The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-05
THE EXTRA SESSION
ADMINISTRATION FORCES Will.
ATTEMPT no CONEINE IT TO
AMENDING PRIMARY LAW.

Aberdeen. Feb. 5.-The extra ses-
sion of the South Dakota legislature,
the first in the history of South Da-
kota, is the center Oh political %attrac-
tion in South Dakota just now. The
session was called by Gov. Byrne for
the purpose OF amending the existing
primary law by fixing an earlier date
for the state primary election than
June s., as provided in the existing
law. and undoubtedly the fun strength
Of the state administration will be
used to induce the Legislators 10 con-
fine their efforts TO this n matter,
and having amended the law making
an earlier primary election possible,
to adjourn. This effort on the part
of the state administration probably
will be successful for the reason that
the followers of the progressive wing
Of the party are expected to be for IT
to a man, and there is a probability
that a number of old time stalwart
republicans will join in the movement
to so limit the activities of the spe-
cial session.
But there is a possibility that
somebody will try TO spoil this pleas
ant program. There is a possibility.
for instance. that the state bankers
will try to amend the state guaranty
law. Good roads legislation. which
will permit state aid to highways eX-
tending across the state, is also being
urged ais necessary to the future pros.
perity Of the state. Advocates Of the
state aid to highways urge that i
the state would assist in the building
of a highway from the eastern par
Of the state to the Black Hills, am
another highway from the Black Hill
! northward to a connection with thu
| Yellowstone trail, running from Chi
| cago through northern South Dakoti
to Yellowstone park; and then SOM
: aid be extended to the Yellowston
/. trail itself. the resultant attraction 4
+. automobile travel would more tina
repay the cost. But to ecure stat
, aid for such projects a law authoriz
ing the state to do SO must be passed
And there are rumors that the pre-
! posed amendment to the state pr
mary law will not have smooth sal
ing. A prominent democrat in tn
{ section Of the state Is authority fo
!. the statement that the democrat
members Of the legislature may max
= a united and determined effort TO y
+ peal the existing primary law and q
act the so called "Coffey" primal
= law instead. 1t is sure the "Coffey
law was rejected once by the voter
but supporters contend its passage
II the extra session is likely to be Il.
\ held by the state supreme court, ar
they also contend that Richards fo
lowers in the legislature may 10
J. them in the plan to push the Go
II few" law through, should the FEEDER
- supreme court fail TO pass favorab
on Richards appeal. If the FEEDER
court should uphold Richards co
tention that a Legislature has no rig.
to repeal a law passed by the Poop
through the initiative, of course Il
whole extra session would be waste
and the primary election would ha'
10 be held i'm March. as provided
The Richards law.
III Is also among the p|ossibiltti
| that the primary law will be amen
ed. or that an attempt will be ma
to amend it, providing for a sta
convention for the nomination of d.
egates to the national conyentio
y leaving the date for the regular pl
IN mary election for the nomination
candidates for congress and state {
. fices as at present. Supporters OF I
: latter plan argue that inasmuch
- the June date was fixed at the 7
quest of farmers who declared
earlier date would prevent farme
taking part in the primary because
10 the rush of farm work, it would
IA unwise to fix the date for the regul
primary election at an earlier dai
~ and that the convention plan for
= lecting delegates would be the easie
II and most popular way out OF the
+" lemma.