The San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 247, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 22, 1920 Page: 3 of 18
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■i submits
ms IBS ON
POLL TAX Li
Governor Sends First Mes-
sage to Special Session
of Legislature.
SAYS ALL MAY VOTE
Without Special Regulations
Election Would Be Open
to Fraud.
Austin Tex. Sept. 22. —Only the
subject of providing regulations for
voters in the election of November 2
was submitted to the special session of
the Texas legislature by the governor
in bis first message of the session
^■'tating that the nineteenth amend-
^ment to the federal constitution su-
bperseded the constitution and suffrage
laws of this state and saying that the
existing situation throws “the election
in November wide open to every per-
son in Texas over 21 years of ago with-
out limitation” the governor said.
“It is deemed necessary for the legis-
lature to take immediate action be-
cause of the stiuation which has arisen
since the adoption of the nineteenth
amendment to the constitution of the
United States. That amendment is as
follows:
“Section 1. The right of citizens of
the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States
or by anv state on account of sex.
“Sec. 2. Congress shall have power
by appropriate legislation to enforce the
provisions of this article.
•'lt is the supreme law of the land
superseding the constitution and laws
of this state with respect to suf-
frage.
“The attorney general of the state
the legal advisor of the governor as
set forth in section 22. article 4 of the
estate constitution and in compliance
with my request has construed the nine-
teenth amendment and its effect as ap-
plied to the general election in Novem-
ber. I accompany thia message with
the opinion of the attorney general for
your information.
Required to Pay Poll Tax.
“As you of course know all male
citizens of Toxa* are required by the
constitution and laws of the state to
pay a poll tax as a prerequisite for vo-
ting in the general election. In the
opinion of the attorney general all
male persons who have not paid poll
taxes may likewise vote in the general
(lection in November as a result of the
adoption of the nineteenth amend-
ment.
“To throw’ the election in November
wide open to every person in Texas
over 21 years of age without limitation
without an official record of the name
of each person voting and the payment
of the customary tax whether it be a
poll tax or a suffrage tax by another
name is too dangerous to think of.
Yet unless there is legislation by your
honorable body hucli will be the case
provided the attorney general s inter-
pretation is accepted by election offi-
cers as it properly should b<. And
the bolding of a wide open election in
Texas which you are called in extra-
ordinary session to avoid is not onlv
fraught with danger but is beset with
other evils. It will cause discrimina-
tion not between sexes but among vo-
ters some of them paying and some of
them not paying a discrimination which
in my judgment is not desired by the
people of Texas. And especially is thi-
drue when that discrimination may be
Kemodied by action of the h'gi'latun
Ahich may at the <ame time keep within
Rhip provisions of the nineteenth amend-
ment.
Is an Organic Law.
• The people of Texas have imposed
the poll tax is the organic law of the
state as a prerequisite for voting. It is
conclusive therefore that the people de-
sire the payment of a tax before per-
sons may exercise the franchise privi-
lege unless the voters who have be-
come qualified to vote between the ex-
piration of the lime for paying the poll
lax and the time °f holding the elec-
tion. The policy will be undisturbed at
the general election in November if the
payment of a tax equivalent to the
poll tax ami keeping a record thereof is
required on the part of persons who
have not heretofore paid.
“Women who have become qualified
voters by the adoption of the nine-
teenth amendment have not been sub-
dected to the payment of a tax. serving
a pre-election fee by the laws of
■£e state. Such may be required how-
"ver by legislative act according to
the opinion of the attorney general ami
will result in placing all men and wom-
en alike on an equal basis as vo-
ters.
“If a legal waj can be found ad-
hering to the expressed opinion of the
attorney general to permit only new
voters that is men and women who
have become qualified voters eince the
time expired for paying a 19211 poll
tax to vote. I would md consider it
discrimination repugnant to the policy
of the state to permit such persons to
vote. If in order to do that however
it is necessary to admit all others who
have not paid a poll tax to vote with-
out paying the equivalent of the poll
tax I would regard it ns a discrimina-
tion unjust to those who have paid poll
taxes and inimical to the welfare of
Texas.
Legislation Is Necessary
“Not only is legislative action made
necessary to avoid discrimination on
the part of voters but there may be
serious results in the event of a fail-
ure to take action some of which 1
will point out. •
“An attempt to hold a wide open
election will of itself provoke confus-
ion because while all election officers
should in the absence of a court de-
c^on or a state-wide law be guided by
rhe ruling of the attorney general who
ia the state’a legal advisor yet it is
possible there will be election officers
who will refuse to do so. A condition
nndef which election officers in some
polling places may allow voters who
l ave not paid poll taxes to vote and
election officers in other polling places
may refuse to allow them to vote
Kould rcault bi disorder ami inequality.
