The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-10-30

had not been approved by the non
representative, self-constituted ma,
chine OF one Or the other Of these.
The results of the old primary law
were so unsatisfactory both to the in
dependent candidate, as well as to the
public, as to not be insisted upon any
further by the thinking people as a
practical nominating method. Under
the present primary law, there will be
no fixed factional labels within the
party; because as the minority be.
comes the majority, its name and posi-
ton on the priary ballot is automatical,
ly transferred, from one faction to the
other, as one defeats the other, there
by creating a safe, legal, progressive
nominating system.
In considering the present primary
law, 1t must be borne in mind that the
primary election is out a party cleo
ton, or an organization election,
where each political party does bust,
ness for itself to prepare its own plat
form and candidates for the fall cleo
ton, The primary election is there
fore purely several separate party
elections held on the same date, at the
same time and place, and 1t Is intend
ed that the voters in one party should
have no voice in the primary Of any
other party. Considered broadly along
these lines, the law will not be found
complicated or incomprehensible, but
can be easily understood by any per-
son who will take the trouble to
read Ii.
The first step under the law Is the
enrolment OF the voters to establish
their party affiliation, as provided In
Article 2. Each elector simply signs
the register as a voter In some one Of
the political parties in the enrolment
book with the municipal or township
clerk. This then entities the elector
to vote at the primary or party cleo
ton OF that party; but unless he is en-
rolled, he cannot vote. There Is no
provision for a voter to swear in his
vote. II he could, there would be no
need OF having the enrolment at all.
II a voter does not wish to take part
In any election, he, OF course, need not
register for the primary election.
The next step under the law is Sec
ton SO which provides for the ma
jority faction and the minority faction
In each party to call a mass meeting,
separately, at the court house In each
county, at 2 o'clock, p. M. on the first
Tuesday, (the second day. OF Deem
Der, 1913. Each faction Of the party
can hold a separate December ma ss
meeting and each faction by majority
vote OF the members present, can elect
one proposal committeeman for each
precinct in the county to represent
that faction OF the party at the county
proposal meeting at 1 o'clock, D. m.
on the first Wednesday (the 7th day.
OF January, 1914. At the December
mass meeting there can also be elected
one state proposal committeeman to
represent each faction of the party for
the state proposal meeting to be held
in the Capitol building at Pierre at 10
O'Clock a. m, on the nrst Monday (the
9Th day. Of January, 1914. After this
year there will be no more mass meet
ings held, as the proposal committee
men will be elected by a direct vote of
the people at each primar.- election to
serve, In the initiatory meetings, for
the next primary election. II Ia there.
for necessary to give the new primary
law two trials to determine its value
In results.
The next step Is the state proposal
meetings held in the Capitol building
at Pierre at 10 o'clock a. m, on the
first Monday (the 9Th day) OF January,
1914. The minority faction Of each
party meets in the senate chamber,
the majority faction in the house
chamber, and are assigned separate
committee rooms where each faction
openly and publicly proposes candi-
dates and platforms, which are signed
by the candidates and filed with the
secretary Of state and recorded and
printed In the state publicity pamph-
let, which Is mailed to every voter.
After the state meetings, the mex,
step Is the county meetings, on the
first Wednesday (the 7th day. Of Jam
uary, 1914, at the court house in each
county seat and are conducted in the
same manner as the state proposal
meetings, except that the filings of the
proposals are made with the county
auditor.
Persons not satisfied with the plat
forms and candidates of the minority
or majority faction car, within II days
after the proposal meetings, have any
candidate they wish, placed upon the
party ballot and who will run inde-
pendent. OF any faction, In the first col
umn on the primary ballot, by fling a
petition. signed by two per cent Of the
party voters, with the secretary of
state. for state ofices, or with the
county auditor for county oflces. Then
all the proposed platforms and candi.