The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-30
A LAST WORD.

A LAST "OhDs
 Tt will be only a few more days" says The Dallas News, until thou- sands of Texans will be disfranchised by their own conduct indifference and neglect" The language of The News applies with equal or greater force to Alabama. At midnight on the first of February, the opportunity to settle up all poll taxes due and thus qualify oneself to vote at any election during the present year will be closed. The gate will be barred and the citizens who are subject to this tax and have failed to pay 1t will be left out in the cold. They will really have no more voice in the selection of law-makers and officials than the horses or cattle they own. They will he nonentities in the body polite.
 The Advertiser has no excuses or apologies to offer for the frequency with which 1t has alluded to this sub feet or for the space it has used in urg- ing the white people of Alabama to qualify themselves for what we look upon as one of the greatest privileges and highest duties of citizenship. The failure to vote is not only neglect of duty but it is a reflection on the State. It is the solemn duty of all good citi- zens to do their part towards the elec- tion of good men to office. It is as true now as it was in the days of Solo mon that when the wicked beareth rule the people mourn" Figurativeiy. at least, the wicked will rule if the good people are passive or indifferent citizen hangs back the bad one will take advantage of it. And a small vote Is serious reflection on the good name of Alabma. It leaves outsiders to form a false conception of our vot- ing population and to place low es- unate on the patriotism of our peo- pie.
 It is true that there is to be no gen eral election this year, State or nation all but there will be elections of im- portance to all citizens. Elections for city officers will be held in many places. Various cities. towns and counties will hold elections for the purpose of vot- ing on the issuing of bonds or for other matters relating to taxation, revenue and other questions of real in terest to each citizen and all should be qualified and prepared to take part in such contests. No citizen can excuse himself by saying that the matter will be attended to, whether he votes or not. That is neither a just or a manly view to take of this question. Each duties of citizenship. If he shifts them to the shoulders of others, he is neith- CT just nor brave.
 The fact that all the poll taxes so to the schools should be an added incen- tive to all good citizens to pay them. There is more illiteracy in Alabama than there should be, and there is more thar is creditable to us as a people. The State pays for the education of our children but 1t cannot pay a sufficient cient A large portion of the school funds comes from the poll taxes. All of this tax goes to the schools and all oi this tax is voluntary. There Is no law to enforce the payment. the penal ty being the deprivation of suffrage, but that should be penalty enough for any man who will look at 1t in the proper light,
 But it Is not merely the elections of the present year that are or may be in- volved. If a man Is In arrears and re- mains 50 he cannot vote at any election in the future. Next year will be im- portant in political afrairs. Prssi- dent and Congressmen are to be chosen, besides such elections as may be held for the State. the counties and the towns and cities, and all white, citizens of Alabama should be prepared and fit- ted to do their part. If a man is in arrears and cannot pay all of it at once he can pay part now and the remainder as he can, but all who can pay in full should do so and be just what all Ala Samians should be, a free and inde- pendent citizen of one of the best States of the Union. Win they not do it, for their own credit. for the honor of the State and for the education of the chill dren7