The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-01-12

or more candidates, one should be sue
cessful if he receives the highest number
of votes cast for any one candidate. and
not less than ons-third Of the total vote
cast for all the candidates for the same
office in the primary of his party. care
fully drawn law covering the above points
will answer the objection that there VIII
be too many candidates and that the sue
cessful candidate may not have SUM-
Client Endorsement to entitle him TO the
nomination and provision therein pro-
viding for a convention to take part In
making the party platform and to make
nominations in cases where no candidate
has received a third of the total vote,
will prevent disintergration and decrease
In party interest.
As to voters Of an opposition party as
sisting in making nominations and after
wards voting against the nominees:
Each party should have its separate
for a ballot, he should be required to
name In a distinct and audible tone of
voice, the pol,dcal party of which he is
a member. Each party should be requir-
ed to furnish official challengers, and in
case Of q challenge, the voter should be
required to make oath that since prior to
the last general election he has, in good
faith, been a member Of such a party and
a believer in It's principles, and that he
intend in good faith to support the
candidates nominated by 1t at the prim-
penalties should be imposed for the pun
ishment Of members Of one political party
who vote or attempt to vote the primary
ticket OF another. With proper safeguards
of this kind, there will be less voting OF
this character at the direct primaries than
there Is now at party caucuSes.
AS to the objection that In making nomi-
nations for county offices, the country will
be denied fair representation:
County nominations by direct primary
until the caucus law of two years ago was
enacted had been voluntarily adopted by
the dominant party and maintained in
Hughes, Hyde, Beadle and Codington
counties for years. Several times the ques-
ton was submitted to the voters in one
more Of these counties whether they
should not abolish the primary and re-
turn to the convention In every such
case, a decided majority was In favor of
retaining the primary. The law, however,
can easily contain a provision giving to
each county the option to decide by a pop
ular vote whether candidates for county
offices should be nominated in such coun-
ty where the large towns are disposed to
take more than their share of the offices
under the direct primary, should that ever
be the case, the option to suspend the APP
plication OF the law in that county as to
county nominations and to make such
nominations by convention the delegates
to the same being elected by vote at the
primary election. All of these objections
go to some matter Of detail which legis-
lation can obviate. No objection to the
fundamental principle involved IN the
primary will stand for q single moment
The duty is upon you, gentlemen, with all
the light and assistance you can get, to
formulate and enact practical and com
prehensive primary election law. 1t
should be made effective by an emergency
clause, because It's enactment has been
demanded from authoritative sources with
out conditions. Nearly 5000 OF your con-
sutuents petitioned for its enactment and
submission two years ago. Its enemies
were opposed to submission then. This
year every political organization in the
state by Overwhelming majorities I'm par
fv IONS hax a fcal lx
In favor not Of the enactment and sub
mission Of the law, but In favor Of the en-
actment OF the law. Its enemies who two
years ago opposed its submission may now
attempt to defeat It's enactment with an
emergency clause on the plausible claim
that the right to invoke the referendum
should not be barred by such a clause.
Enemies Of the referendum two years
ago may now-if they receive encourage
ment-pose as Its most Jealous defenders
Under the cloak OF pretense, however, will
be found enmity on their part to the pro-
posed law and desire to defeat the de-
mands made In party platforms by delay
and covert opposition. You were commits
stoned not to enact primary and allow
its enemies to suspend It's effect for two
years, but to enact a primary and make
it at once a live and effective statute.
If time shall prove that 1t IL defective,
It can be amended; or II experience with
ton and caucus system Is better Il can
be repealed. Our duty is plain. We must
in good faith execute our commission
which is clear and uneQuivocal.
Public Accounting for Campaign Funds.
The corrupt use Of money to influence
voters and to carry elections is danger
which attacks the very foundation OF rep
resentative government. When assess
ments are made and money collected for
the purpose of carrying on political cam
paigns, the public welfare Is involved in
It's expenditure
If il is used to buy votes, make bets upon
results, pay for whisky and treats, and de-