Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-04-16
RENDER UNTO CAESAR.


The poll tax qualification for voting
is constantly becoming more unpopular
with the Virginia electorate. This IN
popularity is Occasioned by the trouble
1t gives voters to preserve their
suffrage rights and as we'll as its success
In disqualifying so many men who but
for it are otherwise qualified to vote.
There can no longer be any doubt but
that 1t Is accomplishing precisely what
Its orignators intended it to do-a SER
ious curtsilment of the electorate. The
machine politicians agreed among
themselves that it would be much easier
to manage one hundred thousand voters
than an army of two hundred thousand
or more who were eager to use the bal
lot. 1t was estimated that the "under-
standing clause" of the new Constitr
ton would disfranchise nearly the entire
negro vote and considerable portion
OF the white vote. But it was also
estimated that at least two hundred
thousand white men in Virginia would
be able to register under the under
standing clause" This number was
too great to satisfy the purposes of the
machine politicians, and the poll tax
qualification was written in the Constit-
ution as an additional DISTINGUISHING
measure. The understanding clause"
slew its thousands but the poll tax
qualification has slain its tens of thou
sands. The scheme has worked so sue
cessfully that the Democratic members
Of the General Assembly at each session
of that body stubbornly refused to pass
resolutions introduced by Republican
members for the repeal of the iniquity.
One of the greatest objections to this
obstruction to suffrage is the resent
ment it provokes in the minds of so rnanv
voters. Having been so long taught
that suffrage is a right which necessa-
riiy attaches to free American citizen
ship, they feel inclined to refuse to nav
what they are justified in believing is a
vicious price put upon a right that by
our republican form of government was
intended to be free and priceless. This
resentment not only makes them care
less about paying their poll taxes, but
IN many instances it causes good men
to stubbornly refuse to pay at all. While
we believe that the poll tax quaIifca-
ton for voting is outrageous and unjust
we also believe that it is the duty of
every man who is a registered voter to
comply with the requirments, not as
matter of conscience, but because it is
for the interest OF the individual voter
and Is for the benefit of many of his
tellow-citizens who are suffering from
the same burden.
In the Gospels we are told that while
the Savior was on earth, on a certain
occasion the Roman tax-gatherers
made demand upon him for the pay
ment OF taxes. Some of his disciples
were disposed to resent the demand.
But he taught valuable, practical lesson
by saying: Render unto Caesar the
things that are Caesars" ct Get, He
taught that it is wise for men to submit
to existing governmental conditions that |
are produced even by vicious laws. with
a hope and purpose of eventually
Kidding themselves of tyrants and
tyranical enactments like this poll tax
qualification for voting. So should the
ill-treated citizens of this State act.
Render unto the tyranical Democracy
the tribute they have levied upon YOU
Tor the purpose of robbing you of your
citizenship. Pay your taxes promptly,
and encourage all your friends and {
neighbors to do likewise. This will
qualify you and them to assist in the
excellent work of overthrowinp the .
political oligarchy that has fastened =
itself upon Virginia, and in restoring G
free suffrage to our people. Yes, make t
any sacrifice to pay your poll taxes and
preserve your suffrage.