The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-13
POLL TAX PROVISION.
Continued from First Page)

sibIe to import train LOAD Oh out
siders just before election ana Note
tbap, at that election This feature
alone should make every TREND Oh
cIean elections vote for the amend
ment.
FINALLY. among those effected by the
polI fax clause of the amendment.
there is a small class OF honest clti-
zens who would not sell their votes
under any circumstances and yet
whom some misfortune has lett TOO
moor for the time being to pay their
nolI tax. Under the present laws
these men, unless specially exempted
by the county commissioners are llable
to conviction for a miSdemeanor IN
case they do not pay their pol tax
whether they vote or not. Bat the
amendment will give them the right
to exempt themselves legally from
the Dayment of the tax in any election
wear they may choose: and although
they thereby lose their vote at that
particular election, this same amend
ment which DISTINGUISHES them dis
franchises far more dishonest voters.
so that by helping to pass the amend
ment now they can do more for good
government than by even their own
votes later. For them it is nos Il dis
reimbursement but temporary pair
inU'' of their votes with many times
their own number of venal voters.
When better times come there will
he no legal obstacle in the way OF
their paying the poll tax and resum-
ing their votes.
But after all, the voters who IN the
full vipor of manhood are absolutely
unable to pay their poll tax are few.
Of course. at present. many delay
pavment until the last moment as a
matter of convenience. These people
would pay more promptly if they had
10. This was shown by the rush to
nav poll taxes before the first or
March of the present year. number
of voters having had the mistaken no
ton that if they did not pay before
the first of this March they could
not vote after the amendment was
passed. Remember that this rush TO
pay was only by few who misunder-
stood the law. When the law is act
ualy passed and clearly understood.
there will be far larger rush to pay
in time. There are also some persons
who could pay now and who Will pay
after the amendment is passed. but
who. owing to it's beng the fashion
in many quarters to dodge ones taxes
are anxious to appear very. Ner% poor
i'm the eyes Of the tax collector. In
pandering to this spirit of tax dodg-
ing certain opponents OF the amend
ment have sought to place the man
who wants TO dodge his poll tax. on
the same high level of patriotism as
our forefathers who pledged every
thing they had TO the service Of their
country their lives. their fortunes.
and their sacred honor.
We forget what taxes mean. Is there
any man who claims to be true son
of the old North State. who, after
she has given him home and livli-
hood: after she has guarded his fire
side with the strong right arm of her
law. and has enabled him to enjoy the
fruits of his industry in peace and
quiet: after she has built roads and
bridges for him, has educated his
children. has shielded him from the
invasions of epidemic disease, has
given him freely the Dlood-hought
right Of Anglo Saxon heritage to wor-
ship his Maker as his conscience bids
him: and over and above all, after
he has conferred on him the browning
dignity OF free American ballots
there any man, ! ask, who after his
native State has done so much for
him begrudges her the few dollars
of the poll tax? If such an migrate
there be. let him 90 out alone and
vote against the proposed amendment
to the constitution of the state OF
North Carolina because that amend
ment contains Il provision making the
payment of the poll tax prerequisite
to voting.
JOHN A. ROEBLING.
Asheville. y. c.. May 10. 1900.