The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-21
Commissioner of Agricul-
ture Comes to Defense of
the Committee
THINKS COMMITTEE
ACTED IN GOOD FAITH
Man Who Votes In Primary
Should Abide by It's
Results
SPECIAL 70 THE JOURNAL.

=
Tallahassee, Jan. 0.-Commission-
err of Agriculture W. A. McRae, one
Of the state officers to be called upon
to express an opinion on the resolu-
tion passed at the recent meeting Of
the Democratic committee of Florida,
in letter addressed to a publishing
company of Jacksonville, comes to the
defense of the committee In that he
believes the committee acted in good
faith, that the resolution was not
aimed at secret religious organiza-
tions and that the campaign commit
tee should interpret and explain the
letter. Mr.. McRae in his letter says:
'FYour circular letter, dated Janu-
airy 18th, inst, reached my Office just
as was getting ready to leave for
an absence of several days, hence my
delay in replying to you.
'Tn your circular you ask for my
views as to the propriety of the state
executive committee taking action by
resolution covering the qualifications
required of one to be entitled to vote
In the Democratic primary, such ac-
ton in essence applying a religious
test for one to be entitled to vote
''In replying, win say, that section
sixteen, of chapter 6469, of the acts Of
1913, and known as the primary law,
gives the executive committee the
power, by resolution TO declare the
terms and conditions on which legal
electors shall be declared and taken
as proper members of such party, and
therefore entitled TO vote in the pri-
mary election herein required to be
held, as members Of that party
Assuming that the discussion Of
the regulation is based upon the Ian
guage in section four, Of the resolu-
lions, and assuming as we must that
the committee proposed to act upon
Democratic principles, the resolutions
should be read as a whole and In the
| light of the principles of Democracy
and the purpose Of the committee.
This purpose manifestly was to insure
the nominees of the primary against
opposition at the election from those
who participated as voters in the pri-
mary. Read in the light of this pur-
pose section four means that only
those are excluded who will be infu-
enced in voting for or against any
candidate by any religious test or on
account of the religious denomination
or sect with which the candidate is
affiliated, if because of that they will
not support such candidate at the
election if he is the nominee.
TEST OF A DEMOCRAT.
''The true test of a Democrat is
shown in his support of the party
nominees and this can easily be dem
onstrated at the polls in the usual
manner by administering the oath
prescribed in such cases, where party
fealty of the individual is in doubt.
81 am a Democrat and believe in
the need of party law. Being a can
didate, / am subject to party law as
enunciated by the party authorities
1.-THE state executive committee) and
therefore feel that I should not be
required to criticise or antagonize the
executive committee of the party in
any manner, after It has acted in
manner of this character at a meet
ing held for that purpose.
Furthermore, not having any con-
ference or intercourse with the COM
mittee, neither knew or know now
the cause that prompted the instruc-
ton and passage of the resolutions,
and to my mind the view above ex-
pressed Of the matter is eninently
fair and win be so considered by any
voter who has the good of the party
at heart.
"Most of the resolution is very
clear and it is good. It is, Of course,
proper as provided by paragraphs
one, two and three Of the resolution
that legal elector of the Democratic
party in primary election should be
white man who believes in the prin-
ciples Of the Democratic party and
who intends In good faith to support
the nominee of the party. But / can
see where confusion may arise in con-
STRUNG the other features Of the
resolution and in my opinion the mat
ter is of sufficient Importance to war
rant a clear Interpretation of the res
olution by the campaign committee
in order that it may not be misun-
derstood, said campaign committee
having been given full authority by
the executive committee to do all
things necessary to insure the car
rying out of the committees action
as whole"