Evening star., 1931-12-27
PARTY OATH ISSUE
REVIVED |NFLOR|DA
Resolution Would Let Con.
science Guide Democrats
Vote in National Race.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FORT MYERS, Fla, December 90
A proposal that Democratic voters be
permitted to cast their ballots for a
national ticket "aS their conscience may
dictate" and without violating or affect
Ing the registration oath of party af-
fll:ation is contained in a resolution
S91t to all county Democratic COM
nlittees with the suggestion that it be
adorted in the near future
the resolution also recommends that
the State Executive Committee and
county organizations refuse to certify
for nomination in any Democratic pr
mary election any person who will not
promise in writing to abide by the
old rule and party customs relating to
filling vacancies on our respective COM
mittce recommendation and thus re-
store loyalty Within our ranks"
This resolution has created consider
able turmoil in Democratic ranks. It's
origin is somewhat uncertain and it has
received little publicity except denun-
ciatory editorials. Whether any of the
county groups intend to take it up
seriously is unknown, but there is no
question that all county committees
have received it.
Among the better informed political
leaders, the proposal to permit Demo-
crat to vote as he pleaseS in national
contests without affecting his party
status in the State is looked upon as a
precautionary measure which would be
important should Alfred E. Smith again
be the presidential nominee. Florida
Democracy was torn aSunder in 1923.
with Smith on the national ticket, many
stanch Democrats deSerting the party
for the first time in their lives. The vote
for Mr.. Hoover also swept into office a
number of county candidates OF the
Republican party and nearly put w. j.
Howey, nominal leader of the Repuoll-
can party in Florida, in the Governor
chair.
Although Franklin D. Roosevelt IS
unuuestionably the States choice Tor
Democratic nominee at the present.
there are some observers who can see
the New York Governor stepping aside
at the last minute in favor of Smith.
In the event, Democratic ranks In
Florida again would undergo a tre-
mendous upheaval which, following the
turmoil of 1929 might result in COM
plete disaster for the State organlza-
ton,
The prevalent belief among Demo-
Gratis here, however. is that Smith Is
biding his time until the proper poiltl-
cal moment to throw his support to
Roosevelt. But there is we'll dehned
sentiment also that the tremendous
amount of ballyhoo now being ac-
corded the New York Governor is pre-
mature and may react against him
when the time comes to choose
nominee.
Ar2o:nt;,e Policy Attacked.
Some CT the Democratic cfflceholder6
with aprC.ntive powers have not been
following irztrucl ions from State ana
county Cc-nnittce1 n making appoine-
ments. the resolution indicates. VIRGIN
rules of the Democratic party nave pee-l
ignored in several instances during lile
administration Of Democratic governors 5
(Tran1n1cil, Hardee. Martin and Carl
tcnl en-. recommendations made by
so,,cral county executive committees 10
fiji vacancies in their respective countles
y-,1;~h we're created by death or otner-
w:-o during their tenn Of office, the
r-~-,u, ion ireft states, and appoint
r-o~t, MADE contrary to good leader
ship. thus causing dissatisfaction Wltnln
the rcnks of our rarty.'
The concluding paragraph Oh the
recoluticn reads:
Pc it clso resolved, That, due to the
growth in population CT me UmIeo
States and each Sac thereof N2Vlofal
and State political party affairs are
growing wider and wider apart Ioue "
local demand for national aid laws
end has caused a situation in our ranks
that demands our close attention ana
prompts this meeting to reccmmeno
that rules and regulations OF the
democratic party of Florida relating 10
party oath be abridged to alloW an
democratic voters to vote natloral
ticket as their conscience may olcIete
and without violating or affecting tnelr
state registration oath OF party ANNA
ton"
"Hybrid Democracy" Decried.
With respect to the proposal tnat
Dcmocras be permitted to vote as they
please on a national ticket, the Tampa
TT;rnes s9vs. 1T ought, in common
honesty to be labeled for what 1t Is
a nroposition to abolish the Democratlc
nartv in Florida. We have suHereo wv
much already from dlVloeo DellloC.
racy. or from a So-called De1loclaey
that has no real Democratic anlailce
but participates in the maklhg go W
Democratic nominations ana tLen vo'es
as il pleases in general elections. "A
Democrat should be a Democrat IN oo1h
State and National affairs.
Nothing worthwhile could ne eH-
pected of q hybrid Democracy sucn ss
This resolution proposes Shall pe eSlao-
1ished bv formal action OF the Demo
cratic party itself. 1t is incompreheh-
sihle that the Democratic party can
build @ itself up in Florida and produce
a better state of affairs by saying tnat
whosoever viii can be DemocraC loi
state primary purposes and a Demo Demo
crat or Republican, as may oe cilosen'
for national purposes.
fcopvrioht. 1917