Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-02-25
PROGRESSIVE RECORD.


movement in South Dakota will be
awarded high praise.
The people of the state little realize
what giant strides good government
has made in South Dakota in the short
space of little over three years.
AT the time when the progressive
forces captured the state government
in 1905 there was no state in the union
where the political boss was more SUI
preme and dictatorial There was no
state in which legislation was more
completely under the control of rail
road and other corporate interests. In
those days it was the accepted thing
for the lobbyists of the corporations,
: by their alliance with the political
boss, to control the party platform as
to any expression which might effect
the interests of their clients, When
the Legislature met these same gentle
men were on hand at the state capitol.
They would organize the Legislature
by selecting the officers in whom they
were interested, and naming the men
who were to be appointed on the more
important committees. Under the
progressive movement this condition
has passed away. Complete fire, dom
frN,,, onry>prof ,,Hy,noa opl hDesirp,
now exists, both as to the formation
of party platform, the selection of of.
fcers and the control of legislation
The progressive movement in South
Dakota has made an enviable record
Under it the party has carried out it's
platform promises. 1t has enacted
more and better legislation than has
any other state in the same length of
time. The movement in this state
stands out conspicuously as one which
has kept faith with the people, and
one that has justified its existence by
its accomplishments. 1t was not one
of vain promises and no fulfllment.
Among the more important laws
which the progressive movement has
written on the statutes of this state
are:
A primary election law which gives
the people the power to nominate their
candidates from United States senator
down to county officers.
A corrupt practice act which pre-
scribes severe penalties for corrupt
ing, Or attempting to corrupt voters
An act prohibiting corporations
from making contributions for cam
paign purposes.
An anti.lobby law which prohibits
any representative of corporation, or
any other person whose financial in
teres's are affected thereby, to solicit
any member of the legislature to sup
port or oppose any bill pending be-
fore the legislature.
An anti pass law, one of the strong
est'in force in the United States
The passage of a two cent passenger
rate law.
The passage of a law requiring the
railway commission 10 ascertain the
physical valuation of all railroad
property in the state.
The requiring of the railroads to
make track connection at junction
points, and to make through joint
rates for earring freight in bulk lots.
Laws requiring railway companies
to pay double damages for livestock
killed by the company's negligence
when they refuse to settle within sixty
days and also for property destroyed
by fire started by the company's en-
gines, when the company refuses to
settle within sixty days.
A reciprocal demurrage act whereby
the railway companies are required
TO pay d images for every day they
fail to provide cars for a shipper or to
forward tn IN promptly.
Il feiipw servant law making com
inoa carriers responsible for accidents
to employees, caused by negligence of
other employees.
A joipt resolution memorializing
congress to call a constitutional con-
vention 10 amend the constitution so
as to elect United States senators by
a direct vote of the people.
A law placing upon railways the
burden of proof in &C ions based upon
orders of the railroad commission.