The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1922-01-13

came aroused. At a called meeting
of this committee, the Objectionable
features of this resolution were
amended. Billie Parker had been
and was establishing anti-Catholic
secret political societies in Florida,
the name of which is unknown eX-
capt in initiates. 1t was claimed |
they had about 5000 members in
and about the same num-
Der in Tampa, and many elsewhere,
all over Florida A man came to
Punta Gorda, asking me to join. l
asked for the substance of the oath.
ITO VOTE AGAINST a CATHOLIC
FOR OFFICE" Freedom of relig-
ion being one of the main bulwarks of
our national and State constitutions,
| could not take such an oath. Be
sides, | question no mans right as
to his religious views. AT Quincy,
in a speech, Candidate Cats stated,
SUBSTANTIALLY, that when he first came
on, Tor governor he tried to meet
Governor Trammell, that the COVER
nor would not meet him, treating
him very discourteously; and that,
afterwards, seeing he was gaining
strength, trying to get on the Cats
bandwagon, he came to him with out
stretched hands, saying 'hoWdle DO,
Brother Cats? | am so glad to meet
YOU" Cats signed, afterward, such
nriDtn1 and
circulated by others. These societies
endorsed the candidacy of Cats for
governor and of Trammell for the
u. S. Senate. My recollection is that
.Trammel received about 5000 more
votes for the Senate than Cats did
for governor. When these societies
endorsed Trammell for the Senate,
Bryan. then senator, or frammell had
to be elected. At Lakeland man
= came to me stating he represented
!: organized labor, asking if | We're
. elected what ! would do for labor. |
. repiod | would be fair, etc. Finally
: he stated eve have always at Wash
, ington representative of labor. II
Won are elected senator will you agree
: to vote for everything he tells you is
!: for Iator and against everything he
!: tells YOU is against labor?" | said
!. NO! will be id If l wouldn't
/. resign first"
Whenever a Democrat is elected
. president, the Republicans are smart
. enouga to organize these secret poll
teal, anti-Catholic societies. They
did ii when Cleveland was president.
They did it, commencing in 1913,
when Wilson was president. In 1912
TT.rGing was badly defeated for gov
eiaor of Ohio. In 1914 the Demo-
ctais nominated for U. S. Senator a
Catholic. one who had been, and |
think was then, attorney general or
Ohio. The anti-Catholic question
was raised, electing Harding, now
President Harding, by about 100000
plurality. Prior to that time, the
aati-C holic question had not been
raifad rs to this Democrat. During |
1850, MS issue was, in a modified |
way, objected into the presidential
caiuDaign. Whenever there is a |,
president, the Republt-
cans ale'smart enough to stir up this
question.
Having been the first to oppose
these resolutions, Cats having been
against Trammell l have sometimes .
though. that if l had Joined them l
would have been elected senator, A
defeated candidate should have a |
right to any kind OF soothing syrup |
which can soothe his disturbed
e4uiai..:ty. However, it was well
for .ga nat l was defeated.
Puntu Gorda is beautifully locat-
ed on the south bank of Charlotte
haruor. Let's try to make it one o.
the pFetlest places in all Florida.