Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1905-03-10
THE NEW CAUCUS LAW.
A Rigid Law for Safeguarding Primaries
and Conventions and Nominating.

The Argus Leader makes the follow
ing mention of the new law:
IL the right of tho individual voter are
not absolutely safeguarded by the iron
clad caucus law passed by the last
legislature, the Argus-Leader must
frankly say that it can not see how it
could have been done. The editor has
read the measure with great care, and
from the viewpoint of a critic, and he
finds himself unable to point out where
additional safeguards could have been
thrown in. We shall take occasion
later to give such publicity to all of the
provisions of the law rs will give to all
complete information as to the detailed
provisions of tie law, but the purpose
of the present article is to point out its
main features, and to commend the
measure as ono passed in the interest
of the Individual voter with purpose
to give him free and untrammeled eN-
preston of his preference. 1t differs
from an iron clad primary law only in
the matter of direct nominations aiid in
that respect-as the Argus-Leader has
many times poiuted ou.-this differ
ence is in the Judgment Of tliis nawspa-
per an Improvement.
All state conventions for nominating
state tickets are to be held on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in June;
judicial conventions are held on the
same day; county conventionsto choose
delegates for such are TO be held Oh the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in
May; and county conventions for the
nomination of a county ticket are fixed
for the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in September. The state con-
ventions must be called at least 60 days
before the time set, and at least 20 days
notice shall be given before county CON
ventions are held. Primaries for choos-
ing delegates to the county convention
which selects delegates to the state and
| judicial conventions are to be held on
Olic tIISU uSSIcy dlNcl UIlG ScCDlItl NlOlt.
day i'm May. and for choosing delegates
to the county convention to name "A
county ticket on the first Tuesday af
ter the second Monday in September.
So much for the dates
How are tho rights of the individual
voter safeguarded? We shall see. In
times past it has been charged that the
whole caucus was over in a few minutes.
| Under this law the polls are kept open
from 3 until $50 p. m.-long enough
wants to go. Ward leaders nave been
accused OF browbeating the timid voter.
Under this law the ballot is secret
Under the old system, it was claimed
that Il few selfseekers got together and
outlined the list of names. Under This
law amy voter can vote for any man
and any one not satisfied with the list
of names prepared, can secure blank
paper from the county auditor and
prepare list for himself. The ballot
boxes are prepared. One is waste
ballot box which is provided in the in
terest of secrecy. There is absolutely
no way in which another can learn how
the voter cast his ballot. 1t is the
Australian system of voting, and is sur
rounded by every safeguard. When {
party has once adopted ballot color
it has a copyright on that color and ut
other party can use it. This is in tht
interest of the uneduceted. A mar
can vote at the primaries if he is no
color blind and he can vote for whom
he pieases, and no one can tell now b,
voted.
Then comes the question of the count
This is made by precinct committe,
selected by the voters of the precinct
The one who receives the highest mum
ber of votes is chairman, and the on,
who receives the next highest is secre
tary. Thus in case of factional fights
both sides are represented on the can
cies, the voters have the power to fiji
these at the time of the beginning o.
the primaries. When the votes arr
counted. they are preserved. Let this
fact be noted. They are turned owe
to the chairman of the county commit
tee. In case Of contest, the ballot!
actually cast are to be turned over t,
the credentials committee and counted
by that committee, thus barring the
way to arbitrary exclusion from con
: ventions, by highhanded procedure
such as has sometimes been the cas-
.. everywhere.
The question of improper votin
seems to be properly cared for. Any
body can challenge an elector, and tn
, elector so challenged must subscribe t
an oath that he is qualified voter an