The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-09-24
The Poll Tax

The bill before the senate providing that poll tax
payment shall be required by state to qualify otherwise
qualified his ballot in the election of federal
officer not of interest to the people of the south
only is of direct interest to here Montana 1t does
MT only to correct being done to 10 million white
and negro citizens in the eight southern states where they
dranchsed by the poll tax requirements also means that
there will be 70 additional representatives and 6 senators in
the who must then to the great mass OF com
people of their section for their actions instead OF to
negligible minority of the people of their respective districts
will reform remove such stawars OF reacon as Conna
Smith of Virginia Pace of Georgia. Bankhead of Ala
bama Dies of Texas, and Cox of Georgia
These representatives and senators found at the fore
legislation against labor the family type farmer and
for initiation The southern senators the backbone of the
Farm Bloc and work hand in hand with the reaconary Re
publican minority.
They exercise influence because of the
ory rules of in committee charmanshps In that
they control II of the At standing committees of the
II of the 33 standing committees of the Senate
And they back term after term because they
the negligible minority of the people of their districts who elect
them the privileged and wealthy minority seniority
them Connaly of Texas elected by five
the voters his bawck Pace of Georgia by
cent Bankhead of Alabama by two cent Smith of Virginia
by five Dies of Texas by three cent and Cox OF
Georgia by cent Those percentages of the popua
their respective districts and states the whom
they represent The great of the people have
sentaon that democracy? In the eight poll tax states
Texas, Mississippi Alabama, Georgia. South Carolina Arkan-
and Virginia population of 239979O9 cast
82988 votes whereas in eight of the freeong states
totaIed 7,788,814
The poll tax payment required is 50 each to qualify
as voter in one of the poll tax may sound
like money here in the northwest but in Msss
instance the income per capita $4,000
55c per day. Paying the poll tax paying
there and the voters family probably
going hungry for the length of time He just simply
can't do it.
It condition that doesn't belong in democracy More
over have already stated it condition affecting you
and your interests, here in Montana, adversely
We believe that senators from Montana will all vote
abosng the poll tax condition for voting
elections in these eight states the bill reaches
However, Bbo of Mississippi has declared that he in
tends stage ibuster lasting months need be- to prevent
vote on The only way which fiibuster
stopped the of the by vote for coue
or limit on debate When the bill up for vote
during the last session. Bboe fbusered and vote for
coture Senator Wheeler Montana voted against it, and
reported have stated that he will vote for coure
Normally vote against cloure be considered vote
for free speech certainly the of deliberate fill
which recognized SUCH vote against coture
rghtfuy considered unlimited abuse of the right
speech Even under democracy the freedoms must
be tempered by consideration the effects of their exercise
society as whole. 1t may be craiment of the freedom
of an individual permit him to kill against
whom he personal grudge But society has found it
necessary practical limit that freedom There point
at which liberty and freedom becomes license
Organizations individuals should make it point to
write to our NOW demand their utmost efforts
for adjustment poll requirements for voting in fed
fibuster be There many important mat
group to take up with speeches deliberately intended
to kill time.
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