Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-06-03
The Richards Law
AS Viewed by Many
Warm tiers

the repeal by the last Legislature of
the Richards primary law. which was
enacted by a direct vote of the people
two years ago under the initiative
and referendum will be a leading is
sue of the approaching campaign in
South Dakota, is indicated by recent
developments. In addition to the
supporters of the Richards primary,
there is every reason to believe that
at least one independent republican
candidat for nomination to the office
of governor will make campaign is
Il o fthe repeal by the legislature
Of a law enacted by the people.
The views OF The supporters Of the
Richards primary law and Of the law
which was enacted by the legisla-
ture as a substitute are thus set forth
law:
What Primary Law Should Be.
"In my opinion the value of a pri-
mary law depends upon its intelli-
gent beginning. II must provide for
clear-cut division within the par
ty, so that We may have a lineup for
and against any public question I'M
der consideration: otherwise there is
ho'lllS 10 Que iol' me pupllc poi'-
cleS must De Supllll''eu 10 me people
aS epreS"hla,i' s'"'e-"iue propos
AIS WIN Il lnii 'lthel Oh h~aillonlouS
cahdida'eS 10 OBTAIN co"'rol OF me
state goverl'lnrhl 70 carr! out 'he
~ceSs puh'lc pollcE'
, me issue must De olScussed open
~ and the necessary nus
be gwen the people from the plat.
form as we'll as by literature II
newspaper puDliclty. "A pam uni
form pallo' De turnlShed over
me state :" ina me people may vote
lntelllgen'!E. A dlrect vote OF the
people. cast bllndly, without discus
SION OF me issue ana without person.
al kho"icnSe OF state Il congress-
lonal caho'dalcS' or without represent
tatlVe guarantee as TO their charac,
Yer ana ahlii'y' ana on a confused
ballot encourages ignorant acllon ana
IS worse IMAM useless as d primary
law.
Objections to Norbeck Measure.
.Tbo No,hool nr;mor, Low, u,;o,>
was enacted as a substitute for the
Richards measure, has no intelligent
beginning. 1t makes persons, instead
of principles. the issue. 1t is a dis.
organization law. 1t fails to provide
for statewide minority resistance, as
a check on the official machine OF
the moi spirit. 1t destroys the bene
fit of representation in the initiatory
1t retains the spoils system and its
secret mach'he IL repeals the post
at rt ".oi
lu1eu Ia ~ .cih;I;.. anus
10Y II nn1v Droriaas fon ;ndonnnd
n ~ o,did H4S ~ nn,i,ion ron,p,ina
;n nynnnsiro Gnht hn,woor oandi
H. - nrooniitotoc ~ noora oontoa,
oa' a1itioa sor oTon :. u,1.os
Va p.or.;n;an - a;,o ~ ,ooaaa ~
~. 80 nno ~ oroonizo+;on +,
J.. go nooton nor6d, thon th,t oon,mit
I'D ~. ,ha s,ato DECENTRALIZATION ~,
,on. Hhioh don;od Q eoA oiti1ons tbair
n na.oi n;nhr v,Son ~ sr.,
:N!,:n.ua piah r IT,, -. uoti.inn.
ni,.ia,eu - nn", ao,;oa 20 Soo eitiaons
,an' oLo;u oosati,n
Wy eA'.teu ~. -
'Follal rlshls' ~ - al a.'eh'p' "
repeal a LAY" adopted by a dlrect Vote
or the people,, ana TO force upon the
people a law they nave twice rejected
at the polls. 1t IS an attempt to de
tstroy responsible party government
and open representative proposals
The Norbeck law stands as a monu'
ment of anarchy in defiance of the
state constitution
What Richards Law viii Do.
"Tbo so-called Richards urinary
law on the other hand has an intel
fgent beginning. It, provides for
open minority anu majority repre-
aeli'"1iun no,n tne p:opie' - cIe
s'es d ulIislon Wi'nin me palty
iol plllclple' II cleais up 'ne spoiis
S!sceh'' IL encourage maturity RUE
~ FOCUSES tHe palalnouht ISSUE iol
~uiscuSSloh' II gives 'ne people 'he
ne|'s9dis lhiol ''ion pcloie .hes
,o,r' IT. furnishes d pIail' UNIFORM
p"i'o' me s'd'e. II pro.
'lue9 loI open leauel>hlP' ins'eau Vi
" Sc'lct niacllnG. II 'nsleloIe pl!eI2
cSl"'iTipil'S IT ploliue' y ISM
VI 'll"liehse anu oiuelly uep''es oh
ne paramount ISSUE oe'"eeh .ne
lt'ue's d ~cahuiuatea loi soteiio!
l!eS!uellt. ~ eliolreo WN'ouiI'
nOill'E ny 1uolclal pai.y Juis uiai
IL prN'Ides lol l~iuePellueh' eoiu
u"''S' as an a~l'elha..e, 70 give ny
WOES, possible opportunity loI ilol-
'loua1 lnlaallVe' ~ - an ehat Is
heeuea as a practlcal PRIMARY la"'
anu 'ne stdle auiliiiliolla tion ~
!! elleu when a'toliP'eu
II VIII sulely plouuoe Il Wv
SlIed results III Organization lol pun
TIC welfare II given d lair trlai'