The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-02
LEAGUE REPLIES
TO ITS DEFAME;Rs
BRANDS ANTI PRIMARY Law
WORKERS AS ssCoWARDs.
Charges Them with Lobbying to Estop
the Legislature from Doing It's Sworn
Duty by Submitting Proposed Law to
the Voters-Integrity Of the Petit
tions Affirmed.
sYsal to The Journal.

svst nj to The Journal
Huron, S. D., Feb 2.-Editorial comments in
several papers following the presentation OF me
petitions asking the legislature to submit to pop
ular vote the proposed primary election law,
engendered some feeling upon the part OF many
advocates and supporters ofthe proposltlon' anu
to give some idea of the sentiment of the Repub-
lican State Primary league the following letter
has been sent to every member of the leslsia-
ture: .<s '..-a..
.We wish to call your attention to the 1nclosed
editorial from the Sioux City Journal and the
clipping from the Aberdeen News appearing In
the Journal under date of JAM IA, and IN the
same connection to call also your attention 10
section q, article 8, page q, political code, re-
yised codes, 1903, which reads: Every person
who is qualified elector may sign petition 10
propose measure or submit law, ana any per.
son signing any name other than MS own 10 sa1u
petition, or any person signing such petition VINO
is not qualified elector Of this state, snsl,
upon conviction thereof, be fined In any sum not
to exceed $500, or may be imprisoned IN the
state penitentiary for term not to exceed nVe
years, and the court may, In its discretion IN
pose both such fine and imprisonment.
as it likely that in the face of such statute
as this the State Primary league would be 80
foolish to attempt to impose fictitious pet1-
ton upon the legislature? We insist that the Pc
tition which is on file in the office of the secre-
tary of state be examined. The full text OF the
law was at head of every petition circulated In
each case and is filed with the name of the man
who caused 1t to be circulated These signatures
were nearly all secured during the thirty Gays
preceding the beginning OF Cne 6eSsAoA VI ine
legislature. Not one cent was paid for sigma
ture; all that was paid was given to compen-
safe the man who circulated the petition IN
case he was not able financially to contribute his
time for nothing. In many cases the men who
circulated the petitions charged nothing' ana
even paid their own incidental expenses and
| brought the petitions from surrounding counties
to the headquarters here, paying their own rail-
| road fare and hotel bills.
| 1.-THE petition and signatures speak eloquently
| in their own behalf and have all the earmarks
of honesty. The suggestions in the editorials
| referred to can mean only one thing, and that Il
| that the men who fear to trust the people with
the decision Of whether not they want this pri-
1 mary law are paving the way for an excuse be-
fore the people for a most fragrant and brazen
defiance Of the constitution Of the state. They
are seeking by their absolutely false suggestions
and unwarranted assumptions to get an
entering wedge between the perform.
ance Of plain duty lawfully invoked by the
people under the constitution Of the state ano
the legislature chosen and sworn to support that
constitution. They fear to trust the people.
IF this law proposed is unwtse and not
demanded why should they fear to have it sub
mitted? Cannot the good sense of the voters
of the state be trusted? This is not a question
individuals shall hold the Offices. 1t is ques
ton Of sustaining plain and solemn proVls
ion in the constitution which you have solemnlJ
sworn to support, and Of recognizing the right
which has been reserved to the people them
selves. It is not time for bubbles, nor eva
sions nor falsehood. The men who are stealth
fully and slyly encouraging the legislature t.
turn deaf ear to this petition are coward
pure and simple. They fear the people in fall
and open discussion Of this question upon IT.
merits. They fear that should the. primary be
come a law they would not be abel to continue
in office, and rather than 50 out they will encour
iage spirit Of treason.
''This is strong language, but It IL the truth
They hope to induce this legislature to violat
its solemn duty to the people of the state. The.
know it will incense the people, but expect t
heal the breach by pretent1ous service during tn
next two years and by raising other Issues t
lead the public mind away from this outrage
should It be permitted. in the hope that 1t vii
| be forgotten In time We ask you to note how
ever, that the men who believe in the sconst1tu
ton Of this state are not all office seekers no
time servers. ...-, ..
1.-The issue made by filing this petition canno
be brushed away. It will stay. We believe TIL
you that there Is only one course open, an
that is to obey the plain provision Of the higf
est law.
IF the constitution is ignored In this CASE
you will have to assume your part of the r.
sponsibility for it. If any man has violate
petition, we offer here and now to furnish a
the assistance in our power to convict him {
the crime. We assert that the petition We
honestly circulated and the signatures to 1t al
genuine. There are far more names, and goo
genuine names, too, Of citizens and electors (
this state than the law requires. They cou
not be deceived because in every case the pr
posed law was at the head OF the petition circ
lated. We stand ready to prove this beyond
question Of doubt. We await your respectf
4 consideration Of the petition and law, with i
terest, believing that you will perform your pla
duty in this matter and submit the law to Il
people at the next general election, ~ the 10
Directs"