The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1922-10-06

privilege
They passed a law compelling all
women, OF voting age, to pay poll
tax in order to vote.
They passed a law making It a con-
dition precedent to your right to vote
that you pay your poll-tax SIXTY
DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.
There was already law making the
payment Of poll-tax compulsory, and
there was already another law max
ing the same payable thirty DAYS prior
to an election. Their idea was that
back in the agricultural sections and
among the plain people of all sec
tons, where / received very large
vote, the people would, through igno-
rance and neglect, forget and fail
to pay in time, and thereby become
disqualified.
They passed another law which Ia
called an extension Of the "Dortcb
Law" There was absolutely no good
reason for extending the Dortch Law
to all the precincts Of the State.
The moving object they had in the
passage Of this law was to disfran-
chise thousands Of our good citizens.
In its practical effect, this contem-
plated result will, to a certain ex-
tent, be actually obtained. It strikes
at the careless farmer and unlettered
man. The thought that they had in
mind was that the majority Of those
who could not read and write live
BACK on the farms and among the
NUS and mountains, or work in the
mines and factories, and even IL
they could read and write they would
not DO familiar with the niceties of
folding papers, and If perchance he
or she marked their ballot correctly
they would fold it wrong and it would
be thrown out. l say that If a man
can be forced to fight for his coun-
Try ne ought not to be forced away
from the privilege Of voting for his
country. If another man is allowed
to sign his name to the roster card
OF war-scheduled infantry, then
another man should be allowed to
mark his ticket when he comes TO
vote In a land which he has fought
TO save. Give me a friendly Legis-
'ture, and II We can do no more.
we will so amend this law. We will
repeal the back-tax law and enact a
law, as q substitute, compelling the
trustees to collect the back taxes:
and if-they need legal assistance. en-
power the county attorney to con-
duct all legal proceedings for them.
We will repeal the eight per cent law
ana re-enact the six per cent law in
accordance with the universal de-
mand. We will take the necessary
steps to secure a reduction of the
present assessment on the farm lands
OF the State with a view to equality
OF taxation and the relief Of the
farmers OF a part of the heavy bur-
den they are now carrying.
Various complaints and criticisms
against the Highway Department have
been lodged with me during my adj
ministration, and have made an in
vestigation, as far as have been able
to do SO, and | find that the principal
cause Of complaint is, and has been,
that all the roads demanded and ali
the roads necessary in the State, have
not been built-although many of
them have been projected and placed
on the map. Give me a Legislature
that will cooperate with me, and we
will Immediately institute an inves-
tigation; and il it shall be found that
the interests of road construction in
this State requires complete reor-
ganization Of the Highway Depart
ment, the people can rest assured
that 1t will be promptly reorganized
with view to efficiency, economy
and up-to-date roads. The time has
come when Tennessee must have a
high-class system Of substantial, ever
lasting roads, and II behooves US all
to devote as much of our time, en-
ergy and means es Is necessary to
this end; such roads being essential
to the progress, development and
prosperity Of the State.
Ask for Friendly Legislature.
Give me Legislature that will CO.
operate with me, and we viii adopt
a measure recognizing our State
Government into about eight depart
ments with a secretary at the head
Of each department. All kindred ac-
tivities will be placed in their legiti-
mate departments, all duplication of
work and all useless Offices will be
eliminated, and the State brought to
a point where it can live within its
means. We have been living beyond
our means Of late, as q State, to the
extent Of more than two million dol
lars each year. When this reorgan-
ization plan is adopted and economy
is practiced in all the States expen-
ditures, we can 30 reduce expenses
a. to be able 10 livs within our
means and at the same time mate