The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-16

mean that they have anyt
ing hard for him.
But they figured that his might
be q good case with which TO test
the constitutionality Of poll taxes.
In fact, secret plans had been
made to take the Maverick poll tax
case TO the Supreme Court II he
lost.
As q result of Mavericks victory
Administration leaders are looking
around for another case which
might DO taken TO the Supreme
Court Is Clark Foreman, head Of
the PWA power section, has been
working on case In Tennessee
which will be tried before the Sixth
Circuit Court OF Appeals In Gin.
cinnati next month. II may be
the one 10 make the test In place
Of Mavericks.
This was o case which arose
during the recent election Of Con-
gresham Estes Kefauver to take
the seat OF the late Sam Mercy
nolds. During the election, Henry
purdle Of Grundy County de-
manded the right to vote without
paying his poll tax. He claimed
that no property or tax restric-
ton could interfere with his right
TO vote. When he was denied,
Purdle brought suit against the
local Democratic organization.
The case may reach the Supreme
Court by spring.
Two years ago the Supreme
Court handed down o decision,
written by the late Justice But.
Ter, unfolding the Georgia poll
tax In the Breed Love case. How
ever, the Supreme Court has
changed q lot since 1887 and 0
decision In the Purdle case might
be different.
President Roosevelt himself has
taken O great interest In the ques-
tion OF poll taxes, believing that
they disfranchise an important
part OF the American electorate.
At one time he even probed into
the legal possibility Of using WPA
FUNDS TO help pay poll taxes In the
South.
whether the Purdle case Is used
or not, II Is certain that Roosevelt
viii make q test OF the entire poll
tax question sometime In the very
near future.
WHITE HOUSE SECRETARIES
Warm.hearted Joe Tumulty,
famed secretary to Woodrow VII:
son, Is chairman OF o newly formed
association OF ell White House
secretaries In o drive TO raise
money for blind George Christian,
secretary to President Harding.
Tumuity, known TO his friends as
probably the most generous man IN
the Capital, has written q letter
10 aides OF former presidents, say.
ing: "Modestiy battling, practically
ali alone and scorning TO carry his
troubles TO his friends, George
Christian has kept the news Of his
affliction away from his intimates.
And now his sorry plight finds
him with his savings exhausted
and ne and his wife without in
come. In these circumstances,
we must help =. -"
NOTE-George Christian was O
neighbor OF Harding at Marion,
Ohio, where he was In the lime
and stone business. After HARD.
ing's death he worked for Q time
with Wanamaker's, later was given
a lob with the U. 8. shipping
Board, until his .eyesight failed
him. He Is So years old.
BEWARE WOMEN SPIES!
BEWARE OF FEMALE SPIES"
This lurid warning hangs on the
wall behind the desk Of Nays
public relations officer, able Com
inander Leland Lovett. Under the
headline appears this text:
women are being employed by
the enemy to secure information
from navy men, on the theory
that they are less liable to be siis-
pected than male spies. Beware
Of inquisitive women a., well Is
prying men.
SEE EVERYTHING
HEAR EVERYTHING
SAY NOTHING
concerning any matter bearing
upon the work Of the Navy.
SILENCE IS SAFETY"
Joker In the warning Is that It
has nothing to do with the pres
ent war; It Is L,ovett's framed me-
mento from 19iT-18.
CCC ILLITERACY
Few people realize that CCC has
taken on Q Job Of elementary
school teaching. Three per cent
Of all enroilees are illiterate when