El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-09-22
CURB VOTING
IN THE STATE
URGES HOBBY

III NA4AaO 4 lAJDD 4
CONTINUED from page II
the movement Of commerce at Texas
I ports, and the bill 10 safeguard the
[ ballot at the coming state election
There is no indication as yet that
I the governor viii be flooded with re-
{ quests for the submission OF local
measures. as the members appear TO
Pc restless and anxious 20 wind up
] the special session as speedily as pos
sible.
There IS a strong disposition not to
I give any consideration at the present
Z session 70 the public utilities bill
Six Bills Introduced.
Six suffrage election bills were in
troduced in the legislature today, five
I in the senate and one in the house.
The one in the house proposes the IS
suance Of exemption certificates 10
voters instead Of the registration OF
voters One OF the senate bills Do
poses TO repeal the poll tax feature Of
! the Terrell election law while another
proposes the registatiou OF all voters
who have not paid poll tax with
Is cent registration fee.
Another carries out the governors
recommendation for a registration fee
[ OF Sis and two propose exemption
Iyear.
The house adopted a concurrent
resolution requesting the governor 20
submit only important measures for
ths present session eliminating all
local bills.
Governors Message.
IN his message TO the legislature. the
governor, after recitlng that the 18th
amendment 20 the United States consti-
tuition provides that 'the right OF citl-
gems Of the United states 10 vote rr-f1
not be denied or abridged By the United
9lltes OF By any state on account OF
In the opinion OF the attorney general
al male persons las wen as womenl who
have not paid poll taxes may likewise
vote IN the general election IN November.
rs a result Of the adoption Of the 18Th
amendment.
TO throw the election in November wide
open to every person IN Texas over q
years Of age without limitation. without
an official record o. the name OF each
person voting and the payment Of the
customary tax whether q be a POL tax or
suffrage tax BY another name. is too
dangerous 20 think Of Yet. unless there
is legislation BY your honorable body. such
WIZ be the case Il IS not only frauEht
With danger but Is heset with other evils
lt VIII cause discrimination. not between
sexes but among voters. some OF them
paying ana some OF them not paying. Dis
erirnination which IN my judgment is not
desired BY the people Of Texas
The people OF Texas have imposed the
pol tax IL the organic law OF the state.
as a prerequisite fer voting It IS conclu-
payment o. a tax before persons NAY eE-
rcise the franchise privilege. unless g be
voters who have become qualified TO vote
between the expiration o. the tine for
paying the poll tax and the time for hold
says Keep Law As It Is.
This policy viii be undlsturhed az the
general election IN November II the pay
ment o. g tax equivalent 10 the poll tax.
and keeping record thereof Is required.
On the part Of persons who have not here
'ivouaen Who have become qualified
voters BY the adoption o. the 18th amend
uent have not been subjected 20 the pay
rnent Of tax, serving as pre-electlon
Zee. BY the laws o. the state. such may
be required. however, By legislative act, 7
according % the opinion Of the attorney Z
general. and viii result n placing all men I
and women alike on an equal basis az
voters
II a legal way can be found 10 permit I
only new voters-that iE men and women i
Who have become qualified voters since I
the time expired FOR paying a 1880 poll /
tax 20 VOTE would not consider % q I
Discrimination repuEuant 70 the policy OF /
the state 20 permit such persons 70 vote I
II IN order 20 DO that. however. q IS nee /
essEry TO admit all others who have not I
paid a poll tax 20 vote without paying /
regard g as q discrimination unjust % /
those who have paid poll taxes and mimi .
cal 20 the welfare OF Texas
Would Cause Confusion.
-An attempt TO hold a wide open cleo
tlon viii OF ltssf provoke confusion BE-
cause while al election officers should /
IN the absence OF a court decision or a
statewide law. be guided By the ruling OF I
the attorney general . = possible lneI1
VII Be election officers who g'll re!lse %
do SC. A condition under when e-ae.-on
officers IN some polling places may alloT
voters who have not paid pol taxes %
vote. and election officers IN other polllns
places may refuse 20 allow them % vote
would result % disorder and inequality
The public policy OF Texas has been
ven established for more thau Is years.
as opposed % an election not sateElarlea
~ 4 re-o-d open % public Inspection.
giving the names and addresses OF llQsa
who vote u e important 70 preserve Ne
F---er a. raueaters. ballot box stufflnE.
nd the casting o. fraudulent votes az
such election sufficient 70 change the re-
SUE IS not the prime consideration me
In TEXAS O. offensive 20 her citizenship
Make I'm Pay Tax
.In my Judgment, y those Wno aIs -
lowed to vote without paying pol taEea
can Be limited 70 those who have othe17lae
become qualified voters since the 1lrsl OF
February, 1880. then The greatest proLel
tIor that can Be- given the ballot box and
ne nearest approach 10 exact justice that
nay Be reached. under the circurnstancea,
and the step that viii come nearer colnE
away with discrimination than any olnel
--l-i~r nav be PROPOSED. e 20 enact q law /
Qualifying an % those who have not pall
q poll tax prior 70 February list, 1870 ana
1ou trr Is DAYS in which TO record their
n7r1rT and addresses at the county tax col
lsctor's cffice. and pay an amount eqell
TO the POLL tax which those voters Wlo L
previously qualified have paid ana then
rrallfy for voting at the November cleo
ten
those voters who have not paid poll taxes
a Longer period OF time IN which 70 quail
y the date Of holding the election pre-
vents T. However, the opportunity VIII
then be offered each and every citizen OF
reras. who is otherwise qualified. 90 eEer-
ri-e the suffrage franchise. 60 vote On an
~ is fitting and appropriate and n
1-eerinr with sound public policy 70 apply
the revenue derived from such legislation
To- the cause OF public education 11d
therefore recommend that such provision
br made rs viii result IN this fund be-
coming a part OF the available school fund
% the state"
HARDNG'S PLANS FOR Two
TRIPS ARE MADE PUBLIC
Marion. O.. sept. 22.-Plans for two
campaign trips for senator Harding