The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-04-30
The Poll Tax

are apt to dismiss the question poll
keeps majority of the people of the southern states from
voting something that affect
the slightest degree This attitude is of course entirely
wrong
the Congress- condemn group being
stumbling blocks in the path of all progressive legislation and
their actions in the invariably almost Justify this
condemnation.
This "boc" representatives powerful but
tute majority There only eight states which require
payment OF poll tax as quaflcatlon to vote Some OF
these states heavily populated however and together have
large body of representatives in the lower house. though
elected by the majority of total of only trfle
percent of the population in those states.
Representative Geyer endeavorng to sufficient
signatures in congress to petition to take his bill to outlaw
poll laws of the hands of the committee where it
pgeonholed but is making slow correspondent
Congressman signed petition but
far Congresswoman Rankin has not Organizations in this
state should her and urge others sign Only
in that hope from the SOUTH representatives
in who have interest in the welfare of the
people, not only of their section but of the entire country
Information the conditions the poll states
and the Geyer Bill supplied by Representative Geyer fol
lows:
l. Eight states out of 48 require the payment of poll tax
condition precedent to voting. They Alabama, Ar
Kansas Georgia. Mississippi South Carolina Texas
and Virginia The taxes range from ST. 90 wear noncumu
atve to $40 cumulative from the of Fl to 60
The percentage the who ballots
in the 1910 Presidential Elections in the eight poll states
211 percent In the 40 nonpo tax states the
was 1853 percent.
g. The average cast for members of the
1910 general elections the eight poll tax states (78 Con-
gressona distrcts) was 2275 out OF total average pop
lation 30668 The average in 80 poll
347 Congressional disticts 128901 out of total
population of 308442 Votes cast for 10 membersat
large not incuded).
a. The in the 1910 PRIMARY elections
for the poll members of who had chaengers
the Democratic Primary the decisive
election this figure should be contraed with the 1913 901
ers in general elections in the non-poll tax states
Fortywo the 70 poll congressman had opposi
ton in the primary election il
g. Almost onehrd of the committee chairmen in the house
of representatives from the poll tax states while the poll
tax constitute only onexth of the membership
of the house In this position of vantage they able to
influence proportion their numbers legislative action
in the house
T. Seven of the eight poll states require constitutional
amendment repeal the poll tax The amendment must get
the support of both poll electorate and the poll state
legislators
The Geyer anipol tax bill based Article Section
of the Constitution of the United States which
and Representatives shall be prescribed in each
State by the Legislature thereof but the Congress
any time by make alter such regulations except
to the places of choosing Senator'S" by
The bill does Article l. Section of the Con-
uton which provides that the electors of the members of @
the House Representatives shall have he qualifications
Electors of the branch Of the State
Legislature Under the terms of the BILL Congress has the
right deem that the requirement of the of poll CT
prerequisite to voting not qualification within the
meaning of the Constitution. M
Re
SACRAMENTO wASHINGToN.-AFL Pres Will Co
Federation