Arizona republican., 1920-08-23
IlI-Advised Advice

Our relations with our ministerial friends of Phoenix are intimately pleasant that feel little hestancy in indulging criticism for their supposed shortcomings, as in the past they not let that friendship stand in the of criticism of us for our many and grevous sins We hope they will continue to do only sign of their af- lection for for whom the Lord loveth he chas teneth" but we will all be the better for these ex- changes of disapproving opinions.
 There has been brought attention, in fact have of it before pastoral letter which we understand has been sent broadcast to the ad- herents of various churches and persons of strong prohibition proclivties directing them how vote in the forthcoming primaries. Passing for the moment over the impropriety in almost circum- stances of the proffering advice involving almost the point of saying, insult to the intelligence persons addressed, will speak of the letter itself.
 The of all the candidates for nominations for state offices arranged office by office When there is than candidate nomination the of the favored candidate is marked with "x." We do not know precisely what measurements of fitness have been employed in making these preferments but observe that the sx" appears before the candidates who notoriousy immoral It appears before the of others whose unfitness incapacity gener- ally conceded by those competent judge of such matters.
 As guide intelligent voting. conceding the moment the preposterous proposition that any preacher o group of preachers a right pre- pare guide for voters this is absolutely worth guide. if followed would the rejection in most of the best whose will be the It would the election of men. of supposed. and in others. of proved incompetence.
 This is perhaps not the of it. In conferring the honorable "1x', there is pretense of considering the morals efficiency of the candidates. The candidates against whom dis elimination made members of a church of which the pastors disapproye, In one case Mormon; in others, Catholics. Yet this is the of Our Lord 1920. We had supposed that the burning of heretcs was discontinued centuries ago. And all this is under government which guarantees to every citi- zen the right. (not conceded prvilege) worship ping God according to dictates of his
 
 preferred ticket, so constructed, under such specifications as have been employed nature of things be good this in genously bad thoroughly and absolutely bad from the points of efficiency, that it could be made only by the transposition of the 'x in three instances.
 Now. if the gentlemen who responsible for this enornity. for it less than that will call privately we will them in a revision of their ticket if they persist in presenting preferred ticket They recognize the liability of TOT in the companying letter they concede
 "It is perfectly possible for make
 mistakes will try send a revised list
 before the primaries It will all have to be
 done after the primaries"
 We think the preparation of this ticket or any ticket gentlemen may prepare will be labor thrown away and worse than wasted. We cannot but think that in those whom this letter only will be provoked. People who belong to churches people of than intelli- gence morals They are jealous of those quali- ties and they the affront put upon them by this attempted direction of them in their duties citizens have doubt that the gentlemen who have concocted this preferred ticket have done with the And in assuming that their intentions were good. conclude that they have been absolutely inexcusably ignorant of the char acter and quality of of the candidates whom tbev have their advice should be needed two evils result. One would be the fastening mon the state O an inefficient government The other would be popular confidence in the church as an instrument for good.
 What have said is entirely impersonal anl non-partisan. With exceptions the letter deals only with the candidates before the pri- ,narv We not the slightest partisan interest ;r the well being any them, but every citfzsn democrat republican, must wish that good and coupetent men may be nominated by both parties to- half the men nominated will constitute .rnment If incompetent grossly immoral become the nominees. they may be elected That r-or1d be a disaster both state and church.