The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-10-08
SHORT BALLOTS NEED LONG
STUDY.

1t has been correctly stated by some-
kota this year is to have special honor.
For the voters of the state are to be
real law makers No less than eight
constitutional amendments are to be ac-
cepte or rejected by them. Also three
acts passed by the last legislature have
been referred to the people for ratifica-
ton or rejection. Also proposition
relating to the calling of a state consti-
tutional convention. All these ques-
tions-twelve in number-will be sub
mitted for consideration on three sepa-
rate election ballots. The wording of
| the several measures would require
large sheets of paper, oulky and awk-
| ward for handling SO it has been de-
cided by the state authorities to confine
their submission to an identifying
number and abbreviated title. In some
cases this condensation will be easily
comprehended by the average citizen
and he will experience no trouble in
being able to vote intelligently. In
other cases he may have more difficulty
lin arriving at a satisfactory conclusion.
Take, for instance, Proposition No.
Three: The only information afforded
on the ballot as to the merit or demert
on the measure is til S brief but eX-
tremely blind statement-"An Act,
Entitled An Act to Amend Section
L &c ~ ,J;+ ln ,>ff
State of South Dakota, Relating to
| Education. Shall the above measure
become law of this state? Yes No.n
That is all the voter has to guide him
he had best dispose of this question.
| Now, in this specific case, the average,
practical, patriotic and public-spirited
| person would reason presumptiveIy
something like this: Why, this meas
ure must be in the interest of education
| and certainly l favor anything that
will advance educational interests
But, IN fact the proposition is not de-
| signed to further or strengthen educa-
tional work of the state, but rather the
reverse-to weaken it. The proposition
| if carried, will result in practical
duplication of our State University
| the creation and maintenance of two
Estate Universities where one exists,
now, and fol the adequate support OF
which the state has found it uphill
w rk to accomplish, though each sue
ceeding year progress IN this respect is
being reported We are happy to say.
! The proposition to amend Section
605Iof the political code is simply an
effort on the part of some of the people
Of Aberdeen to convert their Normal
and Industrial Training School into
another State University, dividing
honors and expense of equipment and
| maintenance with the state University
long ago located at Nermillion and
which alone is fully ample in all re-
spects fer properly caring for the needs
of every youthful student in our state
desirous of obtaining the highest educa-
tional training and development poss
ible. 1t must, therefore, become OBJ
|
duplication of University work in our
comparatively sparsely settled state
land no other state in the Uniot,, not
even the largest, has yet found it feas-
ible to luxuriate in two universities
supported at public expense) would
| tend to weaken and confuse instead of
strengthen and correlate our present
state school system.
There was strong opposition in the
legislature to the passage Of the act,
but the Brown county delegation, sup
plemented by powerful lobby, forced
its passage. Immediately after its
passage, however, prompt and effective
means were taken for suspending its
operation until it was referred to the
tax paying people of the state for their
final approval.
1t is confidently believed that
when once the people Of the state un-
derstand the full and consequentialim inn
! port of the proposed anlendment-in-
creased taxes and duplicating oul
established college work-they will
: promptly and decisively stamp out the
scheme with their vetoing vote. There
should be no duplication of State Uni
, yersluy work or of State Agricultural
College work or Of State School O
Mines work in any Normal School; lei
these latter schools remain confined tt
, their legitimate function, which is lhe
training of persons for instructors il
the grade schools. Rep