The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-03-23


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for the members of the Estate, both
severally and Jointly, and this year
was no exception. When he paid taxes
he over looked the matter Of poll
tax upon myself and small person
atty assessment, and neither he nor |
knew of any such assessment until
apprised of it through the columns of
the press carrying a'l extended list Of
delinquents. Indeed, if | may con-
fcss to still greater ignorance, was
so benghted that did not know that
"a person who is not an elector was
subject to poll tax Since I attained
my majority have never before lived
in State which requires poll tax
of its citizens and | did not know that
| was subject to such tax until !
lad lived in the state long enough to
establish residence. Apparently,
however, | am, and as soon as the au
thorities were good enough to en-
Tighten me, / went post-haste to the
Tax Collector and settled the score,
L in the hope that an immediate pay
ment might mitigate somewhat the
awful seriousness of my offense! The
hope proved vain, however, for Mr..
Inquirer" consigns me to outer
darkness, and denies me even the
rights of free speech in my out-cast
state. / can only hope for him that
when he is called upon to give &C
count Of his citizenship, he may be
able to say 81 have paid my poll tax
on time every year" so that his re-
cord may be free from all stain. AS
for me, perhaps there may be some
slight justification and some atone
ment in the fact that, even though an
ut-cast and delinquent" / have
aised my voice in protest against
wronging childhood, even when those
wrongs were offered by no less au-
gust persons than the honorable di-
ectors of the public schools!
| must plead guilty to charge num-
Der two: am mot voter. ] must
cite the inquiring gentleman to the
laws Of Mississippi which require a
residence of two years in the State
before one is even eligible to registra-
ton. ! have only within the past two
weeks completed that two year per
iod of residence, and | registered as
soon as it was possible for me to dc
so, on March IL, as the records in
the Clerks office will attest Nor
, mally, therefore, | should be eligible
to vote after four months, required
by law after registration. Although
not yet voter, by reason Of not hay
ing been long enough in the State
and although denied the right to vote
during this present year by reason OF
delinquency in the payment of pol
: tax, am | for that reason to be con
signed to perpetual and eternal sill
= ence on all public questions? Mr.
u enquirer" would so consgn me, but
am not so easily to be disposed of.
shall insist upon deriving what com
fort there is for me in using my in
fluence, however slight, in behalf o
decent social order, and in denuncia
ton Of injustice and wrong where
7" ever | may know it to exist More
over, ] may never be charged will
hiding my identity under an anony
nous signature; | wish to assure TIL
public that when | have anything t.
: say vital to its interests or welfare
: shall have the courage to speak ant
. write openly, nor seek in any way u
conceal my identity.
The anonymous gentleman refers t.
Il my editorial in the Columbus Com
/ mercial entitled "Petty Politics AM
IS Public Schools" Indeed, it is becaus
i of opinions expressed in that editor
l. ial that | am castigated for non-pay
: ment of poll tax. Il is indeed crafty
J. ing that the anonymous gentleman
s could find nothing To criticize in TIA
n editorial but the fact that | had bee
II delinquent in paying poll tax.
a take it, therefore, that the logic o
r my position MS set forth in that al
IS ticle is incontrovertible, and the just
+ ice of the cause undeniablo. | an
d gratified at this unwilling tribut
t. from an unknown antagonist. 1t en-
e, courages me to hope that the voice o
S, the community, asserted in no uncer
f. tain tones in two great mass meet
n ings, will finally prevail against tn
y grossest injustice ever offered to tn
ID school children of this city, to eS