Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-21
Patriotic Progressive Proclamation.
The Republican State Primary League Issues Ringing
Address to the People of the State Calling Upon them
to Safeguard their Sacred Privileges.
TO THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS:

We desire to congratulate the peo-
pie of South Dakota upon the enact
ment of the state wide Primary Elec-
tion Law, passed by the present re-
publican administra tion, under the
leadership of Hon. Coe l. Crawford,
which law is soon to be set in practi-
Cal operation at the March primaries.
Those who took an active part in
the initial movement for the enact
ment of this law, thereby forcing the
iron hand of the railroad machine
from the control of party affairs in
this state, led by Senator A. b. Kit
tredge, and helped depose that party
boss and give to each voter in the par
ty the chance to say who shall be
nominated by the party as well as
elected by the party, know what hard
work and individual sacrifices have
been made in this long strenuous
fight to make this principle win out.
To those, who were opposed to this
principle, we serve notice that we will
defend the principle of the State
wide Primary Law and preserve the
initial principle of our American form
of government, ie.: To leave free
with the individual party voter, the
selection of candidates of the party
and thus realize the oft uttered state
ment, ga government for, of, and by
the people,
Dr.0 fo lo I'M RI m
less than Is per cent, of the voters of
the party nominated the candidates
for the party and the other S5 per
cent, delegated their votes away and
had no real choice in the selection OF
candidates of the party, therefore.
Be it Resolved, That the Republi-
can State Primary League, in meet
ing assembled, renews it's faith in the
fundamental American principle of
self-government, in purging the part
les Of the pernicious caucus and del
egate convention system, and giving
to each individual elector absolute
political freedom of choice of candi-
dates, in the selection of his repre-
sentative, under an orderly and hon
orable Primary Election, and make
such vote final at the primary ballot,
Resolved further, That we believe
that a better personal of officials and a
better form Of government can thus
be secured on an average, through
the primary system than through the
old caucus and convention system,
with it's unfair methods of paper con-
tests and unfair representation, upon
which the political boss has thrived.
Resolved further, That in answer
to the often suggested saving of ex.
pense of the cost of the primaries by
appointing delegates by the county
central committee to save the ex-
pense Of holding primary to let all
the people vote who desire to do SO.
We phatically declare against this
practice where there is division OF
sentiment as is the case in this state
at this time between the progressives
and reactionaries, and that we would
no more think Of abolishing our cir
cult and supreme courts for the sake
of saving to the state the expense OF
maintaining them than to violate the
intent of having the people vote and
preserving the purity of the ballot
and a square count, as that is the fu-
ture hope and progress of this nation.
Honor, virtue, and purity of the bal
lot can and should not be measured
in dollars and cents.
Resolved further, That if, after a
fair trial of the statewide primary
electionIaw, it should be proven that
further legislation is necessary in
some little detail to strengthan it's
provisions and it's honest workings,
that we ask the pledge of the candi
dates to the Legislature to cooperate
with us and the Progressive Republi
can element to that end, as we wish