The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-08-09

Editor Cottdr Chronicle:
| wish you would allow me space in
your paper to say little more to the
voters of Grant parish in regard to the
school tax to be voted for or against on
August 10. | am surprised to find that
there are some men of small means
with a good bunch of children who are
in doubt as to whether they ought to
vote this tax or not, and occasionally
one is opposed to it. He can't give
reasons for his opposition more than
taxes are. too high already. If taxes
are allowed to keep on increasing this
way all business will be suspended,
mills shut down, railroad companies
busted, and everything killed by tax
es." / don't think we need worry
abont the hardships this little tax will
work on these big corporations and
land owners, but rather let US think of
the benefits it will be to them and to
us. 1t will certainly help to create a
market for lands, increase the business
of the railroads, and be of benefit in
many ways. All the wealthy non resi-
dents will help us in this way to build
up our country: and it seems to me we
ought to see that they do it. Some of
US have a small property and no chill
dren to educate. Now would we, coulo
we, be so Indifferent to the welfare of
our friends that we would refuse to
help them rise in the scale of enlighten-
ment when it requires SO little of our
means? This writer has no child to ed
ucate, but if by casting my vote can
| help in compelling some soulless corpor-
alton to help the poor man who has
such a struggle to provide for and edu
cate his children, will gladly cast my
vote and pay my pro rata of the tax.
Some districts, as we know, are al
ready paying a 5 mill tax, which is paid
pack to these districts alone For in
stance, Pollock district voted tax
three years ago Of mills for years.
This leaves two years of special tax
yet unpaid. which will be paid in and
used for this district alone. Now. il
we of Pollock district vote for the pres
ent mill tax, this will create a special
fund, and is to be divided IS per cent
to the white and per cent to the COL
ored children, all over the parish.
! am reliably informed that some
districts in the parish have been able
to keep up their schools without {;
special tax. This is because of the
small number of white children in those
districts in proportion to the negroes
and the method of distributing thu
funds If we vote this parish wide
tax these wealthy districts will pay in
to the treasury considerably more thar
they will draw out. However, no on,
should be so selfish as to oppose the
tax from that stand point. The ques-
ton now is, how are you to finance yom
schools for the forthcoming season
otherwise than to vote special tax!
Of course | am excepting certain dis
tricts which have funds on hand tt
maintain their schools, and are paying
a five mills tax already.
/ 1t seems to me that as the matter
stands there is one of three things that
must be done, vote the tax. stop the
schools, or run them as private schools.
The choice is left to the voters. hope
when you read this you will look into
this matter and see that this parish
wide tax is not trick to skin you, bu,
is for the benefit of the white children
all over the parish, and it is an oppor.
tunity to get help from the big corpo-
rations to educate your children.
UNCLE GEORGE.