The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-13
VOTERS MUST. PAY
 TAXES BY FEB. 1
Civic Clubs Urged To Bring
 Matter To Attention Of n Their Members
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD ! MOntgOmery. Ala. Jan. 12

In A proclamation issued today Gov. William W. Brandon urged ciu- zens of Alabama to pay their poll ;. tax by February and by so doing aid in the educational development of the state. All civic, social and patriotic organizations of the state were urged by the governor to bring the question of poll tax payment to the attention of their members, and ito organize in such way as may be proper to further the payment of poll taxes before they become de- linquent. 9I l..
 Following is the governors procla- nation: ,,
 There is no greater civic duty in- cumbent upon free people than that of jealously guarding their right of suffrage. This right has been vouch. safed to the citizenship of this great nation of ours through the sacrifices and bloodshed of our forefathers, both in this country and in other lands. To safeguard this sacred privilege in our own commonwealth, 1t has been made the duty of every citizen annually to pay into ths a poll tax of $1.50 for the education of the youth of the county in which payment is made. Compliance, there- fore. with the law requiring the payment of this tax makes possible an increase in the public school funds of our state, a matter of great con- cern at the present time.
 etockholdcr In Schools.
 'In addition to this. it occurs to me that every man and every woman would like to be & stockholder in the schools of our country. Many people do not pay taxes and 1t seems to me that whether a registered voter or not. that every person in Alabama would be glad to contribute $150 per annum to the education of our youth. As above indicated, every dollar of this money is used for the education of the youth of the county in which 1t is paid, so that it will be seen that not only does the payment of this tax establish citizenship, but a fail- ure to pay it disfranchises the i'm dividual, and the individual in estab- fishing his right to vote contributes to the education of the children of his community.
 Let me, therefore, urge the CO., operation of all our people in mak- ing a record for citizenship and edu- cation this year in Alabama which has heretofore never been exceeded.
 Nov, therefore. I, William w. Brand on, as governor of the state of Alabama. in behalf of the public schools and in the name of the high est ideals of our democracy. hereby call upon every man and woman in the state who is eligible promptly to pay his or her poiIctax in whatever amount due; upon all civic, social and patriotic organizations at their weekly meetings to bring the sub- ject to the. attention of their mem bers, appoint committees and or ganize in such way, as they see proper, to the end that every person liable for this tax shall be urged to pay 1t, to the end that they may not only meet their personal obligations but t. cir neighbors may be reminded to discharge this important duty; also call upon the press of the state to co.operate in this patriotic service by giving the widest publicity pos sibIe to this appeal, calling special attention to legal requirements that the poll tax must be paid on or be- fore the first day of February of the current year."