The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-01
SATURDAY FINAL
TAXPAY|NG DAY
If You Fail to Qualify by May
4 You Can't Vote at
All This Year.
CITIZENS URGED TO PAY UP
Important Questions Before City
Demand Every Demo-
Gratis Vote.
CITIZENS URGED TO PAY UP

Four days--less than ninety-six
hours--remain in which to pay the
poll tax and become qualified to vote
Board. Tho Constitution requires this
tax to be paid six months before the
general election In November, and the
time limit expires with the close of
the tax collectors Office in the City
Hall Saturday afternoon.
While the election of members of
the Administrative Board holds the
highest interest for Richmond voters,
poll tax receipts Will entitic the hold
ers to cast their ballots not only in
this election. but in the national cleo
ton for members of Congress and
President as we'll The installation OF
a new and important administrative
body in the city's machinery of gov
crnment. and the most closely contest
cd and absorbing national contest since
the early nineties. combine to make
special appeal to evry citizen to whom
the exercise OF the ballot appears in its
true iight--a duty of American citizen
ship to be used instead of contem-
plated.
aunIIfy for Any Primary.
Citizens who pay their poll taxes on
or before Saturday will have thee light
10 vote in any primary which may nc
held during the summer for any Of
the offices to be filled at the general
election. Failure to pay by that time
Will bar the right to vote either in
any OF tho primaries or in the final
elections in November, and will dcpr We
man OF his highest attribute as a
citizen OF the United Statcs--the right
to express his opinion in the selection
OF men To make the nations laws and
tXpend the public funds.
The major bushes organizations OF
che city, while deeming it wise to
maintain n policy of hands-ofi in the
coming election of the Administrative
Board in order to insure Il fair field
and no favors to every candidate, join
as one in urging every voter to guard
against being disqualified through fail
ure to pay his poll tax by Saturday
Business men In every branch of in
dustry look upon the election as the
most momcntous that has confronted
the city since its Incorporation as a
municipality, chiefly because of the
vast power for good and evil which
Board.
"a Flight Worth Fighting
seldom in the political history OF a
city does the individual ballot count
for as much AS IL Will in tho coming
municipal election. 1T is u fight worth
fighting" was the way one business
man put 1t yesterday. With nearly a
score of men OF varied abilities and
qualifications seeking five $1,000 posi-
lions at the hands OF the city, the
opportunity for nice discrimination
and exercise of sound Judgment was
never before as great.
Reports from Massachusetts, lend
new interest TO the national struggle
t. November. Will 1t be Taft or
Roosevelt, or Wilson or Clark who
will be inaugurated in Washington on
March 4, 1913? Tor the first time in
sixteen years the auspices are favor
able to the election OF Democratic
President. But IL takes ballots to elect
a President, whether he be Republican
or Democratic, and in order to cast his
ballot in Virginia n voter mnst hold a
receipt for his poll tax showing that
it was paid at least six months pre-
vious 10 the general election. Satur-
day Is the last day TO comply with
this provision.
club Makes Strong Plea.
President Neil d. Slils, OF the Business
Mems club yesterday 'mailcd the following
letter to each member Of that organization;
I've believe that the best interests OF
Richmond can be conserved only by the bus
mess men OF our city being In a position to
exercise their rights of suffrage We most
call your attention to the fact
that May Is the last day that can
qualify (by paying his poll taxi to partici-
pate in the coming fall election. We. there
fore. ask that II YOU have already paid
your poll tax for the last three years that
you NIL do at once. so that YOU can help
10 Insure Il safe and sound government for
our city
We are particularly anxious to see every
member OF our club qualified voter"