The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-10-09
REPUBLICAN MACHINE
INSULTS THE MINISTERS
Issues "confidentisl" Circular 20 Re
publican chslrmen Asking Them
TO "Oreanixe the Preachers" for
the Republican Party.
MIR. Marshall Defends the Ministry
Against This Republican
Affront.

Zen Idl NNm ulNltt sent NuA SANui"i
containing Confidential Suggestions
to County Chairmen" One Of the par
agraphs in this circular was as fol
lows
Organize temperance people. Or
sanizs the preachers. Organize the
business men Organize first voters
Organize the women"
This suggestion o. the Republican
state Committee to the county chair
men to organize the preachers into
Republican campaign adjunots was
such an amazing breach OF the pro
prietics that ii doubtless caused many
Of the Republican county chairmen tc
gasp But the Republican managers
did nor realize what stupcndous
blunder they had made in offering
such an anront 10 the ministers of the
state until Thomas r Marshall in his
Terre Haute speech read the conf
dental suggestions TO a large audi
ence and in behalf Of the preachers
resented the insult that had been cast
upon them The inability OF the Re
publicans 10 understand that ministers
are ordained TO preach the gospel and
not TO be organized into political clubs
or drum corps for the benefit Of the
Republican party was made plain by
Mr. Marshall On This point tusing his
exact language he said
1T has always been my impression
that when a minister was consecrated
with holy oil that he was enlisted TO
fight the battles of the Lord. and not
the battles OF the Republican party
and l will take my chances on there
being a great majority OF ministers
who still believe hat the peculiar
mission OF the minister is to preach
the gospel and not 20 beat bass drum
in a political procession
But no sooner had Mr. Marshall thus
given publicity 70 the impairment in
struction 10 organize the preachers
than the Republican managers saw
what a mistake they had made-the
mistake OF being caught in a con
piece of business Seeing no
other way TO break the force OF Mr.
revelation, they caught up
the ''bass drum" phrase. caused gar
bled reports to be printed in Republi
can newspapers. and yelled ont, in big
black headlines. that Marshall At
iacks the Preachers"
Speaking Z. The matter the lndlanap-
olis News said
Certain politicians have tried TO
make It appear that the Democratic
candidate has insulted the ministers of
the state-that he is opposed 10 the
ministers. Those who know Mr. Mar
shall will need no enlightenement on
this subject re is an honest. clean
living gentleman man Of the highest
81 the Presbyterian church. The idea
hat he would head crusade against
the official representatives. OF the
Christian religion is absurd. and Is fos-
tered largely by those who are trying
TO ulse the ministers 10 further their
own schemes. What Mr. Marshall was
dealing with at Terre Haute was not
the preachers. but the politicians
After quoting Mr. Marshall's Ian
guage the News added this:
That there are ministers-we hope
all Of them indianapolis. who hold
precisely this view. was proved by the
action of the Ministerial Association
on Monday. when it struck out of its
resolutions al reference TO candidates
Or parties What Mr. Marshall object.
ed TO was to organization OF ministers
by county chairmen. and that was all
he objected to- We think that the
ministers will agree with him We
think further that honest people will
not be impressed by the criticism made
by those who take certain words from
their context and thus seek 10 give
a false impression of what was said.
The professional Republican preach
er-the kind that can be depended
on in every campaign to do politi
cal work for his party-swallowod the
story about the attack on the preach.
ers," and began TO expstiate upon
II with his usual partisan zeal. and
perhaps will continue to do SO. All
others, however will take good care
not to be misled by such disreputable
tactics.
The campaign Of the Republicans.
so far as It has progressed. has been
marked by so much false pretense and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is the better word
that II IS explainable only on Tho