The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-05-03
we ask your closest, thoughtful atten-
iton to the following:

VIC doh yOuf CiOSCSO, OiiOu6iIViui oOOSu.
iton to the following:
First What is the basic principle
of our form of government? Answer:
the ballot. Why? Answer: because
all source of power is the will of the
people expressed by the ballot. Hence
to preserve the purity of the ballot
and the independence of the voter
from improper influence is all import
ant in the maintenance Of our form Of
government. Thus has arisen the al
with which this right has been pro-
tected by constitutions and laws in u
republic. So far the simplest-minded
reader cannot be confused.
Second-Whenever one party largely
predominates the election is merely
the ratification Of a prior act. What
Is that prior act? Answer: the build
ing OF the ticket and the making of
the platform at the convention of
representatives selected by the voters
Tor that purpose at the caucus or pri-
mary. 1t follows, therefore, in shap-
ing results that the source of power to
control is at the point where repre-
sentativeS are selected to complete
tickets and announce platforms. 1t Is
only in this initial act by which re-
representatives. are selected that the in
dlVldual has opportunity to assert a
Judgment and to shape final results.
1T follows that the caucus or the pri-
mary is more vital than the election.
This is the only point from the begin
ming to the end where the individual
voter exercises a potential force in the
government.
The above is trite and has been pre-
sented over and over again to arouse
the voter to SO see the Importance of
this scarce of all political power as to
lead him to be sure to attend the eau
Gus or the primary and to be sure that
at that point he exercises Ills individ-
ual independence and judgment and
thus secure the aim of the republican
form of government in leaving all
power WITH the people. You easily
see from the above that laws, customs
and conduct surrounding the caucus
or primary are of first Importance ex-
ceeding even the Importance of laws
relating simply to the elections which
are so frequently but Publications of
prior acts.
Before presenting our next idea We
PROFOUND to each reader a few simple
questions as follows, to-wit:
tfrst-Was the independence mani
tested by a hundred thousand voters
in Minnesota at the last general e)ec-
ton a source for American pride or
shame?
SccOnd-Was the giving of Folk of
Missouri majority of thirty thousand
and the defeat of the machine balance
Of the Democratic ticket by eighteen
thousand a matter of pride or shame?
Third-WaS the defeat of the ma
chine in Ohio, in Philadelphia. in
Pennsylvania and in many other parts
Of our nation, which could only have
been accomplished by an independence
from party fealty or dictatIon, a mat
ter for American pride or shame?
tourth-DO you believe that the
Independence OF the American voter
by which he puts public welfare above
party success a matter of pride or
shame?
If you answer the above by saying
by ali means l am proud of my cOun-
trymen for their independence of
thought n action then by our two
| limos of reasoning ypa hn va ranobol opo
and the same conclusion, to-wit: that
at the caucus or primary, which is the
primal source OF power, the law gov
erning this source should aim to pro-
tect and encourage independence and
should surround the caucus or prima-
ry with every possible safeguard of
law to preserve its purity and integri-
ty. The above principles have led 80
states to adopt a primary law. What
do you suppose led the South Dakota
machine" TO oppose the submission
OF a primary law to a vote of the peo-
pie and do you commend or condemn
Governor Elrod for lending himself to
the machine by practically recomo
mending that the petition of the peo--
pie be ignored?
We do not here enter into any dis
cuSSion of cOnStitutionality or wheth-
or Il caucus or primary law is best;
but are distinctively aiming to show
that which ever law we have should
protect the freedom of the voter and
especially aim to maintain this primal
source of political power unvitiated
and in absolute purity.
With the foregoing in mind, listen
to the following statement of facts
concerning the caucus law which our
legislators gave us at the last session
of the South Dakota legislature, to
appease, after having violated their
oaths of office and violated the consti-
tion by their refusal to submit to the
Judgment of the people the question
of whether they wanted aprimary law
or not.
Every voter who has a pride in our
form OF government and realizes that
me has as large an integral part of the
same as though he were a Rockefeller
- nA-.1A.N o,,l