The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-16
THE VOTE In DALLAS
BELIEVED THAT NOT MORE
THAN 1900 WILL BE PoLLED.
Many Persons in Country Precincts
Failed to Pay Poll Tax-Reports
from Lower Alabama
Good for Jelks.
Advertiser Bureau.

Selma, August 10.
Felix NJ Wood. Secretary Of the Dali
las County Democratic Executive Com
mittee. has been very busy for several
days preparing lists of the qualified vot-
ers of the different wards and precincts
In the County for the use of the inspec-
tors on the day Of the primary election.
The task has been no easy one. He has
had couple of clerks helping him most
of the time and even then the task is
herculean. He first went to Tax Collec-
tor Cliff Morrisons books and took q
list of those who had paid their poll
taxes In the city some 800 or 400 are
exempt from poll tax on account Of be-
ing firemen and members of military
companies.
In the country precincts Mr.. Wood
found some startling figures. Only s. per
cent Of the registered voters In the
country precincts can vote. the other IS
per cent having failed to comply with
the law and pay their poll tax. There is
going to be a great many disappointed
men when they go up to the polls on pri-
mary election day and apply for the priv
ilege of voting and are told that they can
not do so.
The press and tho Chairman of the
Democratic Executive Committee begged
and implored these men to pay their poll
taxes before the first of February, but
they either wilfully or through careless
ness neglected to do so.
Already one case has come to light
where man who was appointed one of
the managers Of the election in the Fifth
Ward has not paid his poll tax. Not
being qualified elector the question has
been raised as to whether he is a COM
petent person to help hold the election.
He is one of the very best citizens of
Dallas County, being a popular engineer
of the Southern Railroad, but the new
Constitution lays down the law specifi-
cally and he cannot vote in the general
election in November or in the primary
Engineer Thomas claims that he was
threatened with pneumonia about the
time that the Tax Collector closed his
books under the law. and was unable to
get to the court house to pay his poll tax
Many contend that this is not a valid
excuse; that he had several months in
which to pay his poll tax and neglecting
to do so he has no right to vote ana
therefore not being a qualified elector
cannot be one of the managers Of the
election.
or the 2,291 voters registered in Dallas,
about 1000 of them live in the country
beats. If IS per cent of them cannot vote
in the primaries. then, IL all who are
qualified go to the polls. the vote IN
Dallas. outside of the city, will only be
about $50. But will all of them vote?
That is a question that can only be an
swered after the primary election is over.
1t is possible that $50 of those entitled to
vote in the rural precincts will fail to
go to the polls and that will cut the vote
down to 500 outside of the city.
There are about 1900 registered voters
In Selma precincts and practically all of
them will be entitled to vote, as sys-
tematic canvass was made in order to
get them to pay their poll taxes. Say
1000 of these in the city entitled to vote
will go to the polls and cast their votes
on the day of the primary election. the
vote of Dallas County will be cut down
to 1.5o0. OF the 2291 registered. sixty-one
are negroes. and cannot. If they were 50
disposed on account of their color, par
ticipate in the white primaries so that
cuts the total down TO 2,230 actual white
registered voters. Then take from that
the $50 in the country who have failed to
pay their poll tax, and the number enti-
tied to participate In the primaries on
the 18th is thus cut down to 1880
or that number 1t is supposed that sew
cral hundred will fail or refuse to go to
the polls If as many as $780, from sick
ness. negligence or other causes fail to
go to the polls on the day of the primary
election, then Dallas Countys vote will
be cut down to 1900
This may be little too low, but II Is
hardly possible. in view of the condition
of affairs disclosed by Mr.. Woods re-
searches that the number who vote in
Dallas on the day of the primary will 60
over 100