The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-01


policy to give your readers both sides
Of these questions. RI am enclosing
herewith communication signed by
numerous members of the Constitu-
tional Convention OF 1901, and 1 trust
that you win reproduce same in the
columns OF your paper on next sun
day.
Yours respectfully.
II. F. Reese.
An Appeal to vote Against overton
Amendment.
Editor of Advertiser:
1t has been well said that Magma
Charta works the transition from the
age of traditional rights to the age OF
written Legislation" 1t has been GER
tainly the Inspiring source to which
all constitutional governments of this
age may me traced. From the begin
ming. every advance for greater con-
stitutional protection. the iiberty-lov-
ing, sturdy Saxon has encountered the
opposition OF those whose motto has
been The King can do no wrong IN
Its hardest sense. II is said we dis
the Overton amendment The consti-
tuition of the state is the voice of the
people. It was framed by commission
ers selected especially for that pnrz
submitted. ana by the people ratified
ana confirmed. So far. 1t has worked
well. Under it's influence the state
Is prospcring. The Legislature has
tuition and object in which all the
people OF the state are alike interest
ed. BY the constitution certain per
cent Of the revenues were appropriaf-
ed to the cause of education, and TO
the old soldiers fund. but the Legis-
lature was left with authority to In
crease these appropriations IL the pun
Zig good. 50 required The people OF
Sua Pd thrown n around them which
they never enjoyed before. The rate
of taxation was reduced by constitu-
ttonal enactment; the power TO impose
ties was taken from the. Legislature
and given to these sub divisions OF the
state, each to determine for itself
whether such obligation should be In.
creased and to what extent. Under It's
provision the Legislature has no power
to tax one community to change the
value of property in other communities
not at all beneficial TO the FORMER;
proper and for the good of the people?
Would It not be folly to change them
except upon. the dearest demonstra.
tiSa t 5seles injury @ 9t Ts'g viii A6s
received. 1t is said sorrows and re-
grets are the wages of folly. and the
wages are generally paid. Time ana
again the advocates OF the overson
show wherein the Justice lies which
would take the money paid BY taxation
from one part of the state or one
county to build up enterprises In other
Mum has been the re-
ply to this request. Time and again
have they been requested to make
plain to US, how any available amount
could be diverted from the revenues
OF the state to public roads without
cutting down necessary appropriations
made TO salaries, the asylum for dear
and dumb, education, or the old sol
tiers or their widows; II such could
be- done, the Information was access
lble to them. There has been no at
tempt to meet the challenge. On the
contrary, so far as has come TO our
there have been some
three or four evasive replies mace.
The first is the same our ancestors
Iiberty--trust the Legis-
King can do no wrong"
second, as a chorus. Show US the man.
whether he be Democrat or q Rapublt- |
can, who would take a dollar from the
Did soldier" refrain, IT would lose my
arm first" trespassing by synonym
upon the patent of Burn my arm OFT
ADAM" and third, a. solo by the Senas
tor that ''rte Amendment IL neees-.
sary to enable me to get Federal aid
Morgan asleep for thirty years? Pet
.ereste of Alabama2 If any reply |
other than bare assertions has been |
made to the arguments adduced
against the proposed amendment, 1t |
has escaped our reading. One says, |
IT you can't trust the Legislature, |
here Is an end to popular govern !
nent." Such an argument Is Ike