The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-12-17
DECLINE TO NAME CANDIDATES

The sentiment of both the republi-
can and democratic parties of the state
in regard to the proposal provision OF
the primary law, which seeks to com
pei the state committees to select can
didates for the various appointive posi-
tions, are expressed in the resolutions
adopted by both committees declining
to make any endorsements at this
time. that of the democrats covering
only the n lone application which
was filed for an appointment to the
Lennon land office, and that of the
republicans in the following resolution,
which was presented by c. N. Herreid
of Brown and seconded by DR.. Lamb
of DAWSON:
Whereas; Our deliberations have
developed serious, conflicting interpre-
tation and opinions in this body re-
garding the provisions of the Richards
primary law; provisions which have
been before the supreme court result
ing in dissenting opinions; and
Whereas; There are several hun
dred official positions to be filled and
only thirteen applications on file, sew
eral of which are fog places which we
are informed and believe will not be
vacant for two, three, and even four
years; and
Whereas; Here are assembled rep
r~esentatives from only thirty-seven of
the sixty-three counties of the state;
and
Whereas; Among the thirteen ap-
p~licants for office. several of them are
to the members OF this body practi-
cally unknown, such members being at
this time unable to conscientiously
pass upon the qualifications and fit
ness of such applicants; and
Whereas; 1t is strenuously main
tanned by committeeman and lawyers
who have given these matters the
most careful consideration hat the
provisions of the law under which
these proceedings are held are in con-
fict with the provisions of the consti-
tuition, and that any recommendations
would be held to be null and void,
both by the president of the United
States and the governor of this state
Therefore, Resolved: That no re-
nam n1nnd atinnc for fhn rnacnnc afnra-
said. be made at this time"
This vas unanimously adopted by
the committeeman present, and was
followed by the next resolution pre-
scented by T. B. Roberts. which was:
Whereas; The statutes of this state
contain a primary election law, ON
monty known as The Richards Pri-
mary Law which was conceived in
the mind Of person (for what rea-
son and with what motive, other than
to crafty the insatiate longing of a
personal ambition, never having been
d~iscovered) and
Whereas; In attempting to carry
out its provisions it has been neces-
sary for public officers to resort to the
courts to ascertain its meaning, the
law as a whole being so complex that
the human mind cannot readily COM
prehend 1t, and it being so incompre-
hensible and untntelligible that voters
are obliged to seek information regard
Ing its purport; and the tendency of
the whole law being to mislead and
disrupt legitimate party organizations
by creating unnecessary factional
and
Whereas; BY its provisions the law
prevents the nan Of moderate means
from holding public office, and c
great public expense without
any corresponding benent being de-
rived,
BE 1t Resolved; That we recon-
mend the immediate repeal of the So
called Richards Primary Law from its
title to the repeating clause, inclusive,
and that a wholesome. comprehensive
sane and safe primary law be enacted
in lieu thereof"
After discussion in which many COM
thought that such a resolu-
ton was going beyond the purpose for
which the meeting was called by the
law. while at the same time giving the
their strongest endorsement
the resolution was withdrawn without
a vote being taken on the same.
The convention then adjourned to
the call of the chairman, who Is ex-
pected to- call the committee together