The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-01-21

Once again The Advertiser Is going
to urge upon the white men Of Ala
bama not only the necessity. but the
important duty OF paying their poll.
tax, n they have not done so. We use
the word duty" advisedly. because we
consider it scored duty which every
white man in Alabama owes TO himself,
his State and his race to takeNpart in
the elections.
There are not less than one hundred
and hfty thousand white men inrAia-
bama subject to the payment OF poll
tax. and We much doubt II half Of them
have paid IT. The time expires on the
first day Of February, and no man can
vote at any legal election this year n
he Is in arrears with his poll-taxes. Not
only must he pay for the current year.
but IL he has not paid for any pre-
vious year or years he must do 80 be-
fore he can vote. The law requires q
clean showing in this respect from all
who are subject to This tax.
This is going to be an important year
in politics. From President and Con-
gressmen down to county ana precinct
officials there win be ofices to NIL by
election. Every citizen should feel spe-
cial interest in the election OF county
officials for he is more directly con-
cerned In them and their duties. and
should feel It . duty to take part in
their selection. And every good citi-
zen should be interested In the Presi-
Dental elections and in the Congress-
man from his own District. IL not in
all the others. Besides, there are like
ly to be special elections which may
directly affect the people themselves.
In fact, this is going to be a year Of
elections. and all white men should do
their part In the duty which all owe 1t
is a severe reflection on us as State
that the returns of an election held in
Alabama show that fifty per cent or
more Of the white people failed to vote.
The Northern people are continually
twitting us about 1t. saying that If the
white Democrats of Alabama are as nus
merous as we claim. why is 1t that
they fail to show up on the election re-
turns? II we should undertake to reply
to these taunts we could only reply
that 1t is because SO many of them
neglect their duty.
And it should be borne in mind and
impressed on all that this poll-tax
money goes to the schools of Alabama,
and the man who knowingly fails or
refuses to pay It is robbing the children
OF the State OF what is their just due
free education. 1t would be dificuIt to
overestimate the Importance to the
State OF properly educating those who
are soon to take on themselves the du-
ties and responsibilities Of citizen
ship. The citizen subject to this tax
who fails to pay it on the ples that the
children will be educated anyhow iS
simply. robbins others. The man who
AAdAh " pay anu Sfius AOoSS bAo OPPOA-
tunity to vote, fails in one OF the most
important duties OF citizenship and
makes no attempt to prove himself
worthy to enjoy the rights and privi-
Ieges of q free and Independent
American. This may be plain speak
ing. but the subject demands that kind
of speech.
No citizen Of Alabama can claim that
he has not been duly warned of his
duty and Of the wrongfulness of shirk-
ing that duty. The papers OF the coun-
try as well as Of the cities have been
continuously drumming It into the
minds OF their readers but the effect
has not been all that could be wished.
We appeal to the white men OF Ala
bama not to neglect the opportunity to.
prove themselves worthy to be called
American citizens. We appeal to them
not TO show by their actions that they
do not care whether elections are held
or not. We appeal to them in the name
Of the children not to rob them of their
just heritage and dues. We appear TO
them to show. the manhood that is the
boast of ali Americans. We appeal to
them not to allow elections to go by
default.
PAY YOUR POLL TAXES.