The Mena weekly star., 1917-12-13

Little Rock. Dec. 4.--Even primary suffrage for women, as provided by the Riggs act passed at the last leg islature, is not entirely settled yet. There is still doubt in the minds of some whether it will stand the test of the courts. IL is to be settled finally in a case that will be taken. 10 the Supreme court from Fort Smith, where the canstitutionality of the act has been assailed by los ing candidate. Since primaries are legallzed, 1t IS cOntended that the electors must possess all qualiflca- lions required for electors in gener- al elections.
 The women of Little Rock will this week exercise the right of suf- frage for the first time in the mu- nicipal elestions to be held in Lit tie Rock and North Little Rock. Their right to vote has not been brought into question by any eandi- dates as yet. At first it was pro- posed that the women be given one judge and one clerk at each polling place, but they did not insist upon this, as they had no desire to do any thing that might eventually invali- date the election In North Little Rock the committee finally decided tn give them no representation al the polls. and in Little Rock they are permitted a clerk but no judge. Tn the event of some close contest, 1t is possible that this might be made the basis of court procedure but otherwise. it is not believed the question will arise here.
 In the meantime the women are organizing solidly and advancing an effective propaganda in the interest of secdring the insertion of suf- frage plank in the new constitution to be written next July They are pursuing course that makes friends, and are not following the lead of the militants represented by Miss Vernon and her party. Many of the delegates to the Convention are committed to the doctrine of equal suffrage, including President Tom NJ. Mehaffy and while there will be some opposition, it is be- lieved that it will prevail.
 After it has been written into the constitution, however, it must run the gauntlet of public opinion as expressed in a special election for it's ratification. If the recommenda- tions of Governor Brough and others xaxox1asl .xthtoh unn,na ttlxolx. etl,a question will be decided upon its merits as distinct from other issues, Controversial questions such as suf- frage and prohibition. will prob ably be submitted individually, and the defeat of any one will not then imperil the Constitution as a whole.
 Every person who has gross in come in the course of the year, from any source, must tell Uncle sam all about 1t. And after certain exemptions have been allowed, he must pay tax on the net that is determined from a fixed schedule. This means that everybody, nearly, will have some part in the payment Of the cost of running the war, which is the biggest business enter prise the country ever engaged in. Every time any one writes letter io one outside his own town. he con- tributes one cent to the war fund. And there are hundreds of other things for which he must pay a war tax. Some persons seem to have taken advantage of this tax to boost their prices beyond reason, and this is to be the subject of an in vestigation by agents of the gov ernment. For instance. a war tax of one or two cents on the price of admission to moving picture house does not justify an increase from ten to fifteen cents for the price of ticket.
 Every person who belongs to club of any kind that collects dues of SIP year or more. must pay a tax on the dues. Collector Jack Walker is making a list of all the athletic, sporting, and social clubs of the state for the purpose of assess ing the tax on the membership dues and all secretaries, whose members