The Southern herald., 1911-06-02
"Let the Blessed Sunlight
|Of Publicity Shine In"


and order, by resolution, the making
OF lists OF qualified electors to be fur
nished the judge OF primary elections
as a guide for legal action.
The fact that a man is registerd
does not necessarily mean that he is
a qallhed eleetor. Thousands of men
register and then default for taxes.
and while their names remain on the
registration lists, they cannot vote at
any election under the law, and are La
bic TO severe punishment if they do.
Unless steps are speedily taken to
stop illegal and fraudulent voting in
primaries, the primary election law Of
Mississippi will become a reproaeh, the
State governed by the non-taxed, and
the ship OF state viii founder amid the
breakers.
Whittier are we driftngi"
As above stated, Judge Campbell was
so impressed with the timeliness of the
editorial just quoted from the Brook
haven Leader, that he addressed the fol.
lowing communication to the Clarion.
Ledger. This communication was han
died at the time by the Jackson CORE.
spondents of the Memphis and New Or,
leans papers. 1t follows in full:
Editor Clarion-Ledger:
The article appearing in the Clarion,
Ledger of April 30, copied from the
Brookhaven Leader, is on subject OF
very great Importance, and therefore
worthy of the attention of all who feel
an interest in Mississippi.
''None but qualified electors should be
allowed to vote at primary or other
elections. The constitution of the State
declares who is entitled to vote, and
among the prescribed qualification is
payment, 'on or before the first of Feb
ruary of the year in which he shall offer
to vote, of all taxes which may have
been legally required of him, and which
he has had an opportunity of paying &C,
cording to law, for the two preceding
years mot merely poll taxes, but all
taxes, and who shall produce to the
officers holding the election satisfac-
tory evidence that he has paid said
taxes
Primary elections have become the
real elections in this State. Only those
qualified to vote at the final elections
tthose prescribed by the constitution
are entitled to vote in the primary elee-
tion. 1t is a sad commentary on the
capacity and fidelity of those officially
connected with elections, if it is true
that those delinquent for any taxes are
permitted to vote.
GALL WHO VOTE, NOT BEING
QUALIFIED, INCUR A PENALTY OF
5000 OR IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX
MONTHS, OR BOTH. The constitution
requires the voter to produce to the
officers holding the election satisfactory
evidence that he has paid the taxes re-
quired of him.. In practice the require
ment is rarely, if ever, complied with
and it occurs to me that the great
evil of allowing non-qualfed men to
! vote has arisen from the practice OF
receiving the ballots of all whose names
are found on the poll books.
Managers of elections accept the pol
} books as evidence of the right to vote
This shows the great Importance of an
, intelligent and faithful performance oi
= duty by county commissioners of elec
tion. 1t is their duty to revise the
registration books at times prescribed
! and to erase the names of all who have
: died, removed or become disqualified as
electors from any cause.
"In order to perform this duty they
should compare the list of delinquents
: for all taxes and all other sources oI
information in the sherff's office, thu
e city tax collectors office, advertise
, ments OF lands to be sold for taxes, anC
every available source of information
! as to non-payment of taxes, before thu
1st day OF February, and every nam,
of persons who have not paid poll tal
r and property tax, as required, shoulC
r be erased as required by law, and tn
c poll books, thus purged, would not mis-
t lead the managers of elections,
< ITO permit one not qualified to vot
e is a great wrong, and every safeguart
o to prevent this should be employed. 1
/ is an outrage on decency, as well as tn
t constitution, to permit the vote of on
e not authorized to cast it to balanc
r that of the qualified voer.
, 1T is to be hoped that grand iuries
+ justices of the peace, county attorney
and district attorneys, as well as circui
d judges, will be astute to secure cor
e formitt to the constitution and law
j. in the matter of elections, and that al
r who violate them in any partieula
}. shall be made to suffer the prescribe
S penalties.
e 1T might happen that a good citize
s would some time be deprived of tn
h right to vote by strict enforcement q
e the law; BUT NOTHING CAN JUST
n IFY A VIOLATION OF THE FUNDA
d MENTAL LAW OF THE COMMON
e WEALTH. LAX ADMINISTRATOR
Ie OF LAW is A GREAT EVIL, AN
is WHEN IT AFFECTS PURITY O
4 ELECTIONS IT AIMS A DEATl
It BLOW AT THE COMMONWEALTH.
e. 'It is hoped that commissioners .
O. elections will faithfully perform the
it sworn duty by ascertaining, as the
n. | oau Tho daI,noYouks ao1 x,,-.;,,,