Evening star., 1942-06-09
Eliot. and Wilmington
Debate Poll Taxes
In Forum Address
Former Opposes, Letter
Supports Use Of Levy
As Vote Requirement

Two Democratic members Of the
House last night debated the ques-
ton Of congressional abolition Of
state poll taxes as prerequisite for
voting for Federal ofi1ce.
Representative Eliot of Massachu-
sets declared that such taxes, now
in force in eight States, constitute .
barrier which keeps self-govern-
nent beyond the reach Of the
common man."
The system was defended by Rep
resentative Wilmington of Missis-
sippi, who asserted that poll taxes
were imperative to preserve tn e
civilization and white supremacy Of
the South" where, he contended, Ne
gro political machines are corrupt"
and ruthless"
The addresses were broadcast In
the National Radio Forum arranged
by The Star and heard nationally
over the Blue Network from Station
WMAL.
Cites Increase in Florida.
Mr.. Eliot asserted that when Flor
ida abolished its poll tax require
ment, balloting jumped from l35, 900
votes in 1886 to AIS 900 in 1910.
That simple illustration gives us
an idea of the tremendous effect the
poll tax has in keeping people away
from the polls" he said.
Although States have the consti-
tutional right to prescribe the quail
flcations" of voters, Mr.. Eliot argued,
the poll tax is not properly quail
f1cation.
1T has no connection with a mans
capacity to exercise the franchise
intelligently." he said. "1t is not
like an educational requirement. 1t
is not even like the requirement of
owning land, and thus acquiring a
certain status in the community"
He asserted that a recent decision
Of the Supreme Court in a Louisiana
election case gave Congress the con-
stitutional right to "vindicate and
protect the rights OF national cit
izenship."
Mr.. Wilmington argued that vot-
ing is not right" but a privilege
to be granted or withheld by the
States and not by the Federal Gov
ernment," and that poll taxes. "as
we'll as other taxes, are regarded as
qualifications" for voting.
Other Requirements Set Up.
THE Supreme Court of the United
States has uniformly held that the
payment of poll tax as requisite
for voting is not in violation of the
Constitution or any amendment
thereof" the Mississippian con-
tended. adding that the Louisiana
case did not involve voters quail
ficationS.
Citizens OF New England and
other States protected by the tariff
can make a far greater contribution
to the elimination of poverty and
ignorance in the South by advocat-
ing the repeal of the dishonest pro-
tective tariff than they can by inter-
fering in the internal political af-
fairs of the Southern States" he
continued.
"Disfranchisement in the South
does not result from the poll tax
alone. There are literacy and edu-
cational qualifications, similar to
the literaracy tests that obtain in
Massachusetts, Connecticut and 10
other States outside the South.
There is no advocacy of the re-
peal of the Hteracy tests. AS long
as these tests obtain. the poll tax
in connection with other qualifica-
tions results in more satisfactory
and effective limitation Of the suf-
frage"
Answering the argument that the
poll tax lends itself to machine rule
of politics, Mr. Wilmington asserted
that the remedy is not to repeal
but to enforce the law which pre-
vents the payment of poll taxes by
third persons and which protects
the secret ballot"