, all inteIli-
gent well posted men must know that
the new Constitution, that makes fair
and honest elections in our State possible
is the real issue between Johnston and
Jelks The former is and has been OPP
poser to it fro mthe beginning, while
the latter is in full harmony with its
provisions. The one would amend and
trim until it would be little, if any, better
than the old one; the other would put it
on trial as it is and if by such trial de
fccts should appear, then amend as may
become necessary. Men tell me that they
are in favor of the Constitution as it
now stands and at the same time will
support Johnston who openly declares
his enmity to many of it's most impor-
| tant features. If they are really sincere
in this professed approval of the meas
ure by what kind of logic, reason or
| argument do they Justify themselves In
| their support of a man who if placed in
| power by such vote will use all the in
| huence and political power at his COM
mand to virtually destroy its best and
most far-reaching provisions? oh. con
stancy thou art a jewel"
| In conclusion I will say let Elmore 60
as she may you may safely put beat Il
in the jerks column by good majority.
| y ours truly, X w. Knox