For this reason the necessity of a plan
Io bring about equality and uniformity
is obvious. This can only be accom-
WEDNESDAY.
pliabed by a state-wide law or a couit
decision it is to late to obtain the
latter. Action by the legislature will
bring about the former.
Election Most Important.
“The election in November is the
most important of all election^ A
president and vice president of the
United States a governor and ail stale
officers congressmen members of the
legislature and all district ami county
officers are to be voted for. As a safe-
guard the election of all th< • officers
should be by u vote of record not by
a wide-open election. To remove all
question about the legality of voters
who will participate in this election and
enact u law prescribing same is of su-
preme importance. Even the electoral
vote of the state might be put in
jeopardy if illegal voters arc permit-
ted to vote or legal voters are not
permitted to vote. The qualifications
of legal voters should be defined by
law and settle all doubts.
“The public policy of Texas has
been well established for more than 25
years as opposed to an election m t
safeguarded by a record open to public
inspection giving the names and ad-
dresses of those who vote. It is im-
jiortant to preserve the integrity of this
policy and not open the way for as
many or more voters who arc un-
recorded to vote as voters who have
paid a poll tax and whose names are
of record. Under such system the op-
portunity is offered for fraudulent vot-
ing. Whether there is danger of re-
peating ballot-box stuffing and the
casting of fraudulent votes at such elec-
tions sufficient to change the result is
not the prime consideration. The pos-
sibility of tainted ballots in an elec-
tion in Texas is offensive to her citizen-
ship.
Must Prevent Fraud.
“In view of the area and population
of Texas the undertaking of electing a
state officer by fraud would perhaps
be too great to make it possible. But
if legislation on your part shall pre-
vent the election of a single county or
district officer in Texas by fraudulent
votes it would more than compensate
for the time and expense and sacrifice
made Accessary by calling you in ex-
traordinary session. There were about
750000 persons in Texas who qualified
themselves to vote in th.- November
election by paying i»oll taxes or ob-
taining exemption certificates. It is
safe to estimate that at least 2500.-
000 men ami women are of voting age in
Texas. All of these may be permitted
to vote regardless of whether they have
or have not paid a poll tax unless a
law bringing about uniformity is en-
acted. Even though this situation is
duo to circumstances beyond the con-
trol of Texas it would be discrimina-
tion just the same to hold an election
ut which 750000 persons have been re-
quired to pay a poll tax of $1.75 in
order to exercise the suffrage franchise
while it i/» i>ossible for 1.750.000 or
more to vote without the payment of an
equal amount.
Would Secure Protection.
“In my judgment if those who are
allowed to vote without paying poll
taxes can be limited to those who have
otherwise become qualified voters since
the first of February 1920 then the
greatest protection that can be given
the ballot-box and the nearest approach
to exact justice that may be reached
under the circumstances and the step
that will come nearer doing away with
discrimination than any other which
may be proposed is to enact a law
qualifying all of those who have not
paid a poll tax prior to February 1
1920 ami giving all of those who have
not paid a poll tax fifteen days in
which to record their names and ad-
If someone told you—
Drink coffee if you want a
good nights sleep” would
you do it? —No!
But you could safety drink
Instant Postum
instead of coffee without
having your rest disturbed
“There's a Reason'
SHIRTS
Collar
attached
have
the strong
call
I
We show the Oxfords in
white and colors imported
flannels and pongees.
We recommend them.
They are practical and not
expensive.
Priced $4.00 to $B.OO.
Fomby Clothing Co.
“The House of Satisfaction”
509-11 East Houston Street
The Home of Hurl Schaffner & Marx Clothe?
dresses at the county lax cvUwtor &
office and pay an amount equal to the
|k>H tax which those voters who pte-
viously qualified have paid and thus
qualify for voting at the November elec-
lion. While it would be desirable to
give those voters who have not paid
poll taxes a longer period of time in
which to qualify the date of bolding the
election prevents it. However the op-
portunity will then be offered each and
every citizen of Texas who is other-
wise qualified to exercise the suffrage
franchise to vote on an equal basis.
This to my mind is the most that it
is possible to do to bring justice and
equality to the greatest number.
