The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-02-11
BIG MASS MEETING OF
DEMOCRATS DEN0UNCE
Resolutions of State Com
mittee and Demand
their Repeal.

+ A mass meeting of democrats o
e the city and county, called by Stat'
, Committeeman P. j. Becks at the ur
: gent solicitation of influential demo
5 Gratis of Palatka, gathered at the
court house last Tuesday night.
| Mr.. Becks called the meeting to or.
/ der at eight o'clock. The seats ir
, the court house were filled. 1t is es.
, timated that between two and three
hundred voters were present.
Julian G. Calhoun was made chair
man of the meeting and E. w. Elliott,
secretary.
Resolutions which had been already
prepared were presented by Mr.. Eli
Oft, and on motion were ordered read.
Col. Hilburn asked that the vote of
the meeting on the resolutions be
made standing one, and all who IA
vored them were asked to rise. Ev-
eryone in the house jumped to their
feet. There was no opposition.
Short talks condemnatory of the
State Committees action were made
by W. A. RUSSELL j. N. Blackwell,
Henry Hutchinson and ]. C. Calhoun,
with ringing speech that cut to the
bone by Col. Hilburn.
Resolutions were also adopted in
viting the State Executive Committee
to hold its coming meeting in Pa
latka.
The following are the resolutions
condemnatory of the State Commit
tees action and urging reconvening
of the committee. i
Whereas, the State Democratic
Executive Committee, at it's meeting
held in Jacksonville, Florida, on the
9Th day of January, 1916, did adopt
by vote certain resolution known
as the Sturkie resolution, setting
forth certain qualifications as test
for the democratic freemen of the
State of Florida, and
Whereas, We the democratic voters
of Putnam county, State of Florida in
open and public meeting assembled at
the Court House of said county on the
9Th day of February, 1916, in the city
of Palatka, and
Whereas, We the said voters of the
aforesaid county of Putnam, do here
by condemn the said resolution as be
ing contrary to the Constitution of
the United States of America and OBJ
noxious to the democratic voters of
Putnam county, and
Whereas, We believe that Church
and State should be kept separate and
apart as contemplated by the Con-
stltution of the United States of AM
erica, and that every qualified voter
should be permitted to use his own
Judgment and choice in the Democrat
&c primary of June 9Th, 1916, and that
said voters religious convictions and
with secret and benevo-
ent associations shall in no way be
placed as test in his qualifications
IS democrat, and
Whereas, We the Democratic vot
srs of Putnam county, believing in {
he principles of our free American |
Institutions, upholding the Constitu-
ion of the United States of Ameri- .
"a, do hereby, after deliberation and ,
Investigation of the aforesaid Stur- .
lie resolution, and conscious of our :,
luty as American citizens and Demo- =
ratio voters. Of the Commonwealth =
# Florida; therefore be it. :
Resolved, That the said Sturkie res. !;
LUTON as adopted by the Democratic 9
Executive Committee of Florida, is :,
Objectionable to the Democratic vot- y
RS of Putnam county and that said
esolutlon is uncalled for, inasmuch a !
he qualifications of a Democrat has II,
4 the past been amply provided for, ~
nd d d
Resolved, That the Democratic vo- q
ers of Putnam county, hereby re- :
uest the Chairman of the Democratic !,
tate Executive Committee, through
is State Executive Committeeman. :,
Ion. P. j. Becks, to reconvene the =
aid Exexcutive Committee to recon- y
ider its former action and to annul a
ne said resolution as adopted by said :;
on January 9Th, 1916, and r
e it further. 5
Resolved, That we approve the Il u
ourse of Hon. Park Trammell, and d d
theirs who have proved staunch I I
lends of the people, by their efforts :,
eliminate and correct this unAmer- "
AN resolution, and be it further :, ~
Resolved, That copy of this reso- II II
ltlon be forwarded to the Hon. Geo a.
. Raney, Chairman. of the State =. :,
emocratic Executive Committee to II
lie newspapers of the State, and to -,
lie members of the State Democratic r
xecutive Committee. 81