The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-03-10
Caucus Bill Passed

Argus Leader: Both houses have
passed, by a practically unanimous
| vote, the honest caucus bill which has
been put forward as the legislatures
| substitute for the rejected primary
measure. The bill will of course be
promptly signed by the governor who
declared for it in his message. There
will be many in the state who will be
diss atisfied with the action of the
Legislature in rejecting the primary
petition. but for all practical pur-
poses the honest caucus law will C
complish what the average voter de-
sires and at much less expense, and
with infinitely less confusion. In the
Judgment of the Argus-Leader, the
new measure will work we'll, and the
people who have been seeking a
chance to express themselves at eau
cuses unhampered by the m%anipula-
ton of ward managers, will here
after have that opportunity, if they
have not had it in the past.
The new contains the n
es essential to an honest Sc
cret ballot. 1t provides that party
caucuses shall be held Simultaneous
ly, and in every possible way improp-
err voting is protected against. Citi-
zens who have really desired to take
part in party affairs, and who have
not done so because they felt that no
chance was given them to give free
expression to their wishes can no
longer make this claim. Ii IN the
future they continue to remain away
from the party caucus, and to allow
a few self appointed managers to run
things, they will have no one to blame
but themselves, and if they have not
enterprise enough to attend ~caucuses,
they ought to have fairness enough to
goodnaturedly accept the outcome.
The average citizen is a queer prop
osition. He knows that the caucus is
the place where policies are deter
mined and the fate of aspiring AN
didates decided, and that those who
control the caucus are those who con-
troll the destinies of city, county, state
and nation. The caucus is the key
to the whole situation. The citizen in
question understands this, and still
he will allow any little social or bus
ness engagement to interfere with his
presence at a caucus though he would
ride a hundred miles to vote on cleo
ton day. He will stay away from the
caucus and them complain at what the
CAUCUS uOoS. LIZ Will Edll dU uIlc way
the caucus is managed, but he will
not be present to see to it hat they
are managed in a different way.
The new law will bring it's best re-
suit in stimulating attendance at the
caucus. Every party voter is given
a chance to freely express himself.
The caucus will be conducted under
| the Australian system of voting, the
| ballots to be printed on paper sup
piled by the county auditor. We can
think of no safe guards which could
have been provided which are omitted
from the present measure. 1t is a
fair, comprehensive, and feasible eau
Gus law, giving every man an equal
chance, and removing every objec'
tion which citizens have heretofore
urged as reasons why they were not
oftener seen at the party caucus. Ii
these good citizens shall still continue
to fail to attend the caucus, they will
not find sympathetic listeners when
they indulge in diatribes about the
corruption of politics, and the low
standard of men selected as candi-
dates for public Office. In other
] words, the voters have things entire
ly in their own hands, and If they
shall continue to neglect their civic
duty, the blame and the responsibility
must rest entirely with them.