Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-11-12
REMOVE THE BARRIERS.

to the fact that there are too many oh
structions placed between the voter
and the ballot box in this State. They
begin to realize that it is unreasonable
to register man so he can vote, and.
then, place so many distractions in his
way that he will surely fail to reach the
ballot box. The poll tax qualification
Tor voting has proved to be one of the
most certain vote-killers that has been
introduced by the new constitution.
he Richmond Evening Journal. an
ultra Democratic newspaper. has this
to say about the matter:
Another suggestion we would make
would be for the party authorities to
consider the agitation of an amend
ment to the State Constitution repeal-
ing the present law that REQUIRES the
prepayment of poll taxes as a prereo-
ulslte to the right to vote.
Now that the permanent roll of
voters provided for in the Constitution
has been closed, there would be no dan
ger Of an increase of the number of
qualified negro voters. The under-
standing clause, at the discretion of anv
fairly intelligent judge of election.
would serve the purpose Of keepino off
the books those the Constitution aimed
to disbar.
The effect of the poll tax payment
clause is to keep away from the polls
hundreds of young men who, if no such
requirement obtained, would register
and vote The poll tax lists. too. ara
frequently faulty, and operate in many
cases to drive men out of the dominant
party into the opposition party. or to
make them non-voters.
The Tazewell Republican ever since
the clause was written in the constitu-
ton has been demanding its repeal And
at the two last sessions of the General
Assembly of Virginia Joint resolutions
were introduced by Republican men,
bers, In both the Senate and House If
Delegates, for the repeal of the poll tax
qualification for voting. These Joint
resolutions were pigeon holed by the
committees, controlled by Democratic
members.
The pretended reasons for providino
the poll tax qualification were to raise
revenue for the public schools and to
prevent the negroes from voting. The
results that have followed its enforce
ment' however, have shown that the
design was more sinister. The nra-
payment of the poll tax was not only
made prerequisite to voting, but it
STANDS now as prerequisite to regis
tering. In this latter application it is
proving quite as deadly to the elector-
ate as in the former.
All the suffrage and election laws
made Dy and under the new constitu-
ton are of such a character as tn re-
duce the electorate to a minimum
Every possible barrier that could he in
vented has been placed between the
citizen and the exercise of the elective
franchise. This is in direct conflict
With our popular republican form of
government.
When men are denied the privilege of
exercising the most precious right that
attaches to citizenship they become in
Inherent and hostile to the government
nder which they are compelled to live
'ut IN which they have no voice. As
natter of justice and of sound public ,
'ollcy, it is the duty of our law rnakers I
so shape our suffrage laws as to en-
ourage every worthy citizen to vote
no become permanently interested in :
he affairs of our government. State 8
nd National. II
"hen man can stand the necessary
ests' moral and mental, for registra-
on, and his name has been entered on
ne registration books, no barrier should
hen be placed between him and the
aiiot box. Upon the contrary, the :
ay to the exercise of suffrage should
made as plain and inviting as posi-
. for such man.
Here in Virginia we have not ONLY :
e complicated poll tax qualification
r voting to contend with, but we are
TERED by official ballots so complex =
d mysterious in form as to require is
e assistance of an election officer in
lrixing them. The voter. even If in