The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-12-17
TIMELY WARNING TO VOTERS.
Pay Your Poll Tax Before the LIST
Day Of January Next.

In the past few weeks the papers
of the State have commented quite
freely on Article 1913 of the new
Constitution, on the payment of the
poll tax for two years previous to
elections as a prerequisite to voting.
A great many prominent lawyers
of the State and several members OF
the late Convention have expressed
different opinions as to when this
tax should be paid, and it seems to
be a mixed up affair; but to be GER
tain to be on the safe side, we ad-
wise every voter of our parish to go
and pay his poll tax not later than
the 3lst of the present month. If
you do not, then you lose your
vote, and you have no one to blame
but yourself.
Messrs. t. F. Bell, w. Fl. Wise
and T. Alexander of Caddo parish,
members of the late Convention,
publish the following card In the
Shreveport papers, advising voters
not to delay in paying their poll tax:
"The new constitution, IN article
1913, provides for the payment OF
poll taxes on or before the 3lst of
December each of the two years
next preceding an election, as a
prerequisite for voting; but post
PONIES until after the general cleo
ton in the year 1900 the operation
of said provisions. To state the
matter more plainly, the next gen.
eral election in this State takes
place in April, 1900. AS soon as
that election takes place the provls-
ion of the constitution above re-
ferred to becomes operative, and ap-
plies to all elections thereafter. In
November, 1900, we will have a
congressional and presidential elec-
ton, an election of great import
ance. In order to vote at said cleo
tioa, the suffragan must exhibit re-
ceipts showing that he paid his poll
tax for The years 1898 and 1899, on
or before the 3lst of December of
each of these years. If he fails by
one day he is for that election dis
franchised.
"The law is a new one, to which
our people are unaccustomed, and
that no one need lose his vote this
warning is given. Fellow citizens.
be sure to attend to this important
duty; pay your poll taxes on or be-
fore the 3lst of December. now
close at hand, aud remind your
Eeighbors to do the same.
ct. F. BELL,
"W. Fl. WISE,
ct. ALEXANDER,
"Members of late Convention. -
The New Orleans Picayune com
menting on the above says:
s'This timely warning sent forth
by three members of the late Consti-
tutional Convention, takes precisely
the position held by the Picayune,
that the provisions of article 1913 of
the new State constitution, in rela-
ton to the payment of the poll tax
as requIsit for casting the ballot,
takes effect Immediately after the
State election in April 1900, and
applies to the Federal election in
November of that year. AS the
the warning is issued by three mem
bers of the late convention, who
had participated in the enactment
of the constitutional provision in
question, it is fair to infer that they
know what was enacted in the
premises.
cit is strange that any warning to
voters should be necessary in what
seems so plain case; but for some
reason not clearly understood, prom
inent Democratic politicians have
been active in putting forth the
notion that the poll tax requirement
does not take effect until two years
after 1900. Of conse, this action
was not taken without an object;
but whatever that may be, it is cer-
tain, if voters can be prevented from
paying the poll tax, that it will re-
suit dlsastrously to the Democratic
party, for. if in the congressional
election of 1900 the people are
allowed to vote without paying the
poll tax, the seats of all the Demo