The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-18

l this purpose during the current yea
 has increased to upwards of y7oo, ,0Oo
 Tn emphatic tones. the Governor mex
 declared In favor of compulsory edu
 eaton. He said: If we have among ul
 parent who will not send his child [.
 school am in favor of a law whici will make them do It." and ne added NO man has a right to raise up hii
 children in ignorance in this state" | After recapftuiating the sppropris-
 tions of the last Legislature to educs.
 ton. the speaker here introduced hi, discussion of the good roads amend.
 ment. He warned the teacher to e
 slowly before voting for this amend. | ment. After his remarks on the sub. | tect he announced that he had ready | for the consideration Of the convention | statement whiche he handed to the secretary. This statement. which wal not read. was as follows:
 In a recent reported interview with
 me l was classed as against the good roads movement. Nothing Is further from the facts I am one of the strongest advocates of good roads, and
 am ready to cooperate as Governor, tax payer. or as a citizen to further this most worthy enterprise I have property in Jefferson and Barbour
 counties. and both counties are levyins
 So1 tss tS. to sas s1d gs0e sa5x rosSs cana secure proper development with its highways like the old road to Jordan, Hard to travel
 There is before the people the liber-
 ty of voting for an amendment to the Constitution authorizing the Legisla-
 ture to pass statute providing that the earnings of the convicts of the State. and other funds of the state, can be appropriated so that same can go towards the building of the public roads of the State.
 Statute.
 Section 1. Be 1t enacted by the Legislature of Alabama, that the fol- lowing amendment to Section 93. Arr ticle W, of the Constitution Is hereby proposed to be submitted to the quali- fled electors of Alabama for their con- sideration as is herein set forth. Sec tion sS. Article W of the Constitution Section 93.-The State shall not en- gage In work of internal improvements or lend money or its credit in aid or such, nor shall the State be interested or lend money or it's credits to any individual, association, or corporation, provided that the State may under ap- propriate laws cause the net proceeos from the State convict fund to be ap- piled to the construction, repair ana maintenance of public roads i'm the State and the Legislature may also make additional appropriations for that purpose"
 Quoting from the last section of the proposed Constitutional amendment provided that the State may under appropriate laws cause the net pro- ceeds from the State convicts fund to be applied to the construction, repair, the State and the Legislature may make additional appropriations for that purpose, 1t will be seen from the last line that any funds of the State can De appropriated. In other words, the Constitutional provision against State aid to internal Improvements will be broken down, and the gates opened Tor such appropriations along that line The last two Constitutional Conven- tions were decidedly against this lar- ter proposition. It was very danger ous and destructive immediately after the war It may be dangerous yet. diers; l favor taking Alabama from its low position as regards ignorance in the sisterhood of States and placing 1t on a much higher basis. This will require in my opinion, all the money we can possibly spare for a series of years to come.
 would caution you as teachers ot the State to thoroughly understand this matter. and on your return home dis cuss 1t with the voters, as I think there can be a serious misconception oK this worthy cause
 The convict fund is paid Into the paid. 1t becomes part of the treasury, just like any other fund. The Legis- iature, in recent session. appropriated large sums of money for the care of the old soldiers and the schools. can think of no more worthy object than these two causes. It is useless to state that since the prohibition law went into effect. and consequently the loss of the whiskey license, the funds of the State will necessarily be greatly depleted. and 1t is going to be very close sailing to carry out not only benevoIent, but absolutely necessary
 If $500, 900, under the guise of the convict fund. is taken from the State treasury. it means that the State ap- propriatfons to the extent of $500, 900 per year must be curtailed. Without this $5Q0,O00, 1t would be impossible to maintain the present appropriation for the old soldiers and the schools. believe it would be a calamity for the State to retrace its advanced steps in the cause of education, or retrace its ldvanced steps in taking care of these old men in their last days.
 If the people of the State desire to vote on the constitutional question of Drovements, repudiating the settled l policy of the State which was made 1 years ago. because 1t was found that | State aid to internal improvements was dangerous that the Con- l ,titution was framed against it--it is | yves open. and with clear under | of the question before them. | When you come to the diversion of | money under the guise of naming some | particular fund. the convict fund, and | incidentally any and all funds which Ire now going into the State treas iry, and are being used to maintain hn iowa