Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1912-11-02
POLITICS MUCH MIXED
Both Parties Claim the State by q
Majority Of More Than
10000 Votes.

With only a brief period interyenin,
until election, South Dakota, SO far al
presidential electors are concerned, il
any body's State on President, If thu
claims of rival managers are to be con
| sidered.
| The Bull Moosers who are in contro
of the machinery of the Republican
party in the State, and who had five
Roosevelt men placed on the regular Re
publican ballot as electors, as election
approaches profess to be confident that
the Roosevelt electors will be elected
The supporters of President Taft and the
| La Toilette men of the State, who have
no electors in the field, are equally con.
fident that the Roosevelt electors will
be defeated, and that Woodrow Wilson
| will capture the five electors.
The Roosevelt supporters are count
ing on the heavy normal Republican
majority in South Dakota to carry their
electors through, they declaring that it
will be impossible for Taft and La Fol-
lstte'supporters to overcome this major
ity and throw the State to Wilson in Or
der to keep it from Roosevelt.
The whole outcome of the election on
pr esidential electors depends upon
whether Taft or La Toilette supporters
will vote for the Wilson electors in suf-
hcient number to overcome the heavy
normal Republican majority in the
State.
The best they can venture is that the
Roosevelt electors may sweep the State
by majority of 10000 or upward, while
the chances appear just as good for the
Wilson electors to carry the State by
anywhere from 5000 to 10000 majority
over the Roosevelt list. Most Of the
straw votes thus far taken in the State
appear to favor Wilson, and many dis
interested observers express the opinion
that South Dakota will elect the Wilson
electors. This possibility, it is perhaps
needless to say, is not conceded by the
supp orters of Roosevelt.
AT the election, November 9th, sew
eral proposed laws and amendments to
the State Constitution will he submitted
10 the voters of South Dakota under the
Referendum amendment to the State
Constitut ion.
A proposed amendment to the State
Constitution relates to taxation, and is
known as the tax amendment. The
presumed effect and intent of the pro-
posed amendment is to secure more
uniform system of taxation. having par
ticular reference to a more definite
handling of taxation in corporation af-
fairs. The measure is charged with be
ing aimed more particularly at express
companies doing business in the State,
and is meeting with a great deal of op-
position. Two years ago practically the
same proposed amendment was submit
ted to the voters of the State, and was
defeated by heavy majority. The op.
ponents of the measure believe it will
again be rejected by the voters in No
vember, while those favoring it are
equally confident it will be adopted.
An important proposed law is what is
known as the advanced Richards prim-
ary law, of which r. o. Richards, a
prominent resident of Huron, is the
framer. For some months Mr.. Richards
has been touring the State making ad-
dresses in support of his measure, and
apparently is confident that the propos-
ed law will be accepted by majority OF
the vot ers of the State as substitute for
the present primary election law, which
is in disfavor in many instances.
Next to the Richards primary election
law the proposed law which is attract.
ing the most attention on the part ofthe
headlight law. This provides that it
shall be the duty of every railroad cor
poration operating lines of railway in
South Dakota to equip all locomotives
being operated in road service in the
State with headlights of not less than
/ 800 candle power, measured without
the aid of reflector. Heavy penalties
are provided for violations of the law
should it 20 into effect. This proposed
law was submitted to the voters oi
South Dakota at the election two years
ago, when it was voted down by heavy
majority.