New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-10-11
IN Inscription, $l.5O per Annum
VOTE IT DOWN.

Nearly ali the newspapers In 'he
State, from the mammoth thund'
erer down to the little wee winner
of the cross roads district have had
their say about the constitutional
amendments, which will be passed
upon by the people at the Novem-
Der election. However this paper
may be classified among the "long
felt wants." here will follow our
advice to the voters of this section,
or rather to those who choose to
accept it as good doctrine.
The poll tax provision seems to
be the measure which has caused
the journalistic running-gear OF
Louisiana to slip its surcingle and
swell up i'll the wrong place. They
favored it at first, or a great many
of them did, in order to remove
the negro from the political arena.
That work has been accomplished
and now they come out demanding
it's removal, and offer as an excuse
that the objection is only in the
dates allowed for payment, but
they are asking for its entire abol-
ishment.
1t is a good law, let it alone. If
man cannot pay one dollar each
year to assist in educating the chill
dren of the State, he is poor citi-
zen anyhow. Its payment is pre-
requisite to the casting of ballot,
is another good feature, and instead
of being cried down, should be ap-
proved as the best provision of the
| new constitution. 1t has so many
splendid features and conditions,
that it suits this paper to the ex-
tent Of perfection itself.
1t places the government in the
hands of the white people, the tax
payer and the interested citizen in
it's future welfare and prosperity
and therefore not the careless
straggler or slugglard. Hereto
fore a long complaint went up te
the effect that the foater outvoted
the taxpayer, selected the officers
and thereby shaped up the policy
of the government. There is {
different cry today. Does anyone
wish to return to that condito1
again and bring back to life tn
ghosts of the pasti
Who is against the schools
What man is there in this broat
land who would contribute by his
ballot that time should turn bacl
wards in its fight, and destroy tht
magnificent educational prosperit,
we are enjoying at present, tL'
result of years of labor and tn
best thought of the brainiest mel
of our state.
The bulk of the new proposedad
ditions to the organic law do no
concern us much. Not an enor
nous quantity Of good or an.
great degree of harm could resul
from either their adoption or re
lection, but the approval by tn
people of the one abolishing tn
poll tax qualification, would be
backward step from the very oh
iect which has made Louisiana on
of the foremost among the South
ern States.
Vote against that amendmen
and thereby refuse to wreck tn
schools. Vote against it aud pre-
serve the government in the hand
of those who mnst carry its bure
ems, create and maintain its grant
eur, or be responsible for its retr'
gression or decay-the tax payei
and the citizens interested IN i
advancement. Keep from th'
ballot the class which has no inte
est 10 the children. Thresh OF
those whose idea is to raise II
standard of incompetency over tb
of grandeur and magnificence, al
vote against it for every other goo
and great reason for the cause
> higher and better citizenship.
Vote it down in defeat and !
your actions carve ont for the I
ture of your people and your con
try destiny next in Importance
u civilization itself Wdfchmdn.