The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-11-03
THE LAWS.
No. s.-The Militia Law.

No. 6.-The Militia Law.
A great deal of falsehood and al
great deal OF nonsense has been voic-
ed with reference to the military
which, is the fifth to appear on
the long ballot Of referred laws at
the coming election. In the first
place. 1t should be borne in mind that
It was because the late Freeman
a socialist, in common with
other socialists, was opposed to any
kind of an army, that this law was
referred to a vote. So small a per-
centage is now required for q refer
endum that a single man Of little in
fauence may, as in this case, cause the
state over 100000 of expense by
a vote. The military law
takes up four-ffths Of the space on
the big ballot and therefore it is re-
sponsible for a large majority Of the
big cost Of the referendum vote this
fall.
In the first place. it should be
borne in mind that this military law
IL not at all a new measure. It is
merely the present law rewritten.
with q number Of amendments. The
principal object of the measure is to
participation by South Dako-
Ia In the annual distribution Of $2,-
100000 among the national guards
Of the country. This states share Is
$4,000, but to obtain this amount,
1t is required that the organization,
drill, discipline and uniform Of the
state troops shall be the same as those
of the regular army.
Another point that must be borne
in mind for intelligent consideration
of this measure, Is that the constitu-
tion Of the state Of South Dakota
the state a member Of the state mill
tia. This provision reads:
The militia Of the state Of South
Dakota shall consist Of all able-bodi-
ed male citizens residing in the state.
between the ages OF eighteen and for
ty-fve years, except such persons as
now are or hereafter may be exempt
ed by the laws Of the United States
or OF this state"
Therefore those who are saying
that the law submitted to a vote Nov.
9Th makes every person in the state
makes every a%ble-bodied. citizen of
. member Of the militia, are uttering
the merest folly. for the reason that
the constitution adopted twenty-five
years ago does that very thing. II
no military Law whatever we're pass
cd by the state legislature, 1t would
still be true that every male citizen
could be called upon for military SER
vice. under the states constitution.
Instead Of adding to the numb Der who
can be pressed into military service
in the state, the proposed law actual
ly diminishes the number by increas-
ing the exemptions. The present law
exempts from military duty only
those persons exempted by the laws
of the United States. The proposed
law exempts from military duty. in
addition to those exempted by the
laws Of the United States, the follow
ing: The members Of any regularly
organized fire or police department,
judges and clerks Of court, registers
Of deeds, sherifs. county auditors,
county tr~easurers. ministers Of the
gospel, practicing physicians. super
%intendents and assistants in hospitals,
prisons or jails, conductors and en-
gineers Of railways. idiots. lunatics,
paupers, vagabonds, confirmed
durnkards and persons convicted #
infamous crimes. By defeating the
proposed law. the people Of the state
will make all Of the above named
classes subject to military duty.
Chpuncey Wood, the democratic
candidate for governor, for some In
explicable reason is opposing this
measure, and incorporating it and
misstating It's contents, as he does
with other proposed laws. He gives
as his main objection to the law that
lie authorizes the governor. when he
wishes, to call upon the county audi.
tors Of the counties VI the state. tc
send him a list Of all persons. resi-.
dents Of the county. between the
ages OF eighteen and torty-ive years
Who constitute the militia list. HI