The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-01-20
Those Ridiculous Resolutions

Perhaps by this time, some
members of the State Democratic
Executive Committee may realize
that they "stirred up a hornet s
nest" by adopting Resolutions 4
and prescribing who shall and
who shall not vote in the Demo-
cratic primary in June. That the
outrageous character of the reso-
buttons may be clearly under
stood, we here re-publish them
Fourth, That he will not be in
fuenced in voting for or against
any candidate by any religious
test or on account of religious be-
lief, denomination or sect with
which the candidate is affiliated.
Fifth, That he is not men,
Der of any secret organization
which attempts in any way to in
fiuence political action or results;
or the obligations and purposes
of which organization will justify
him in refusing to support any
nominee of the party"
According to them, Knight
of Columbus who is loyal Dem
Ocrat cannot vote because he is
naturally and justifably preju-
diced against Candidate Cats,
nor can good Democrat who is
a member of the Guardians Lib
erty vote, for that secret organi-
cation is undoubtedly "attempt-
ing to influence political action
or results. Likewise, a Baptist
who is opposed to Candidate
Hudson because Hudson is a
Methodist, cannot take the neces-
sary oath to enable him to vote.
The action of the committee has
been emphatically condemned by
Governor Trammell, Ex-Governor
Gilchrist and many of the news
papers. From a great amount of |
adverse criticism by the press,
the following extracts are given:
Palatka News In promulgat-
ing this rule the State Executive
Committee has imposed no addi-
tional condition of party fealty.
For this reason, if for no other,
the resolution is useless, and be-
cause of the mess it has stirred
up, is unfortunate.
Fort Lauderdale Sentinel =
The state Executive Committee
made a great mistake in making i
rules to prevent those belonging
to secret political organizations
from voting in the primary to be
held in June. 1t was a move that
was inspired by some candidate
for state Office, who was afraid to
face an honest vote of the people.
If they think that they can put
such a move over they are foolish.
In Broward county no man will
be prevented from voting who
registers as democrat and prom
lses to support the nominees. We
defy any one to try to prevent it
in this county.
Trenton West End The reso-
luton regarding anti-Catholic, or
patriotic religious orders, and the
oath that will be required of the
members at the Democratic pri-
mary, is a slap in the face of ev-
cry self-reSpecting Democrat in
this state.
Lake City Index Viewed :
from any standpoint, the resolu- !
ton was the most un-called- for :
piece of business ever handled by :
a bunch of men and-mark our :
word, and mark it well-if Flori-' +
da Democracy is disrupted, it will :
be done by this resolution and not /
by Cats and Parker and the =
Guardians of Liberty. y
Macclenny Standard - This :,
religious clause" as passed by
the State Democratic Executive
Committee, will do more to stir
up religious and political strife I
than anything that has been done S
in the state since the Civil war. o
The situation is strained as it is a
and the enforcement of the reso- ?
luton will stir up antagonism and ,
strife such as never has been ex- 4