The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-03-03

rates. and habit.
HURON CONFERENCE NO. q.
So far as acts performed are con-
cerned. the progressive" republi-
can conference held at Huron last
week bears a close resemblance to
that of the "stalwarts',. The only
overt act was to pass resolutions.
But the reports indicate that as in
the case of the other conference, gen.
eral plans were pretty well made for
the campaign. The precedent estab-
lished by the "stalwarts" in not open
Ily selecting a slate of candidates was
also followed, but subsequent events
will likely disclose that, as with the
ssstalwarts' the ticket2was quite de-
initely determined.
TIE resolutions are probably the
most radical ever adopted by a meet
ing of republicans in South Dakota.
Perhaps the progressive nature of
thesresolutions passed by the stall
warts" spurred their rivals to their
best efforts. Among the new propos-
.als is that the we'll known practice
|of soliciting campaign contributions
from appointive officers be prohibits
ed by law; that the primary law shall
be amended toHproyide how all party
nominations to appointive officers
shall be made; that postmasters shall
be nominated by electors themselves;
that the practice of paying for men
and teams to haul voters to the polls
be prohibited; that the publication of
insurance statements in the news
papers Of the state should be arranged
eQuitably between the newspapers,
presumably without regard to their
politics; that the commissioners Of In
surance should be elected, instead of
appointed. These are decidedly
"RichardsesQue" It was because some
Of these measures were rejected by
the last legislature that r. o. Rich
ards. formerly very active in sup
port Of the 'progressives'. for a time
broke with them. Whether or not
Mr.. Richards and his propaganda
were adopted under the stress of
campaign necessity will be a matter
OF dispute between the factions
through the campaign.
"A direct slap at Congressman Mar
tin. who declared in his announce
ment for reelection that he would
not vote for theere-election Of Speak
er Cannon, is found in the Huron
resolutions. It is declared that it is
moo enough to oppose further tenure
of the speakers chair by Cannon, but
that congress should put in his stead
a man pledged to the support of
progressive principles" and that
there should be further revision of
the rules to make a repetition of
.Cannonism' impossible"
The people themselves need not be
disconnected by the rivalry in which
the two factions are engaging to OBJ
tain their support. Each side is en-
adeavoring to win favor by promising
better government. There is already
"a corrupt practice act on the South
Dakota statute books. but the resolu-
forth at Huron this week
promise to go a great deal farther.
Even the innocent-looking pretext of
hiring men and teams to bring vot-
ers TO the polls" which has often
served as a guise for the distribution
OF large sums just before election
day, Is attacked.
Mr.. Richards has advocated the
passage OF q law placing the nomina-
ltiaoon power in the hands Of a group
Iof private q citizens. such as is found
inhis primary league" but the
resolutions at Huron do not go SO
Tar. Il Is merely stated that by an
amendment to the primary law 1t is
tosbe determined how appointive Of
fcers shall be named; 1t is left to the
legislature to devise the method.
This is better than endorsing the
whole Richards proposal. Il Is SUBJ