Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-10-03
Congress Debates The Poll Tax

Last week. the Congress OF the United States after its
proponents the House of Representatives had obtained
the required number of signatures bring for consd
Grafton without awaiting the action of the committee to
which che bill had been assigned system under which many
deserving have failed receive proper consd
Grafton took debate the antipol tax bill
to abolish, by Federal Law the payment of poll taxes
qualification for voting.
Born that decade in the life of the nation mmedi-
atey following the civil and the emancipation of the
slaves known the Reconstruction Period and referred to
by the distinguished contemporary historian Dr. Claude
Bowers the tragic in the SOUTH the poll tax law be-
important part of the socaed grand fathers clause
the articles and amendments fixing the qualifications for
voting adopted part of the constitutions the
slave holding states the conclusion of that period Their
purpose being admitted them to disfranchse and take
the ballot out of the hands of the recently emancpaed Ne
Period
Defended and protected under the revitazed political
doctrine of States Rights which had been born earlier
period in the nations struggle towards it's
founders that eliminated in the Civil War the emancpa
ton of the Slaves and the Reconstruction period effect
Of the poll tax SYSTEM and the grand fathers clauses upon
the and development of the SOUTH and of the south
Negro has been much discussed question not
however until following its only natural course be-
ing affected by changing economics social and political
conditions was found that the poll tax law in addition to
aiding the continued Acknowledgement the Negro
adversely affecting widening of the souh's
whole population and breeding at the time increas
ngy unhealthy political condition. that the poll tax law
became the vital issue debated by the Congress of the United
States.
In debating the measure those who are opposed to the
abolition of the poll tax law still openly base their argument
the fact that the primary of the law is the
dsranchsemen of the Negro and that such act by the
Congress Of the United States would be unconstitutional
violation of the Doctrine of States Rights.
Listening the debate the Negro of the South
knowing how small part the payment Of poll tax actually
plays in his continued dsranchsemen is made
scous of the existence of spirit spirit that still deny
to them the full rights and privileges of American ct
And bidding their goodbye they leave to join
the armed forces of the nation they themselves make
sacrifice demanded by the nation in this its most peri
ous they read again the pledge of allegiance to the
flag-and stand bewildered before its shrine
Listening further to the debate still firm and preserv
ing in patriotism and loyalty putting love of country above
race remembers the nations repeatedly expressed
aims and the principles of the four freedoms and
counting coored fighting allies Brazil recently added
with its tyve per cent Negro population China the
Philippines Africa india and the islands of the silent
y the hope that those who opposed to the anti
poll tax law while presenting their argument be careful less
they coored fighting allies to loose confidence in
stated aims the lofty ideals of the four freedoms
and in