The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-03-24
SENATOR URDAHL
REPLIES TO CRITICISM OF THE
DICK RICHARDS PRESS BU-
REAU ON THE LATE
LEGISLATURE.

Madison, S. D., March 70, 1871
To the Editor: / have before me q
copy of the Huron Huronlte for
March IL, and have read with con-
siderable interest and amusement
the sweet tempered letter of /. III.
Jones of Huron on the action of the
south Dakota legislature In repeating
the Richards primary law. Having
been a member OF that Legislature
and chairman of the senate commit
tee on elections, which committee,
jointly with the house committee,
were TO a large extent responsible
for the legislation complained of, l
feel it 10 be a privilege, III not a duty,
to explain the action OF u last leg
islature and set the public right in
reference 10 a few misleading state
ments In Jones article.
Personally / have known Jones for
the last few years, and have learned
to like him in many ways. lie Is yet
a comparatively young man, of a very
amiable appearance. He is keen and
capable and has had a long and a
thorough training in politics. For a
number of years he was n or the
leading spirits of the republican stall
wart faction OF our state and took a
leading part in it's preprimary meet
ings or conventions. During the last
twelve months he has joined the Dick
Richards regime and today he is
Dick Richards chief standard bearer.
| am giving this little personal sketch
that the people may draw their own
aanoI.,usnng au IN hnuy for Mr. InnpG
has become the champion of the
rights of the people, or IL he is only
acting as the advance agent TO pro-
mote Rick Richards political for
tune.
AS to the duties of the legislature,
wish to call attention to the state
platform of the republican party. on
which the governor and all OF the re-
publican members Of II legislature
were elected. Sec. l of the said plat
form reads as follows: I'VE favor
the return TO a direct vote for the
nomination of all county. state and
national elective officers and the re-
peal al the earliest possible moment
of the present cumbersome. expensive
and unintelligible so called Richards
primary law. which practically re-
stored the old caucus and convention
system"
This platform was on the first
Monday in January. 1914, adopted by
the majority republican state COM
mittee, in accordance with Sec. 81 OF
the Richards primary law. and under
the provision OF the same primary
law, became the state platform of the
republican party in the November
election. This platform was endorsed
by the people of our state at the
March primaries. and again at the
November election. BY that endorse
ment, the people of u state directed
our governor and the members of our
legislature to carry out its provisions.
What choice did these Outraged
people" leave the legislature in the
matter? The people had already
twice spoken and the governor and
the members Of the legislature had
twice promised. Yet these members
of the legislature are branded as lin
famous and 'brazen" criminals be
cause the legislature refused to re
pudiate a sacred contract made witt
II people at tue potlS.
Mr.. Jones is successfully engaged
; In the automobile business and hi
opinion on constitutional law shoult
have considerable weight. However
before the legislature undertook u
J repeal the Richards primary law. thu
constitutional question was taken al
: and carefully considered by the join
| committee. From the various opin
| ions and authorities the committee
[ was able to obtain. there cannot be
shadow OF doubt as to the right o
j the people, acting through its repre-
2 ~sentatives in the legislature to amen'
> or repeal any law adopted by a direc
: vote. If the people have not thi
: power. ii will be well for them +
l know II before any more freakisl
legislation Is placed upon u statut
D books in the same manner.
: Mr.. Jones states that when he wa
! at Pierre in the month of January
$ he heard no mention OF the repeal o
the Richards primary law, but tina
n all members OF the senate with WHOM
n he spoke were In favor OF amendin
: It.. Is IL possible that Mr.. Jone
SlOutu 80 SOOH S"aJ =
connection with the report OF my ar
pointment as chairman OF the senat
committee on election. 1t was state
S in several newspapers of our stat
that the matter OF repeating tn
Q Richards primary law would com
y before this committee. Even befor
& the time of my appointment, Senate
Ziebach, the democratic senator fror
Buffalo, one of the ablest and mos
conscientious men who ever serve
& our state, and myself had taken vi
e with other senators and members Q
the house, the plan of reenacting tn
e old primary law. When Mr. Jone
G approached me on this subject, o
his frst visit to the legislature. ! toll
him that ! was unalterably In favo
d of repeating the Richards primary la
b at that session OF the Legislature
d Never once during the whole teri
9 did / hear a member of the house Q
the senate suggest that 1t b