Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1913-11-06
nssAsA. - ssrtaialy 49, Asnaaasai
Nv thA wnAeaA s ~

nssasl. 90 ssrsataly 49, Asnaaesa
by The psspie.
The new primary law snbstftutss nor
secret ALTERNATING and the blind grab
bag method an open. Intelligent rep-
rsssntatiye. ual procedure In propos-
ala OF public policies and candidates.
II retains the petition feature. or in-a
dependent idea. 1t also retains
rsssAtation and the opeH caucus, or
town-hall meeting idea In d fnitia-f
terry. at the same time 1t also retains,
tAs vital RFfncipie Of the primary cleo
ton law dca by preserving the direct
vets by secret ballot of the party mem-
bsrs upon principles and candidates
In their anal choice at the primary
election.
It 10 quite possible that the unlimit-
cd criticisms OF the new primary Law
as to enrolment mhy haye been based
upon lack of sufficient investigation
to recognize It's good features. This
may also prove true as to many Of its
other provisions and be fully realized
as we come In contact with the differ
emit phases and observe the results.
To register for the primary election
In no way ties the elector to vote that
party ticket at the tall election. at
which time all the party tickets are
printed on the same ballot. At the fall
election the eIector can vote q split
ticket; but he cannot vote two party
tickets at the primary election. and
never could in the past. The proposed
Coffey primary law also prohibits vot-
ing OF more han 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 c~ontemplates
a continuous legal party government.
as a sub-orEanization to the general
government, for an equitable ASSEMBLE
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 gener-
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 han any
personal interest. A primary law
which only determines who shall have
the Offices on mere personal prefer
ence is of no to the peo-
pie.
The extreme criticisms Of the details
of the new political organization law
for South Dakota, before 1t has been
tried, reminds one of the historic at
tacks directed against the details of
the federal constitution for several
wears after ,ts adontinn Nv ths hl,na
of that day. who attempted to secede
and nu1lify hat great essential. gen
eral political organization law in for
nation of the federal government be-
fore. Its fundamentals had been weigh-
r. e. M doubt +r,,s tbot . La.
10 ~ uouot Wy that ! makes
little difference what kind of a pri-
sno,is - $50 ~. 1870
opotts az 'ee = se y results
of the primary election; because the
tina. 49, ~ a. ~ ora,ia, naob,na
Times oul ol Yen the oihciai Ihachihe'
by use of spells, will be able to carry
49,.
organized people regafoless OF the
msr.. o. puote auss.,9hs. me new
$50
tine oihciai spoiis SO th5t they cannoe
be used, by amy individual or faction,
To organize the ,r,n.rx .lectfon Tar
aa1
any particular candidate or faction.
The new primary law, when consid-
ared from All ~stondnoints was anactad
SsS
ana passed SO mat the pubic In gen
eral would have an opportunity with
ont coarcine IN selact ana nom,nats
| ,DuDI1C Z. policies and cAnd1dateS.G and