“It is fitting and appropriate and in
keeping with sound public policy to ap-
ply the revenue derived from sin h legis-
lation to the cause of public education
and 1 therefore recommend that such
provision be made by your honorable
body as will result in this fund be-
coming a part of the available school
fund of the slate.
“To safeguard the general election to
be held in November and to prevent
discrimination among voters as nearly
as that may be done is the object I
hope for and feel confident will be ac-
complished through the medium of your
combined wisdom and as a result of
your deliberations.”
( hiTtei's Granted.
Austin Tex. Sept. 22. —Chartered
Smithville Motor Company of Smith
ville; capital st<H*k. $50000. Incorpor
ators: A. V. Botha^ Oswald Buescher
A. G. Buescher.
Farmers’ Supply Company Texline
enpitnl stock. SHMMhi. Incorporator-
E. B. Wilson Talmage Abney A. M
Dongen.
Miller Smith Drug Company Mart:
capital stork $9OOO. Incorporators: I.
E. Miller. W. E. Smith C. E. Smith.
Amendments ; il«*d :
Gulf Lumber Comnnny of Galveston
increasing capital stock from $50000 t
SI(MM>OO.
Liberty Mills of San Antonio Incre&s
ing capital stock from $lOOOOO to $750
000.
Permits granted :
Insto Manufacturing Company «>f
Wilmington Dida. capital stork $40.-
000; Texas headquarters nt Dalia*; 11.
W. Jester agent; purpose manufacture
butter churns.
Highway Commission Meets.
Austin. Tex.. Sept. 21. —At the regu-
lar monthly meeting of the state high-
way commission held here applications
for a number of re-designations of road-
ways were made. There were only a few
delegations here and no state nor fed-
eral funds were allotted at this meeting •
it was announced. Curtis Hancock. |
former chairman of the commission now ।
secretary of the Breckenridge Chamber j
of Commerce was here before the com-!
mission for the re-designation of a road '
in Stephens county.
Send Veterans to Reunion.
San Angelo. Tex.. Sept 22.—L0. a
business men and others are raising a
fund of several hundred dollars to semi
members of Camp Schuyler Sutton to
the thirtieth annual reunion of United*
Confederate Veterans to be held at
Houston on October 6 7 ami S. Tin-
United Daughters of the Confederacy
are in charge of the subscriptions ami
it is expected that fifteen or twenty
old soldiers will make the trip.
Italians to Campaign for G. O. P.
New York. Sept. 22. —A nation wide
campaign among citizens of Italian ex-
traction in Iwhalf of the Republican
nominees for President and vice presi-
dent was decided upon here Tuesday at
the national conference of the Italian-
American Republican League.
THE SAN ANTONIO TIGHT.
Wolfson's: Important Economy Events
Demand Immediate Attention
To Form the Fall and Winter Wardrobe
With Savings Which Are Only to Be Had at Wolfson’s
Think what it means to supply silks for the fall and win-
ter wardrobe—in September—and to buy them for the prices
you might only expect in a season-end sale.
Timed to be of the utmost helpfulness—and such a re-
sponse as met the announcement.
Brown
Silks
$2.25.. Messaline. .$1.79
$2.50. .Taffeta. .$1.79
$3.00. . Satin. . $2.39
$3.50.. Satin.. $2.98
$4.50. .Satin. .$3.98
$2.50. .Crepe de Chine. .$1.69
$3.00. .Crepe de Chine. .$2.39
$4.00.. Charmeuse.. $3.39
$4.69. .Charmeuse. .$3.98
$5.00. . Charmeuse.. $4.39
■ ■■ ■ । ■'■j.y ■ ■ ■ 11 ■ — । । —■■■!■ ■■■!. ■■■■ . ■■■ ■ —
® WWWW W M SUNSET LIMITED
— OK BLOC. COM ALL CAB LlNtt __ Mg IM HH M KU oSL RSI ; UTNEsi 1 . V . . _
A I m -IM MM Ba ug Ma Sfiß L 1 " 'l* be restore*! to pre-war schedule between Texas
OCV I ■■ Ri ■I I W M d foHows!
-mb iTont our or thc hi^hpriccoistbkt |9 Im WmH Hh 9h WEST BOUND EAST BOUND
H E » Ei (Read Down) (Read Up)
H ■■ B Leave 12:10 P. M New Orleans Arrive.B:oo P. M.
Leave 10.45 P. M Houston Arrive 9:25 A. M.
i Arrive 4:50 A. M San Antonio Leave 3:20 A. M.
