The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-02-18
DICK L A

OF the hepuDlcan State m lea
que, i'll a letter to the members of
the organization, suggests a plan for
fixing a legal and equitable method of
starting reforms along party lines and
at the same time disposing OF party
endorsements for nominations to pub
lie Office, by the primary law, Mr..
Richards is Of the opinion that his
ideas should be made a part of the
primary law. He says in part:
Il have been trying for some time
TO get the republican leaders to agree
upon a fixed, honorable distribution OF
patronage, so as to treat all active
republicans fairly. | have the promise
of the support of some OF them 10 the
plan, others reluctantly hang back not
wishing to give up the accustomed in
dividual prerogative in dealing out pat
ronage, to the new party proposal of
selections, by a party executive com
mittee Of twelve, for approval TO the
individual appointiye power. Hence
this letter to ask you for your support
of the new idea as a member of the
republican party organization.
I'VE do not want a boss for all, CT
a portion of the patronage. This is a
government by parties and malorities,
and divine (%individua) right 10 rule
has no place in our institutions.
II am in favor of fixing an open,
honorable patronage distribution by
law, governing party endorsements, as
to who and how party organization en-
dorsemcnts, proposing appointments,
shall be dispensed. And, that a tech
meal and moral test be required OF the
appointee, the lack of which has been
a source of disturbance to cleaner poll
tics and better governments of more
than a century.
II favor a party state executive COM
mittee Of twelve men, to be elected
= the State Central committee, elected
by the people, by and from its mem
bers, and to include the party chair
man, the national committeeman, and,
if thought advisable, the party secre-
tary; and that this committee be elect
ed as soon as the primary law is
amended and becomes a law, and that
due regard, in the formation OF the
state executive committee of twelve,
be given both stalwart and progressive
republicans. | will explain 10 you
when / see you how his can be done
in a way satisfactory to hold our nat
ural party strength together.
This idea is also for the purpose OF
promoting the necessary good Will es-
sential to patience and order so as
to hold the majority of the total vote
cast at general elections within one
OF two parties, so as to avoil the form
liable growth of Il third party and a
possible plurality result at elections,
and thereby destruction of majority
rule.
There are only two sides TO any
question and there is only need OF two
parties for the present, to represent
u .ese two sides. Though each party
should have two primary organizations,
free and open to any individual to join,
exploit his views in the initiative, and
thus thresh out principals within the
parties at the primaries for final ac-
ceptance or rejection by all the people
at the general election. That is build
ng from the bottom up.
What We need first is a party
state executive committee of twelve,
which the new amended primary law
must provide for, with legally recOg-
nized authority over party endorse
ments, and representing both primary
organizations in the party, to- act as
a binder, in charge Of party endorse
ments. for patronage. thus hold the
party together and make it self-puri-
fying. The stagnant civil service sys-