The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-01-27
ACCORDING TO CHAIRMAN RIA.
NEYS ADMISSION, THE RES
OLUTION SHOULD BE RE-
SCINDED, OR MODIFIED.

SCINDED, OR MODIFIED.
We have read very carefully what
Chairman ROney, of the State EXecu-
tive committee, has to say in regard
to the recent resolution passed by this
committee. In discussing this matter
Mr. Rancy uses the following exact
words I'm explanation Of the purposes
Of the resolution: "The resolutions in
order to ascertain its true intent and
meaning must he considered as a
whole and not by disjointed parts. 1t
provides that "A legal elector shall be
held a member Of the democratic par
ty upon terms and conditions as fol-
lows: First. that he is a white man :;
second, that he believes in the Princi
pies of the democratic party. Third,
that he intends in good faith to sup.
port and vote at the next general cleo
ton for all candidates, national, state
and county, nominated by the demo-
y
the meaning as interpreted by the
committee. II seems to us to he your
duty to call this committee together
mt once and let this body as n whole
endorse your Interpretation Of the
matter. If you desire harmony in the
ranks of the party you will do this,
for If this step is taken by the com
mittee every democrat in the state
will Immediately say that body Is
composed of fair-minded democrats,
who have no desire but to serve the
best interests Of the party. You adj
nit yourself. Mr.. Raney, in the fol-
lowing language that they may be mis-
understood. and If so would he too
broad: at may be said that If taken
literally and alone, and not in con.
junction with the entire resolution,
the provisions Of the first sentence
above (referring to fourth paragraph
quoted is too broad, and seeks to in
quire into the motive Of the electors
in voting for or against any particu-
lar candidate in the primary"
Why take the chance OF having the
language misunderstood when 1t is so
easily remedied, obtaining just what
the committee desired. relieving all
danger Of further friction, and proba-
bly, a complete disruption Of the par
ty? You can't afford to do it. You
must not do 1t. You will not. if you
desire harmony. without the sacrifice
Of a single principle.
In our humble Judgment, the reso-
lutions as it now stands should be as
Objectionable to Catholics ms to Pro-
testants. We want no religious test.
Leave all such matters TO the voters
individual conscience. You have no
right to interfere with the voters
conscience. The last vote we cast in
the gubernatorial race Of Kentucky
was for ]. B. McCreary a Presbyte-
rian. for governor. and Edward J.
McDermott. a Catholic, for lieutenant
governor. We did not vote for Nc
Creary because he was a Presbyterian,
nor for McDermott because he was n
Catholic hut for each because he is
man Of the highest type. Every
Kentucky citizen is proud Of E. j.
McDermott, and knows him to he too
broad-minded to let his religious con-
victlons interfere with his duties as
a citizen. All Catholics are not this
broad-minded. but neither are ali
Protestants, hence the necessity for
our being able to deal with these
great questions from the standpoint
Of the man rather than from his
creed.
Mr.. Raney, II you would show your
self to be a man, you now have the
opportunity. You can bring order out
Of chaos. You can bring party harmo-
ny without the sacrifice Of a single
principle. Do Tt today, We are now
trimming our pencil for the purpose
Of writing words of praise to the man
who is willing to change when he
knows 1t to he his duty. You have
admitted that you may be misunder-
stood. We say that you not only may
be. but you are misunderstood ac-
cording to your Interpretation. One