The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-01-17
FUNK ON The PRIMARY
The Insurgents Set the Primary Plan
Aside to Select Candidates for
First Convention.

SIOUX CITY JOURNAL. ElCueI olOuX
Falls or Mitchell will he selected as
the place for holding tpe convention
of the republicans of south Dakota
to select delegates to attend the
national convention in Chtca9o Jnne
l6. according to an opirlon expressed
in Sioux City yesterday b, \. o.
Rinersud. of Elk Point, a nember
of the executive committed vi the
state central committee.
Mr.. Ringsrnd is one OF the Zig
chiefs ia the insurgent faction az
South Dakota republicans, ana lie
talked in the same way as did Ser
ator Gamble when he was in Sioux
City on his return to Washington.
ID. e.. from Yankton after the
holiday recess OF the nations law
"south Dakota was for Roosevelt,
first, last and all the time" MI.
Ringsrud said. cit now STANDS for
Roosevelt policies. The state is
friendly to Taft because it BELIEVES
Taft more nearly than u other
candidate represents those policies.
But as to whether the South Dakota
delegation will be instructed for Iaft
is another question. That will
DEPEND upon the way the insurgents
feel t'about it, because you a bet
your right eye the Insurgents will
control the convention"
Senator Gamble made a similar
statement In substance. He said
there was absolutely no question THAT
the state administration would con-
troll the convention.
Mr.. Ringsrud said State Chairman
Cook in a few DAYS would call a
meeting of the central committee to
be held soon. The time OF the con-
vention. Mr.. Ringsrud said, would
be the first Tuesday in April.
Delegates in this convention Will
be elected under the caucus plan in
same as in Iowa.
The closing paragraph of the above
! article is something of a surprise.
What! discard the great primary
system the very first opportunity
that the insurgents have had to show
their. great love for the Common
people" to step up and express their
personal choice in the selection of
delegates? but one Of the chief
lieutenants has spoken by the card.
He declares that the caucus system
will be used to select delegates to
the first convention Of the republican
party In this state. That means,
very evidently, that they are afraid
to trust the common people,"
afraid that they will come short
of their alleged strength should the
primary plan he turned w to the
people to express their choice.
And this is what is done TIC won
derful primary plan by the father of
it. One of the cardinal principles Of
the insurgent faction; one of the
features which they claimed that
"boss rule" would be plac d under
subsection; one OF the things which
they fought out in their campaign,
and was responsible for the success
of the insurgents as anything else:
the thing which Senator Gamble said
to defeat il possible. This is the
way in which they treat their youth
full offspring. Not give 1T u chance
to prove whether it is good or bad.
The people have been waiting anx-
iously to get action at the p imary,
but they are doomed to dis lppoint-
ment, for the insurgent bosses propose
to handle this delegate busine s to
suit themselves; they want a state
convention that they can handle
without any question.
Last year tile insurgents were just
tealiDg up the earth because the
primarywas not in vogue in this state,
and IL they we're given an oppor-
tunity they would see that a genuine
primary law was passed by the le.is-
lature. The legislature passed the
law sure enough, but now the insur-
gent machine leaders have declared
that the primary will not he given
a chance to prove Its good qualities
if 1T had any.