The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-01-19
OBJECT TOPOLL
TAX FEATURES
REPUBLICANS IN HOUSE FIND
DIFFICULTY IN MEASURE
Women Consult Counsel and Claim
That They Have Met Objections;
Warm Fight on Suffrage Mea-
sure Certain.

Probably one of the Invest nights
that will come up before either hous'
of the present legislature is that ovei
the bill granting limited suffrage (
women which are now pending IN bolf
the senate and the house of represen'
tatives. During the early part OF the
week it looked as if the women mac
easy sailing with their bills, but our
ING the course Of the past few days
obstacles have developed which strong
lv threaten their success. The close OF
the week finds both the supporters OF
the bills and the Legislators in the DARK
as to Just what viii be the fate OF the
measure.
The first inkling that the women
had Of trouble ahead was when large
proportion of the twenty-seven repuo-
lican members of the lower house
raised objection to the poll tax clause
Of the measure. This clause calls for
the payment of a 81 poll tax by the
women similar to the poll tax that IS
now paid by male voters, and it was
on this that the republicans found
what would be a very fruitful source
of disagreement on the part Of their
constituents,
The bill as drawn confers vote
upon women only in municipal and
presidential elections. This means
that the women living in the country
would get to vote only once in every
four years for presidential electors.
This would mean that the country wo-
men Of republican leanings would sim
ply wait for four years to cast her
vote to the winds of rock-ribbed
democratic state like Tennessee. For
this privilege it was the opinion of the
republican members that she would,
under the house bill, have to pay 81
each year for every two years, and in
return for her 81 would merely be able
to say that she had cast a ballot
Most of the republicans in the house
are from rural communities, and the
thought Of 81 thrown away for an
empty honor does not appeal them.
Consequently, though they started the
week fairly solid for the measure, its
close finds them in a state of greatest
perplexity as to just how they will
vote.
On the democratic side of the house
the poll tax clause of the suffrage bill
is causing a lot of talk, also Many
of the democrats are none too well dis
posed toward the equal suffrage meas
ure, and the possibility that the wo-
men If thair fapnibas ~ v hos 4.''- ---.-
uor president every four years does
n6SSlncre their yearning to see it
passed. While the reasons for their
opposition are not as strong as are
those of the republicans, nevertheless
opposition has been developed that will
make the suffrage fight one of the
most interesting of the legislative SEES
sion.
The women Interested in the bill
now claim, however, that their bill
does not require the payment of poll
tax except for the year of an election
IN which women have the privilege of
voting, Their confidence was some
what shaken by the sudden furry of
opposition which they met during the
early part Of the week and legal au.
thorties were consulted on the meas
ures.
1t has been found, they claim, that
the bills as now drawn, do not re.
quire the payment of poll tax except
during the years in which women car
vote. This would mean that the coun
try women would only be called upor
to pay their poll tax every four years
This eliminates the principal obiec
tion so far as found to the bills, anc
the women are confident that no other.
will be developed.
After the experience of the pas
week the women are determind to q,
into the fight this coming week will
every resource at their command Mr.
I, &. Fitzhugh Of Memphis, author o
the measures that were placed befor,
both houses, will come to Nashville an,
address the committee to which tn,
bill is referred A strong effort will
be made to have the bills favorabl,
recommended for passage during tn,
coming week and have the equal suff
rage fight staged as soon as possible
Banner, Jan. -.