Eufaula
~ 4/10/03
|
|
|
 |
Dr.
Wayne Flynt covers the history of the constitution. |
|
|
| Mrs. Garrison
of Eufaula signs the bus outside of the old depot. |
|
|
The
trip to Eufaula began as soon as I returned to Montgomery from an
extremely productive visit to Florence on Thursday. After a brief
episode at the bus lot involving a fire extinguisher, a friendly mechanic,
and a trip to the gas station, 'Reform One' was ready to hit the road
again. I was a little sad that I missed out on Eufaula's Pilgrimage
last weekend, but better late than never. The bus pulled into the
city limits around 10:00 PM and I was lucky enough to stay in a guest
room of a ACCR supporter in Eufaula.
The breakfast forum began Friday morning at 7:45
AM at the restored train depot. Dr. Wayne Flynt of Auburn University
delivered an in-depth lecture on the history of the constitution.
He also reminded the crowd that one of the leaders of the 1890s Populist
movement, Reuben Kolb, was a Eufaula native. Kolb and his Populists
were a threat to the Bourbon Democrats that controlled the state and
one of the reasons the 1901 constitution was written was to eliminate
this coalition of blacks and poor whites from the political process.
As I left Eufaula on my way to Troy, I stopped for
gas (again) at the 106 Shell Station. When I went in to pay, the attendant
told me, "I cheered for you when you drove up!" Now, at
first I wasn't sure if she was cheering because I was with ACCR or
because I looked like I needed a lot of gas. It was soon apparent
though that she was a supporter of constitutional reform and proceeded
to run out and sign the bus: "Chrissy - 106 Shell Station".
The event (along with the pastries and OJ!) could
not have been possible without the help of our co-sponsors The Eufaula
Tribune and the Eufaula/Barbour County Chamber of Commerce. I'd also
like to encourage anyone who has never been to Eufaula to pack up
your cars immediately and do so.
• ‘No way
to run a state’
The Eufaula Tribune, April 14, 2003
• Constitutional reform hot topic
at Eufaula forum
The Dothan Eagle, April 12, 2003
• Time
for change
The
Eufaula Tribune, April 7, 2003
Pell City ~ 3/21/03
click on an image below
to see a full size photo
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Mayor Guin Robinson
and Chairman Stan Batemon show their support. |
|
|
For me, the bus tour actually started
yesterday on the 20th. I drove up to Birmingham last night from Montgomery
at the maximum bus speed of 58 MPH (on the flat stretches). The drive
to Pell City takes about 2.5 - 3 hours in my school bus and the thought
of waking up around 4:00 AM on the morning of the 21st to make it
on time did not sound appealing. After a comfortable night on a couch
in Birmingham, I met ACCR's St Clair County point person, Carole Barnett,
at the Pell City High School at 8:00 AM.
Guin Robinson, Pell City's mayor, and Stanley Batemon,
St Clair County Commission Chairman, arrived soon afterwards at the
gymnasium. Principal Bob McCool introduced us to the senior class
of Pell City High School and the program began. I started off with
a brief history of the constitution, some of its current problems,
and some of its crazy amendments (like the mosquito and rodent amendment
for Mobile County, Amendment 351). Mayor Robinson then shared his
experiences with the inadequacies of the 1901 constitution and explained
how the lack of home rule had adversely affected the City's efforts
to have an elected school board. Chairman Batemon followed the Mayor
and told the students about his work on the Governor's commission
on the constitution. He also explained how the lack of home rule made
his job as county commissioner more difficult.
After the presentation, the audience was invited
to come outside and sign their name right on the bus, which many of
them did. Some of the students even expressed an interest in starting
a student chapter of ACCR at their high school. After chatting with
everyone and handing out information on ACCR, I cranked up the old
bus and eased her back out onto the highway. All in all, it was a
great stop and it could not have been possible without the help of
the volunteers and speakers, in particular, Carole Barnett, Mayor
Guin Robinson, Chairman Stan Batemon, and Principal Bob McCool.
• Students
show support for constitution reform
St.
Clair News-Aegis, March 27, 2003
• Robinson,
Batemon discuss constitutional reform at PCHS
Talladega
Daily Home, March 21, 2003
Return to: Bus Driver Diaries ~ Part 3
Return to: Bus Driver Diaries ~ Part 2
Return to: Constitutional Reform ~ in the
News
