The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-02-03
JUDGE JOHN w. DODGE SPEAKS
WORDS OF WISDOM.

NOKDS OF WISDOM
Judge John W. Dodge, n well
known Jacksonville attorney, desires
that the committee should revise
those resolutions and discusses the
matter in long letter addressed to
that body. Our space will not permit
reproduction Of this splendid let
ter, but we give the three concluding
paragraphs, which are worthy Of your
careful reading:
ut is one thing to say that the re-
ligious belief of candidate shall be
required as n qualification for office.
but it Is an altogether different prop
oSltion to say that an individual vot-
or will not be influenced on account
Of the religious belief Of a candidate.
The candidate has a right TO office
only in the event that a sufficient
number Of the people think he Is the
best man. He cannot be deprived Of
that office solely by reason Of his
religious belief. and his religious be-
lief cannot he the sole test Of his
qualification for office. The candidate
has n right to any religious belief he
may choose; the voter has a like right
and the voter in coming TO his CON
cluslon as to the candidate who pos.
sesSes the best qualifications has n
right to consider the religious belief
of the candidate. ms well as any other
belief Of the candidate. The candi-
date is not disqualified from holding
office by reason of his religious belief.
but the candidate gets office by rea-
son of the votes Of the individual vot.
ers. No candidate has a right 10 at
tempt to coerce n voter on account
of the religious belief Of the voter.
While n candidate is not disqualified
for office by reason of his religious
belief, he may fail 10 be the choice
Of the people on account II their re-
ligious belief ana the people are not
TO he denied the right to have a re-
ligiouS belief. The theory Of our gov
eminent is that the people by a ma
iOrity are the ones who control. II
tho candidate for any reason does not
measure up to the beliefs and opin-
lens Of a majority Of the people. re-
Gardless Of how they arrived at their
opinion, then the candidate cannot
succeed in securing office although
he is not disqualified from holdlngI
office.
81 belong 10 no secret organization
aimed at by the executive committee.
I am espousing the candidacy Of no
one. My religious beliefs are guaran-
teed freedom. under the laws of the
United States and Of the state of
Florida; I am Influenced by my re-
ligious beliefs, and I cannot see for
the life Of me how any man can real
ly have any kind of religious belief
and not be influenced thereby, and, be-
lcving that all candidates are inhu-
creed by their respective beliefs to
some extent, at least I shall expect |
to consider their religious beliefs, to
he influenced thereby to some extent
in arriving at my conclusions as to
their fitness for office; however, not
it necessarily the sole test Of
their fitness. Ny freedom Of opinion
on religious matters and my life in
huenced thereby does not disqualify
me as a democrat. My democratic
vote is sacred to me, and no set Of
men can tell me as a democrat that
my religious belief is not free, or that
The religious belief Of a candidate
must not influence me in the slightest
legree.
"If a mans religion teaches him to
the sun or moon or fire or
dolls or beasts or what not, 1 will
most certainly he influenced by his
eliglous beliefs in determining his fit.
fess for holding public office, TO
make laws to govern me. The demo-
ratio executive committee says I can
ot be so influenced. Religious free
ON has been guaranteed TO me by n
igher law than a democratic eNecu-
i've committee in Florida. I sincerely ,
ope the committee will reconvene
nd ignore ali religious questions" !
inVTEDNnD TD aNTNIEII