Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-06-22
The Political Opportunity.

be well formulated and far reachsn.
in their significance.
1t is believed that a 'Ncomprehcn
siye and practical primary clee,tas
law" as provided for by the PLATFORM
will correct many Of the evils which
have crept into our political methods
and tend to establish hem a bet
ter basis.
Tariff modification may or may not
amount to much, accounting To The
latitude OF the sfriends" who do the
manipulating, but any modification
that shall lesson the cost OF building
materials will be Welcomed by the
people Of South Dakota.
The pertinence Of the planSs rela'
tive to the paSs giving and taking
practice Is too well understood &c
need extended comment Suffice II
TO say that all legitimate effort to
eliminate undue corporation influence
from affairs of state, whether nation
al or local, meets with the approval
o! the American.
We are not competent to say how
the election of senators by popular
vote would work out in this state.
The theory underlying the election
by direct vote is, that being more re-
mote from the influence OF their
constituents they are independent to
exercise the prerogatives of states
manship, thus forming a sort of bal
ance to the more representative
lower house. This theory has work.
ed out, In some respects, in a manner
not satisfactory to the masses.
The senate has been independent
enough of the people, but not enough
so of the big influences which have
put them into power. Hence the de-
mand that the senate also be brought
more directly into touch with the
masses Of the people. II the plank
of the present platform relating to
this subject is vitalized by the next
legislature the people of South Da-
kota will have a chance to try the
experiment for themselves.
Another matter which the Amer
lean is glad TO nave mentioned and
passed upon is the gathering Of cam
paign funds from the corporations
and the advisability of publishing
itemized statements Of all campaign
receipts and expenditures.
AS has been intimated before, the
platform is the embodiment of prin-
ciples for which there has been a
growing demand among the voters Of
the state.
While it is true that the campaign
has thus far, and will in the future
have more OF personal triumph for
those who have carried it to its
present success, and while it is in
evitable that personal ambitions will
have considerable qualification, it is
also true that the platform represents
far more than this: 1t is rather the
achievement which distinguishes
this particular convention from
others. AS the Sioux City Tribune
we'll says:
TT is to be seen at a glance that
the real price for which the reform
republicans Of South Dakota have
labored all these years, Is not Gam
BILE, not Crawford, not Hall nor Par
ker mol any Of the other estimable
nominees, but for the principles Of
the platform. In this declaration Of
a progressive political faith, not in
the nomination OF certain indi-
viduals, did the insurgents triumph.
Without this platform as their
achievement, all the struggle would
have been a mere conflict of personal
ambitions, q meaningless strife be-
tween men coveting Office. Only be-
cause Of this splendid platform OF
progress does the insurgent cause in
South Dakota acquire the dignity Of
self respect and the renown of respect
for others. And this is why the tri-
umphant delegates In the Sioux Falls
convention cheered themselves hoarse
over the platform for which they have
talked and labored SO long, in order
that they might have real govern
ment Of the people. They have now
made republicanism in South Dakota
mean something"
It seems to us that the political OPP
poT unity in South Dakota presents
itself along these lines to the nomi-
nees of the party: they must remem-
her that their mission is not merely
the satisfaction Of personal ambi-
tions, the pe~rpetuating Of the indivi-
dual career by machine practice, but
rather the embodiment and the
vitalization Of the great principles
contained In the platform. In this
way and In this way only can the
ideals once emphasized by Abraham
Lincoln: Government OF the people,
by the people and for the people,
be realized In this sturdy young COM
monwealth Of South Dakota.
The reappointment Of Hon. J. d.
Elliot to the position OF United
States attorney for this state on the
Presidents own initiative, carries
with 1t direct information to the old
machine that Senator Gamble IS to