The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-21
TEXAS CLUB WOMEN.

Urged to Use Their influence for Pass
ing Poll Tax Amendment.
10 the Five Thousand Club Women OF
Texas:
At the suggestion OF the womcu's club
OF san Antonio Miss Eleanor Breckenridge.
presidenU ! gladly call your attention to
the proposed constitutional amendment that
VIII be voted upon by the men OF Texas
next fall This amendment to article g.
section 3 requires ali persons subject to
poll tax 10 have paid poll TAX and
to hold receipt FOR same before they offer
To vote at any election in the State" Ac-
curdlus t. our constitution, article :, see
tloh $, "A poll tax Of one dollar on every
mae lHhahltant Of this STATE between the
ages OF II ana 90 years shall be set aside
uunuallF Tor the public frpc schools"
80 Is estimated that 10000 men now
escape the payment OF their poll tax. II
the proposed amendment Is adopted con
seFFatNt judges claim that the school reyp-
uuC viii uc Increased $1,000 No thought
tul woman Who has given the least study
To tue condition Of our schools can fail
TO see how argent is The need for a
greater rcvruuc.
unr people are accustomed TO bon.t OF the
magnificent school fund of Texas, ana to
declare that ln years 90 come we win have
untold wealth To spend for public cduca-
zion. Hut Get MS no longer dcudc our
selves, let AS rather set before MS stern
these Facts reveal. Inc band that was
given oaCh county has been varlou5ly dis
posed oi; Some counties rCut the land
others have sold their lands and invested
the money iu interest bearing bonds. The
sections OF the public domain that In
1855 were reserved for the schools have
Not brought iu the revenue that was CE-
pccttd parties who leased large tracts
have failed to pay the rent; purchasery
thnt bought immense quantities have de-
tainted IN the payment. The permanent
# - tnn
While the perpetual school fund consists
Of the permanent fund and lT,J0O.OuO acres
Of uusold school lands" For this year
the state is able 70 give each child within
scholastic age $40. this sum Is derived
( from the permanent school fund. from dl
rect state tax Of y cents on the Sloo
/ from one-fourtb of all the occupation tax es
and one dollar OF each poll tax. The con
| stitution requires that public schools be
sustained six months IN the year, but IN
| der the pr sent conditions that Is abso
lutely impossible except in the district,
/ whore a lucnl school tax IL levied. Nine
tcnths Of the children of the State ar.
thtly dependent on the state and county
for support. therefore II * the duty al
eveY citizen 70 dc all in his power b,
ballot or by Influence TO develop anJ
strengthen not only the town hut the rurn
{ schools, We as women, cannot neglect
the best Interests Of our schools for upoT
I these schools depends the education OF ON
children Is II not our duty 10 use our in
hutncc remembering, however. that all ac
tion must hr guided hy Judgment. gentle
ness and The quiet dignity characters stl,
the adoption Of this amendment aud there
by Increasing the efficiency NJ our public
| shall he glad to have opinions and sug
gestlons from an Texas club women from
those without as well as from those With,
the federation, Cordially.
President Texas Federation Women's Clubs
Austin, Texas