The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-23
JOHNSTON WANTS A CoMPUL-
sorry POLL TAX.

ering these reasons OF the former Gov
ernor IL must be remembered that when
the Supreme Executive power Of the State
was vested in him as the Governor of
the State of Alabama and 1t was made
his duty under the Constitution to rec
ommend to the consideration of the Cen
eral Assembly such measures as he deem
ed expedient, he recommended the calling
of a Constitutional Convention and the
Incorporation of a provision in the new
Constitution requiring a substantial
poll tax to be paid by all who vote"
WHICH, in his opinion. would probably
give all the security needed ito strike
off the iron bands that had prevented our
growth and development" He told the
General Assembly then that 1.-The fear of
improper restriction of the right of suf-
stand in the way Of relief demanded
more strongly each year
The Ex-Governor now says in his card:
7 have never opposed requiring a poll
tax within the poll tax age as preimi-
nary to the right to vote. I do not ad-
mire the provision in the new Constitu-
ton because:
/. 1t provides that no man. no matter
what his property holdings may be, can
be compelled by law TO pay a poll tax
IL he will disfranchise himself.
2 That II only allowed the white men
Of Alabama a little over sixty days to
pay that poll tax.
II the Ex-Governor had said that the
new Constitution only allowed the white
men Of Alabama a little over sixty days
to pay the poll tax due for the year 1901
in order to vote at the election next No
vember, he would have come nearer stat
ing the fact. 1t is important that 1t be
remembered that the new Constitution
provides a temporary and a permanent
plan for registration of voters. Registra-
| ton thus far has been under the tenn
porary plan, which will expire January
| l, 1903.
| 1t is made the duty of the Legislature
to provide by law for the registration
| after January 1. 1903, of all qualified cleo
| tors. The qualifications under the tenn
| porary and the permanent plans are quite
different. Military service and descent
| from those who rendered such services
and good character and the understand
| ing of the duties and obligation of citi-
zenship are the only necessary qualifica-
tions under the temporary plan. After
January /, 1908 when the permanent plan
| will be in operation, the prescribed edu-
cational or property qualification will be-
come prerequisite to registration. The
Constitution went into effect November
IS 1901 The registrars were to be ap-
| pointed by the Board of Appointment
within sixty days from that date. They
were appointed and prior to August !, 1902,
| they registered 1SS,S1S voters, less than
| $500 of whom are negroes. They cannot
register any person between August l.
| and Friday and Saturday next preceding
| the day of election in November. On
| these days they can register those who
shall have reached the age of q years
after August 1, 1902, and those who shall
| prove to their satisfaction that by reason
| of physical disability or unavoidable alb
| sence from the County, they had no op-
portunity to register prior to August l.,
1902, and the Constitution provides that
they shall not on such days register any
other persons" Then. subsequent to the
election in November, the registrars shall
hold sessions at the court house of their
respective counties during the entire
third week in November, 1902" and for
six working days prior to December 20,
1902" when they shall register all persons
applying who possess the qualifications
prescribed in the temporary plan.
AS already stated. prior to August 1,
1902, there were 1s3,s1s voters registered, of
whom less than $500 are negroes. The
registrars who have so faithfully per-
formed their duties according to the let
ter and spirit of the Constitution may
surely be trusted to continue to do so.
Coming to the former Governors card
in what plight does it place him2 He
was the author and promoter Of the in
telligence and virtue plan" of limiting
| opportune period for such an issue to be
thrust upon the Democratic party. Then
in 1896, as Chief Magistrate of the State
he abandoned the intelligence and vir-
tue" plan and recommended the com
pulsory poll tax plan. He then urged "a
Constitutional provision requiring a sub
stantial poll tax to be paid by all who
vote" He now opposes, or does not
thoroughly approve the poll tax plan
of the new Constitution because its pay
ment is optional and consequently by it
I'VE have stricken out the negro entirely
as a contributor to the fund.-" and this, he
saws. throws upon the whites the entire
burden of negro education for a poll
tax is the only tax the negro could be
| made to pay
Assuming that the Ex-Governor still IA
vors the requiring a substantial poll tar
to be paid by all who vote" then 1t logi-
calIy follows that he is opposed Ito strik-
ing out the negro entirely" as voter, be-
| cause he favors a compulsory poll tax
the only tax a negro can be made to
pay" He would compel the negro by
law to qualify himself as a voter, rather
than lose the negro's poll tax to aid the
whites In educating the negro. He wants
negro voting and negro education indls-
solubly connected in this way.
1t is true that the Legislature can not
pass law to enforce the payment of the
poll tax by legal process, but the Legis-
| lature is authorized to increase the max