The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-12-17

The Poll Tax Question.

AAAC 4 VA 4 a. XOCStlOus
The Mansfield Journal in it's las
issue published a short editorial, il
which it stated that sthose who regis
tered under section five of the New
Constitution, will never be required tt
register as long as the present system
holds good"
The Shreveport Caucasian reproduc
ed the article, and grows eloquent in
commenting thereon, and winds up a
spicy article with the following cut.
ting sarcasm:
According to the spirit and intent
OF the constitution of 1898, such a
man is registered till death shall sew
er his affiliation and connection with
the political affairs of earth. Great.
indeed, is section five of the 1898 con-
stitution. HallelujahI Amen!"
Now both of our friends are sadly
mistaken in regard to the famous
section five OF the New Constitution.
Alter providing for the enrolment of
all voters to whom special privileges
We're given by section five, the said
section says:
''All persons whose name appear on
said registration, shall be admitted
to register for all elections in this
State without possessing the educa-
tional or property qualifications pre-
scribed by this Constitution"
So our learned friends viii see that
they are not registered for all time,
etc., but that they are simply 'senti-
tied to register at all elections regard
less OF the property or educational
qualification" They will have to
register and pay their poll-tax just
the same as ordinary mortals, and
such articles as appear in the Journ-
al and Caucasian, if these people
could read, might mislead them not
TO register and thus lose their vote.
The Caucasian produced a good arti-
lie, and it is pity to spoil it, but as
t might do harm, it should be cor
'ected. The New Constitution is crit
cized enough, without attributing to |
t an absurdity of which it is entirely
ree.-DeSoto News.
Judge Thos. j. Semmes is of the |
opinion that the poll tax provision
II the constitution does not apply |
Until two years after the April, 1000, |
lection. He says in part: "s : This
ak is levied by the constitution itself,
Without the aid of state legislation,
therefore, 1t must be two years from
lpril, 1900, before it's prepayment
'ecomes a prerequisite to voting; it
only when the tax has been in exis-
ence for two years that it is possible
DR. the voter to produce tax receipts
Or two years-he must produce tax
eceipts showing payment, not of any
oil tax, but OF the poll tax, levied by
be constitution, which levy cannot
AXE place until article 1913 goes into
Peration, that's to say, April, 1900.
ience, in my opinion, the production
tax receipts for the payment OF poll
axes rs a prerequisite to theexercise
I the right to vote cannot be de-
handed until 1902. It's only in that |
ear that the constitutional poll tax
i'll have been levied two years preced-
q the election. Town Talk.
While the doctors of journalism and
w appear to differ very greatly
bout this poll tax question, we can
70 but one common sense course, and
lat is to take no chances whatever :
the matter. We advise all who I
ant to be on the safe side to call on ]
he sheriff and pay their taxes before
anuary LIST.