The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-02
ANTl-PoLL TAX ARGUMENTS.

Inc Post publishes today several Letters
against the pending poll tax amendment to
the state constitution. They are all to the
same effect viz, that the franchise 10 a
natural right and that a poll tax re7uira.
ment is a property qualification. while sopo
20 to the extreme Of representing that tbaro
is danger that the poll tax may hereafter he
made twenty or thirty dollars. or some otbar
impossible sum
Ihey quite ignore the fact that the nol
TAX is already levied and that failure II, nov
u is an evasion Of a plain requirement of The
law. The man who viii not nay his Doil ts,.
Is unfaithful to his public duty and he b.s
no right TO complain ii the law seeks to on.
force It's DEGREES. 1t is begging the question
70 say that property owners dodge taxes II
Is the fault of the law it they are NOT mad
TO pay and making the voter nav bis ror
tax VIII increase the demand thar n-o,ar,,.
owners shan pay to the utmost what the l,,,.
requires
The contention that the francbiss A..
natural right has been so often d3snro,,s5
that It is necessary only to saw st this 49,
'nal 'ne argument exhibits ignorance Of the
Ieo' nature Of government The franchise
Us a matter Of agreement under the comet
tuition Of the State. and an States have r,rn5
IT expedient to limit the privilege in so,,e
respect Limitations are to be found d. 49,.
OF every State ana Of ever,.
VI every
Inc plea that the tax IS an unjust burden
upon the poor man is TO rate the noo- -
as pauper, In this country Of hIessa5 ~
portunities, the paItry sum of 81 "a ,s
~ 17n upon any man. He who can nor nav
y IS really pauper and Is ALREADY SIs
iuallnea. So far from being burden tba
noushtruI voter viii regard the paymsnt - v
ne tax as a privilege. He will feel that -, o
contributing something to the sunnor+ -
ne state whose protection he eptovs :. d
'iH give him more respect for binsais go =,
y WIZ experience the proud sensation :,
eng feal stakeholder in society Tts of E
7et wiu be altogether wholesome ana
obltpg ana en- az
Some opponents Of the amend-,.u.
rear that it viii encourage barter ma q
me OF votes That condition can not ~ pc
'auo any worse than it is az present I,
ie cities the purchaser Of votes cs, "a. ad
assurance that they VIII be cas-, -. 20
'omised for the Australian ballot law 90,
etely protects the secrecy OF tbo ,o nm
me country the herding Of votsrs , ,."I ii,
y be made any easier under the non "iii
aendment The voter who wishes ~ - s 'an
vote iinds way to do so now and w s5ti as'
FhapS ind a way under any elroums+sno ra'' b.
'rrupuon OF the ballot box is a matter -
areeleF in the citizen. and it win NJ, y, con
eeted In any considerable degree h.. be
ange OF this sort "
me position Of some repressn,.+,-
DOT that this amendment Is s1.,1.lves o. c
crest is sadly Illogical ana ' ,n,, 'nslr the
W. The hope OF labor lies IN an ,ntam ing
: oallob and its welfare VIII be hss, 80 ~ A
~ Oy eieyating the standards !, ~, Hoa
,silip Inc man who pays bis debts = win
III citizen than the man who evs5s. : : Hou
70. The poll tax is already 5ss le' nis r.
man who refuses to pay It Is sstr,, anu hate
obligation TO the State. 'N''Ains Who
ne poll tar requirement win No, iaspi
acaily reform the corrupt ana no os aa.o- .ns
y, No VIII continue to cast his ss,,o. s ali v
'dsrations OF gain or prejudice s', 10, fov Gums
ss' Out IN 5soa