■ - AMERICA'S HOME SHOE POLISH > ML I Leave 5:00 A. M San Antonio Arrive 3:10 A. M. |
| Arrive 9:45 P. M El Paso Leave 8:50 A. M.
m Arrive 9:30 P. M Los Angeles Leave 8:30 A. M.
M t b! k 1 [-1 Tz> "NT T'L-k'W Arrive 1:00 P. 51 San Francisco Leave 5:00 P. M.
Burning Locomotives. All Steel Train Observation Car and
| Lgd V» I AH I — Local sleeper for Los Angeles and New Orleans open for occu-
pancy 9:30 P. M. Passengers can remain in sleepers at San
| Antonio until 7:00 A. M.
' I O" or *bout October 15th we will move to our new Ticket Office |
f 513 Navarro Street opposite St. Anthony Hotel.
l-i (NOT A CONSOLIDATED OFFICE)
TJrotccts and preserves Edw Mcci.nnah.n dp a.
wItW JMtf' T L JLa j T yaffil X 601 Gunter Building. Travi. 6200 No. 18.
all leathers. AlwayslQ^ 1
BL AC K -TAN -WH ITE -OXBLOOP - BROWN I Light Classified Columns for Results
Sade Silks
Smart Suits
Fine Frocks
’55
The styles are many. And for misses and women.
Sizes 16 to 11.
Splendid fabrics. Each garment distinguished by the
fashions which can only be the product of highly skilled
tailoring and dressmaking.
Suits of soft fine tricotine beautiful Yalama cloth and
elegant velours. Plain and fur trimmed.
Dresses of satins crepe and tricotine.
Fashionable shades.
Fifty-five dollars.
Style and Savings
Always paramount at Wolfson’s. Fall garments for
every occasion. For every fancy and a constant incoming
of the new. Certainly there is not a woman in San Antonio
who is not alert to big savings—when they are in company
with the smartest fashions. (Third Floor.)
$4.00. .Charmeuse. .$3.39
$5.00. .Satin. .$3.98
$4.00. .Crepe de Chine. .$2.98
$B.OO. . Tricolette.. $4.98
$4.69. .Charmeuse. .$3.98
$5.00. .Charmeuse. .$4.39
$6.25. .Charmeuse. .$4.98
$7.50. .Charmeuse. .$6.49
$5.00.. Crepe Meteor.. $4.39
$5.50.. Crepe Meteor.. $4.50
$6.00. .Crepe Meteor. .$4.98
Sail Wolfson
Some fifty groups of fine and fashionable silks are in-
volved. Every yard of our big collections.
Prompt choosing is extremely profitable. And the earlier
you shop the better the selection.
Tomorrow morning—early.
Black Silks
$2.25. .Messaline. .$1.79
$2.50. .Taffeta. .$2.19
$2.89. . Duchesse.. $2.39
$3.00. .Satin. .$2.39
$3.50. .Satin. .$2.98
s3.oo..Peau de 50ie..52.49
$3.69. .Duchesse. .$2.95
$4.50.. Satin.. $3.98
$4.00. .Faille. .$3.49
$2.50. .Crepe de Chine. .$1.69
$3.00. .Crepe de Chine. .$2.39
SEPTEMBER 22 1920.
Sale of Boots
Continues to offer complete size
and style assortments of smart new
fall boots in lace patterns street and
dress styles. With such offerings as
$9.85
Originally up to $19.50
$7.85
Originally $ll.OO to $15.00
Savings you might expect only in a
clearance sale. Right at the time
boots are coming into timeliness.
Complete size assortment.
And Three Other
Good Groups
$11.85 $12.50
$13.85
Buy Now for All Winter
When you can save up to $lO on
fall and winter footwear it is wise
to anticipate the future. (First
Floor).
Navy
Silks
$2.25. .Messaline. .$1.79
$2.50.. Taffeta.. $1.79.
' $3.00. .Satin. .$2.39
$3.50. .Satin. .$2.98
$4.50. .Satin. .$3.98
$2.50. .Crepe de Chine. .$1.69
$3.00. .Crepe de Chine. .$2.39
$4.00.. Charmeuse.. $3.39
$4.69. .Charmeuse. .$3.98
$5.00. . Charmeuse. . $4.39
3
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Diehl, Charles S. & Beach, Harrison L. The San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 247, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 22, 1920, newspaper, September 22, 1920; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1617068/m1/3/: accessed July 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .