The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-11-07
Analysis Of the Primary Law

can, at a glance. see and understand
just what principles the candidate, he
votes for, Is pledged to support. The
arrangement Of the new primary ballot
will no doubt tend toward majority
rule and ultimately preclude the neces.
sity Of more than two political parties
to shove forward new public policies;
because the. majority and minority
proposals will contend for issues, by
a popular majority vote, within the
party, which will make the party labor
and give birth to conservative policies.
Step by step every proposal submitted
to a popular vote will be held up in
the light of discussion and threshed
out in open debate; first within the
party primaries and determined by
majority vote; then again before all
the voters at the general election, be
tween two parties, which again gives
majority rule and is certain to pro-
duce sound results.
The foregoing provisions cover the
essential points pertaining to the max
ing and filing Of platforms and candi-
dates under the new primary law. The
issues are promptly joined during tine
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 0 busy and have
time t. listen and study public ques-
tions.
The reason that the new party law,
| as a whole. appears somewhat lengthy
is because Of the following party reg
uiations in addition to the regulations
OF the primary election: For in
nva <hr. 10 v- yNrNyi1nC TnN rnn~ncnn
tative-popular election OF all the rep
resentatives and officers of the regu-
lar party organization by a direct
vote at the primary; also for a pub
licity pamphlet which will give the
voters a straight printed statement OF
the issues and arguments by the can
didates; also for a conservative party
recall by jury trial; also for popular
endorsement of party candidates for
postmaster by primary elections In
which all resident electors vote after
the party members have first nominal
ed the candidates by petition; also
for a legal method Of party endorse
ment to other appointive POSITIONS:
also for a corrupt practice feature,
with penalties for willful violation 0.
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 final results will prove q great I'm
provement on any primary law that
has heretofore existed. While 1t may
be true that 1t 10 quite q radical de-
parture from the old law, the results
OF that law were such that q radical
departure from the old procedure vas
needed, and certainly was demanded
by the people.
The o primary law substitutes
for secret alternating and the bind
grab bar method IN OPEN. intelligent,
representative. dual procedure In pro.
pooals Of public policies and cahdi-
dates. Il retains the petition feature,
or Independent idea. Il also retains
representation and the open caucus,
or town-hall meeting. idea In the In
itiatory: at the same time It also re.
tajns tho vital principle Of the pr.
mary election law idea By p~reservinS
the direct vete BY secret ballot OF the
party memberss upon principles ana
candidates IN their dhal choice 1t tAt
primary election. -
Il II quite possible that the unlimit.
q criticisms Of the new primary law
- % enrolment may have been based
upon lack Of sufficient invostigation tn
recognize its good features. This
may also prove true ~ to many u Its
other provisions and b fully Realised
- we come IN contact with the d1&or.
0nt phases and observe the results.
To register for the primary electto0
IN no way ties the elector TO vote that
party ticket st the fall election. q
which Qme Al the party tickets Ayo
printed on tho same ballot. At tho fail
election the eleotor can vote . SPLIT
ticket: but No cannot vote Two party
tickets ~ tho primary election, ana
never could II the past. The propoe-
q Co6ey primary Law also prohibits
voting Of moro than one party ticket
at the primary. Il permits, however.
the party to b stabbed In the dark, ~
having AL ths party tickets on 49,
ballot.
The new primary Law contemplates
. continuous legal party governments,
- . sub-ofganiSati0n to the general
government, for an equitable assem-
bling process Of the state government,
through pol1tical parties. to create COM
petition and responsibility within the
party. which again becomes RESPONSE
bio for the conduct OF the general gov
eminent 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 pri-
mary law which only determines who
shall have the Offices on mere personal
preference is Of no consequence to the
people.
The extreme criticisms Of the de-
tails Of the new political organization
law for South Dakota, before It has
been tried, reminds one OF the historic
attacks directed against the details
OF the federal constitution for several
years. after it, adoption, by the blind
Of that day. who attempted to Sc