The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-11-10
COLLECT HE POLL TAX.

We publish elsewhere il our co
umns in to-day's i,su. :. u.rcular i:
sued by the Board IL School Direc
ors Of THIS Parish concerning tn
Poll Tax which Is due 10 the Paris
from every citizen of twenty on
years of agr, and we wish to endors
the action the Board has taken il
this important matter and to add t
it our own testimony as 10 the i'm
perative need by the School Doarl
of every cent that is due. We be
lieye that the author of the circular
our Parish Superintendent, was right
III his belief that the citizens did not
understand What the proceeds of this
tax were used for or they would pay
it promptly and in no case attemp,
&c evade it. There are surely few
men who would willingly deprive
their own or their Eeighbors children
of al school privileges which it is
possible to prividc for them and our
increasing population demands more
teachers at" we nant just as high Il
grade Of tcaciie.s H. il is possible TO
procure. Good teachers cannot be
procured al low wages, and poor
TEACHERS cannot raise the standard
of educa,ion il, his Parish up to the
mark whic!i the BANNER wishes to
see it reached acknowledge is
power here lis everywhere else.
Nothin. else can give our Parish the
influence il should have in the
STATE. nothing save an educational
people can give Our State the power
it should have in the halls of nation
al legislation. EvcrY citizen of this
parish i!ap@a t. alnass some property
to leave to his children and this i. a
most worthy ambition; bat any man
who attempts to dodge Tie Poll Tax.
th!nk,ng to save 4 dollar more to
lay aside fer bis children is doing
them Tie -,l~'s1t 4Hkindnes, posi-
bic. NY American r.It G. ,.Qr j.
much bettar fitted 70 fight lies La.
ties by facing tlam with Il good
practical education and mind
traiac1 10 meet the difficulties and
enjoy tie i'i~as,naa .ith which their
path will ba sIr.wD. even ii lis pou;.-
ct be empty at the start, than tue one
who has Il good sized bank account
bat DO Aios I.l;ra # how tC carry on
business. or Of TIE void around
them and what it holds.
Instead Of considering this bur
lensoine tax, il should be looked |
npon hF every citizen in the light of |
N Investment. IL 20 other way
could one dollar each year FROM
each man be invested so that it
would accomplish So much for dis
rlct. State and natiGn, as by invest
ng it in the brains Of those who la
iery few years will he our law max
rs, oaf high officials, our clergy.
eachers and shori>~Hthe people"
We wish to see our Parish noicd
or its hi Gh stan lard of education.
nd The 0nl! way That this object
an DC attained is tor every Citizen
'ot every property owner alohe-nut
very iaan over twenty one Years of
se to prompt, pay The trifllng sum
t one dollar and The first step to.
ards lis accomplishment would be
ttainei. NJ other country in the
Grid has such Il scloo! system as
as tne United States. In no other
md is The per cent. Of iIlileracy so
mall. Ii il was not for orr free I
ubllc school "hu trke the children
the .migrants who pour an in
easing stream OF ignorance into
" broad land. ara raise them up >,
10 Intelligent and patriotic citizens,
II govrrnm"nt would long ago
I'VE fallen > prey to the unwise t
,'lcies Of TIE foreign element. L
Our pui'ie school system is the "
,ide and bniwa,k CT Our great and y
'wcrful nation, lis foundation stone ;,
d each generation should take S;
'Ide IA i'.'i,'ng well upon the no.
e structure Which ti.ose preceding I
have reared. Let no citizen OF
. Mays Parish be rrmiss in the
If ifpprt ~ .i,i, l,t,.