Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-05-22
Calls Poll Tax
Plainly Illegal.
BY ARTHUR CAPPER
u. 3. Senator from Kansas
special 20 THE DETROIT TIMES

u. -. senator from Kansas
special 10 THE DETROIT TINES
WASHINGT TON. May 22-I
voted in the Senate last week for
cloture on the anti-poll tax bill.
Cloture, under the Senate rules.
simply means that the Senate, by
a two-thirds majority of those
voting. agrees to give up, on the
piece of legislation effected, the
principle of unlimited debate.
II the cloture resolution is
adopted then senator's are limited
TO one hour each until the bill is
disposed Of. Adoption of a cloture
resolution means that the bill is
certain to come to a vote; also il
indicates that the bill is certain to
be passed.
The reason for adoption Of
cloture is to end filibuster.
In this instance a group OF sem
ators from. southern states, some
OF the states requiring payment Of
poll tax as requisite for voting
in either primary or general cleo
ton, had served notice on the
Senate that the anti-poll tax bill
would never reach a vote.
One senator stated he had 1000
amendments to offer, and would
debate each one at length.
MAJORITY FOR BILL
More than a majority OF the
members of the Senate were
pledged to vote for the bill on
final roll call. 1t already had
been passed by the House, by a
vote better than two 10 one.
Manifestly the Senate could not,
engage in months OF filibustering
at this crisis in world affairs.
Senator Barley of Kentucky, a.
supporter of the anti-poll tax
legislation. and also Democratic
floor leader in the Senate, himself
offered the resolution TO invoke
eloture.
When the roll was called, II
voted for the cloture resolution.
So did my colleague from Kansas,
Senator Clyde NJ. Reed
However. only "a other senators
voted for cloture. while A sem
ators voted against cloture. so that
the cloture resolution was de-
feated.
KILLED POLL TAX BILL
That ended the chances of pass
ing the anti-poll tax bill.
In fairness 10 some of my COL
leagues who do not believe in
requiring the payment of a tax to
enable an otherwise qualified cleo
tor TO vote, / must say that many
senator's honestly felt that for the
Congress TO attempt to repeal
state laws requiring payment of
poll tax requisite for voting
would be clearly unconstitutional.
/ told the Senate:
81 shall vote to impose cloture,
because believe that 10 the only
way IL IL possible 10 reach a
vote on the anti-poIl tax bill,
and thereby to restore TO sew
eral million citizens of the
United States the right Of SUI
frage; n right that Is taken from
them through the operation OF
poll tax laws I'm several states of
the union.
The plain truth Is that I'm
several states the poll tax In
used TO prevent n certain group
OF our citizens from voting.
CAN'T DENY SUFFRAGE
THE Constitution prohibits
the right of suffrage being
denied any citizen because Of
race or color. That means the
Negro race. That language was
written into the Constitution In
an attempt TO insure TO the col
ored man the exercise OF his
right Of suffrage.
IL am supporting the anti-pOll
tax bill because IL IL my belief
that the cOlored man IL an
American citizen and In entitled
10 vote. These poll tax laws
"cft tHhCttu anu uFc uctuk uStu
for the purpos Of dpriving him
Of that right.
THAT Is plain defiance Of
the Constitution. and no amount
Of legallstic word juggling can
make anything else Of IL.
THE pretended poll-tax quail
fication has no place In any
modern Democratic system Of
government.
1T Is In my judgment only .
subterfuge, illegal and uncon-
stitutional In Its nature. 1t In
set up for the purpose Of depriv-
ing the colored man land some
OF his white neighbors In the
same eco n m | o group) Of
participation In government af-
-