The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-11-06

ity proposals will contend for issues.
by a popular majority vote, within the
party which will maze the party labor
and give birth to conservative policies.
Step by step every proposal submitted
to a popular vote will be held I'D in
the light of discussion and threshed
out in open debate; first within the
party primaries and determined by
majority vote; then again before ali
the voters at the general election, be-
tween two parties, which again gives
majority rule and is certain to produce
sound results.
The foregoing provisions cover the
essential points pertaining to the maxi
ing and filing Of platforms and candi-
dates under the new primary law. The
issues are promptly Joined during the
first days of January, when the cam
paign starts, and lasts only 80 DAYS:
and during a time Of the year when
the people are not busy and have time
to listen and study public questions.
The reason that the new party law.
as a whole, appears somewhat lengthy
is because of the following party regu-
lations in addition to the regulations
of the primary election: For instance.
the law provides for representative
popular election of all the representa-
tives and officers of the regular partv
organization by a direct vote at the
primary; also for a publicity pamph-
let which will give the voters a
straight printed statement of the
issues and arguments by the candi.
dates; also for a conservative party re-
call by jury trial: also for popular en-
dorsement of party candidates for post
master by primary election in which
all resident electors vote after the
party members have first nominated
the candidates by petition; also for a
legal method of party endorsement to
other appointive POSITIONS; also for a
corrupt practice feature with penalties
for willful violation of the law. All
these party regulations add to the
length of the law. That part of the
law pertaining to primary election
alone is shorter than the old primary
law, or the proposed Coffey primary
law. The new primary law, generally
speaking, was n that was needed by
the people Of this state, and in fnal
ICouitS III PioNC q SlcdL improvement
on any primary law that has hereto
fore existed. While it may be true
that 1t is quite a radical departure
from the old law, the results Of that
law were such that a radical departure
from the old procedure was needed,
and certainly vas demanded by the
people.
The new primary law substitutes
for secret slate-making and the blind
grab bag method an open, intelligent,
representative, dual procedure in pro-
posals OF public policies and candi-
dates. 1t retains the petition feature,
or independent idea. 1t also retains
representation and the open caucus,
or town-hall meeting idea in the in
itiatory; at the same time it also re-
tains the vital principle of the primary
election law idea by preserving the
direct vote by secret ballot of the
party members upon principles and
candidates IN their final choice at the
primary election.
1t Is quite possible that the unlimit-
ed criticisms of the new primary law
as to enrolment may have been based
upon lack of sufficient investigation to
recognize it's good features. This may
also prove true rs to many Of it's other
provisions and be fully realized as we
come in contact with the different
phases and observe the results.
To register for the primary election
in no way ties the elector to vote that
party ticket at the fall election, at
which time all the party tickets are
printed On the same ballot. At the fall
election the elector can vote a split
ticket; but he cannot vote two party
tickets at the primary election, and
never could in the past. The propos-
ed Coffee primary law also prohibits
voting OF more than one party ticket
at the primary. 1t permits, however,
the party to be stabbed in the dark,
by having all the party tickets on one
ballot.
The new primary law contemplates
a continuous legal party government,
as a sub-organization to the general
government, for an equitable assembl-
ing process of the state government,
through political parties, to create
competition and responsibility within
the party, which again becomes re-
sponsible for the conduct Of the genef.
al government to the people as a
whole.
United States government was dedi-
Gated to public policies in pursuit of
equal opportunity to all; not to Office
seeking. Principle is greater than
man. Public interests are greater
than any personal interest. A primary
law which only determines who shall
have the offices on mere personal pre-
ference is of no consequence to the
people.
The extreme criticisms Of the details
OF the new political organization law
for South Dakota, before it has been
tried, reminds one Of the historic at
tacks directed against the details of
the federal constitution for several
years, after its adoption, by the blind
OF that day, who attempted to secede
and nullify that great essential, gen.
eral political organization law in for
nation Of the federal government be-
fore its fundamentals had been weigh
ed and tested by time and experience.
1t is no doubt true that it makes lit
tie difference what kind OF a primary
law Is enacted II the official spoils are
used to influence the results OF the
primary election; because the carrion
attracts the vultures. Nine times out
OF ten the official machine, by use of