The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-02-08
Feeble Attempt to Hedge

SSOAS <AsSSAAts AS~6
In referring to Attorney General
Halls opinion relative to the uncon-
stitutionality of the s.'honest(?) eau
cus' law, or that section setting forth
the qualifications of the voter, the Ar
gus-Leader admits that "It may be
unconstitutional to impose such a test.
We are inclined from a careful study
of the question that it is" But in
order to remove the sting the Argus
Leader attempts to apologize for the
legislative blunder by saying that If
the "honest(D caucus law tests un-
constitutional then the primary law
would also be unconstitutional. Will
the Argus Leader please explain why
it was that those who had a hand in
killing the primary law did not allow
that bill to pass and thus throw the
burden upon the trainers ofthe prlma-
ry law? Will the Argus-Leader please
explain why nothing was heard aoout
the imaginary unconstitutionality OF
the primary law when its passage was
being considered? Does the AL.
think it can at this time make its
readers believe that had such a loop
hole been discovered the machine
would not have tumbled all over itself
to make an expose of the defect? The
Argus-Leader thinks that ii past
affiliations are not to be considered
then a demand cannot be made OF the
voter regarding his intentions for the
future. What inconsistency. a voter
"a life long republican-may, have
voted the democratic ticket two years
ago because he did not like the atti-
tude of the republican party or was
not satisfied with the personnel OF the
ticket, or because he took exception to
some portion Of the platform which to
him was an all important one. Say
enough of this kind of voters had SO
voted as to have elected the entire
democratic ticket, but since that time
the republican party, seeing the error
of allowing certain persons or certain
principles to dominate the party policy
had been purged from its %unclean-
ness. These same voters, former re-
publicans, believing in the general
principles Of republicanism and avow-
ing that they intended to vote the re-
publican ticket this year, certainly
ought to have a voice in selecting the
nominees for whom they intendtO vote.
The success Of the party depends up
on the confidence the voter has in the
party doing in the future what it at
present agrees TO do if continued or Is
placed in power. If this be true OF
party the same consideration must be
given the individual voter who with
his fellow voters unite to further that
policy by nominating men whom they
believe will honestly perform the
duties imposed upon them and seethat
the future policy OF the party, as set
forth in the platform, receives their
careful and conscientious c%onsidera-
ton. 1t is because practical politi-
cians'' do not, after they are elected,
carry forward what at the time of their
nomination and election was the
future aim of the party, that makes
divisions in party lines and frequent
ly causes the dominant party to be
overthrown. 1t is because of the be-
trayal of that future trust in chosen
officials that there is a division in the
party ranks of the republican party in
South Dakota, North Dakota, Mime
sofa, Iowa, Wisconsin,, Ohio, New
York and other states. In politics we
have to constantly deal in futures and
the only relation the past has to the
future is when men, entrusted to work
for the peoples interest, have failed in
the past to perform their duty accord
ing to law or as a mans true conscience
would dictate: in the future he or they
ought to be shelved and the voters
the peOple-whom he or they BETRAYED
ought to have q voice in seeing that
the offender is punished for his miscon-
duct and dishonesty, whether it be
that he has stolen funds, warped legis-
Iation or deprived the people of their
Just rights in order to further himself
IN office.