The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-14
yusr As WAS PRnDrcrEp.

| terms. lndt TeBret was nut aftose1h- CT on account of the firm belief that
 such an amendment would be a pal pablo wrong. though that of itself was | enough to cause right thinking people to oppose it. But in addition to that, we deprecated the movement because we foresaw the bitter campaign that
 was bound to come over the question.
 We knew this could not be avoided be- cause of the very nature of the strug- gle. It was easy to see that the issue was bound to enter into every depart
 ment of our social. political and re- ligious life, and cause bitterness in all. It was a matter about which men were bound to differ and that without re- gard to their position or views on other things. We foresaw that it would cause hard feelings among friends and associates all over the State, and perhaps cause dissensions that would take a long period of time to heal. And in addition to all these causes of regret. we felt reasonably sure that some at least of the advo- cates of the amendment would not hesitate at any means that they be- lieved would help them.
 Though the campaign has been on but a short while. the result shows that our predictions were well-found- ed. Already we hear of controversies, often far from amicable. between friends of long standing, whose rela- tions to each other had always been close and agreeable. Already. too. we find men of the same political faith. who have stood together in many cam paigns, now aiienated and temporarily estranged because they cannot agree on this one proposition. What Is more than all to be regretted is the fact | that it is becoming an issue in some of the churches. where 1t should never have been permitted to enter. and is disturbing and embittering men who 
 should never allow any political issue to disturb their church fellowship or interfere with the harmony of relig- ious worship.
 All this we clearly foresaw and pro- | tested against in plain language. be- cause We knew that the fight that was to be forced on the people of Ala bama could not and would not be con- ducted without acrimony and bitter ness. Nor were we mistaken in pre- dieting that some of the advocates of the amendment would not be satisfied with fair and manly methods in con- ducting their campaign. We knew that too much zeal in some, self-inter- est in others. and a feeling of impla- cable spite and prejudice in others would lead them to lose sight of tol- erance and fairness and descend to the level of the pot-house political dema- gosue.
 This intolerance, vituperation and misrepresentation is manifesting itself in various places. What is more to be regretted, perhaps, is the fact that those in high places forget the dignity of their positions in their newborn zeal for a weak cause. The Governor of Alabama, who should have had more regard for the dignity of his position, if nothing else could infiu- ence him. has not hesitated to make unjust and unfounded attacks on those who oppose this tampering with our organic law for political reasons, and has made statements which 1t Is put ting 1t mildly to say are not supported by facts. Whether he has done this because of lack of information, or be- cause of an excess of zeal for a cause that he so lately became a convert to. we may not say. but we do say that in some of his inhammatory stump speeches he has lacked much of being 1 fair, just or accurate towards those who have as much right to their opin- ions as he has.
 1 All this is much to be regretted, not especially because of any effect 1t may have on the Governors standing. but because high toned and self-respect- ing men and newspapers on the other side wish to retain some feeling of re- spect for. the office of Governor. and do not like to follow his example In the conduct of the campaign. It Is | also to be much regretted because oth- CTS of less importance think 1t right and proper to follow his lead and imi- tate his method of conducting cam paign which should not have been in- augurated, especially at this time. The people of Alabama wanted rest and quiet from unseemly agitation and bit terness. It was not of their motion or desire that they should be plunged into a campaign of vituperation and abuse, such as is being carried on by some of the advocates of the amend ment.
 It was because we could foresee the results, or some of them. that were bound to follow the unwise movement startad hu q waaL Te0Ialature dom-