Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-30
BIGGEST BALLOT IN WORLD
South Dakota to Make Record at It's
Coming Election.
SPECIAL BOXES MADE TO HOLD IT
one Of the Fruits of the Referendum
in Practice f. shown By the
Gigantic Paper Ballot
TO he Used.

SIOUX FALLS, s. D., oct a.-Cspecial }
Inc voters OF South Dakota at the cleo
uon on November 8. will have submitted
70 them the longest ballot TO be voted in
any state In the union. This ballot will
be over seven feet In length, and will con
tain proposed laws which are submitted
70 the voters under the referendum TO
the state constitution
The elephRntne ballot viii be about
fourteen Inches In width, and will be filled
from top to bottom with closely printed
nonpareh type, one OF the proposed laws
alone filling more than two feet of the
ballot. Owing TO the gigantic size Of the
special ballot special ballot boxes have
had 70 be manufactured for all the larger
voting precincts in the state. These are
about az large as small trunks and after
the election is over will be useless for
ordinary elections In the future. II is sug-
gested that after election they might be
sold at public auction and untitled for
shirt waist boxes and window-seats.
County Option is Fine.
The first proposed law which appears
on the special ballot is that providing
Tor the county option method OF handling
the liquor question. This law Is being
stouty opposed by a considerable body
Of South Dakota voters South Dakota
ives once a prohibition state, and those
who resided in 1t at the time clearly re-
member that It was an era of blind
pigs" and general disregard of the pro-
hibitiOn clause in the state constitution.
The ''blind-pigs' were succeeded by saloons
run openly under the monthly fine sys-
tenn. Conditions we're deplorable, and at
the first opportunity the voters of the
state repealed the prohibition clause Of
the constitution and returned to the high
license system, which has since prevailed
County option is looked upon as the en-
tertng wedge to statewide prohibition, and
is being stoutly opposed by thousands OF
leading citizens Of the state, who in numer-
Gus communities have organized what they
term Home Rule leagues, whose motto is
to permit each community to manage its
own affairs County option was submitted
TO the voters of South Dakota two years
ago and was defeated. Those who are op-
posing county option predict that It will be
defeated at the election on November s by
larger majority than It was two years
ago.
Headlights for Locomotives.
Another proposed law requires railroad
companies having lines in South Dakota
to equip their locomotives with electric
headlights OF not less than l,5OO-candIe-
power, without the aid of a reflector. The
law provides that within four months from
the time of It's adopton-in the event thai
It is adopted-the railway companies must
equip all locomotives used in passenger
service with the required headlights The
State Board of Railroad commissioners IL
authorized and the law makes it it's duty
70 order headlights OF such candle-powei
as It deems necessary on all locomotives
a..
than passenger trains in the state Of South
Dakota, giving the railway companies g
reasonable time in which to comply with
the order. provided that such time shall
not exceed nine months after the order /,
made Needless to say. this proposed Law
Is being strongly opposed especially BY
engineers, who claim the electric headlights
are too brilliant and are confusing to train
men.
Other Proposed Laws.
Another proposed law gives the governor
power to remove county and local officials
who refuse or neglect to perform their
sworn duties.
Another IL an act to regulate the trans
portation OF dead bodies, and to provide
for examination and licensing of embalm.
ers.
Another proposed law provides for the
reorganization Of the State National Guar
along lines proposed by the national Wal
department.
one Of the most important of the pro.
posed laws provides for the division OF the
state into two congressional districts. Evei
since South Dakota was admitted as
state, congressman have been elected al
large without regard TO districts and this il
the fret time ~ has been attempted e
create regular congressional districts.
In addition TO the laws, several proposed
amendments to the state constitution WI
be submitted to the voters These amend.
ments will be submitted on a separate and
distinct ballot.
Amendments 60 Consultation.
One OF the proposed amendments pro
vides that state lands OF certain charac
ter shall be leased for pasturage, meadow
farming, the growing OF crops Of grair
and general agricultural purposes, and a.
public auction, after due notice has beer
given; and in case OF sale shall be Offered
In tracts not greater than one section. Tn,
law provides that all rents shall be pay
able annually In advance, and no term o.
lease shall exceed five years, nor shall
any lease be valid until It receives the ap
prevail Of the governor
AA9AueE amendment provides tnat tnt
salary Of the attorney general OF the stat,
OF South Dakota shall be fixed by the leg
islature at its biennial sessions During re
cent years the salary Of the attorney gen
eral, In the opinion OF many, has not beer
sufficient, owing to the fact that tn,
state has a number OF large suits ON han
involving passenger fares, express rates
etc. Tho attorney general receives, unde
the constitution, a salary OF but tl5OO pc
year. Efforts have been made In the pas
TO increase this, but without success.
the proposed amendment carries, the Les
islature will be able TO fix the salary @
the attorney general at q proper amount
WOman'a Suffrage.
one OF the most important OF the pro
posed amendments 10 designed to grant IN
right OF suffrage TO women. A hot fish
has been waged over this proposition
Early in the campaign the women who ar
pushing the project organized a state pres
bureau, ana have since been filling col
umna OF space in the South Dakota news
papers with arguments In support OF n
cause. Speakers also are visiting all part