The Topeka state journal., 1900-04-25
DENOUNCE POLL TAX.
Anti-Organization Adopts Extreme
Resolutions.


Resolutions.
At the meeting of the Mechanics and
LaboI'ers' Protective association, the
anti-poll tax organization, held at
Weber's hall last night w. w. Harvey
and G. c. Clemens were chosen attor-
neys of the organization to fight the
poll tax ordinance in the courts either
by injunction or habeas corpus proceed
ings. The following resolutions were
written and introduced by Mr.. Clemens
and unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That if the intention be-
hind this poll tax ordinance is honest
that it shall be enforced without dis
elimination against all between the
designated ages, it is an outrage against
the people who have already been called
upon to pay taxes upon what they pos
SeSS and are now required to pay an
additional tax upon the privilege of
wearing heads; and If the intention be-
hind it is the dishonest one of so en-
forcing it as to compel the payment of
three dollars a year from only the men
who have no property subject to taxa
ton, then it is not only an outrage but
a cruelty; for labor pays all taxes at
last, no matter by whom they may seem
to be paid, and it robs the poor of their
Sustenance.
government can not run the city and
keep the streets in repair without rob
bing the workingnan's table of meat,
it had better resign and make way for
in their hearts and some ordinary hu-
man sense in their heads.
Resolved, That we will vote for no
man for any office whatever, OF high or
low degree, who does not do all in his
power to prevent the consummation of
this iniquity upon the pantrieS of those
who have to work to live
Resolved, That city administration
which must take the shoes and stock
ings from the feet of the workingman's S
| child, snatch the bread from the work.
ingman's table, and jerk from beneath
his arm the school books of the work
| ingman's child, in order to make the
| city government run, has forfeited all
| respect of humane and civilized men and
should sneak into oblivion without wait
! ing to be told to go.
| Resolved, That who so in this combat
| is not for the poor is against them
! apd that the workingman who does
| not, regardless Of party, use the only
effective weapon he has, his ballot,
against those who are not plainly and
not lukewarnnly for him should be
treated by his comrades as worse than
| traitor to his class.
Resolved, That we call upon the Tur-
ners, who in old slavery days dared the
mob for liberty, and upon the Arions,
| known champions of American freedom
| to take immediate action in behalf OF
| the oppressed workingmen of this city.
| Resolved, That the now worldwide
| question, what would Jesus do?" be
! put to a practical test, so workingmen
may know the results, and that a com
mittee of three be appointed to wait
upon the Rev. c. M. Sheldon, whom we
| believe to be sincerely the friend of the
! common people, to request him to urge
| the Ministerial Union to do all in their
| power to prevent the city officers from
stripping the workingman's table and
| sending his children hungry to school,
| in order that city salaries may be paid
| while profitable joints run free under
an ordinance that imposes impriSon-
| ment as a punishment and compels an
| appeal; thus enabling the city govern
| ment to deceive the prohibitionists while
| gratifying the brewery trust We cal
| upon the ministers of the city to inves-
| tigate what we charge, and declare
| themselves in favor of actual honesty
| instead of mere hypocrisy in municipa
| government.
Resolved, finally That initiating al
| Anglo Saxon lovers of liberty from Wa
| Tyler to this day, we will never pay this
outrageous taxa tax upon the privilege
of merely being alive-but will rot il
jail first, as the great New England
| philosopher, Thoreau, resolved to do
| and that if the courts sustain the in
| famous outrage, we will compel the city
to rent a quarter section for a jail, fol
not single dollar will we pay.