The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1916-10-20
What Good Is The
Non-P artisan League?
Writer Shows 1t TOBe Worth.
less In. South Dakota.

In the October 9th issue of the
Sisseton Standard, appeared an
article by Mr.. w. R. DeArmet, set-
ting forth the program of the Non.
partisan League, which the farmers
of South Dakota are being asked to
Join at $l6 head. 1t is as follows:
Exemption of farm improvements
from taxation.
Rural Credit banks operated at
cost.
State terminal elevators, ware
houses, -four mills, stock wards,
packing houses, creame ries and
cold storage plants.
State hail insurance.
State inspection dockage and
grading of grain.
Deprive the legal legislature of
the power to repeal laws adopted
by the people.
1t should be clear that no one
should object to the formation of
this League in South Dakota if it
will subserve any useful purpose
and will secure any legislation
which will be of benefit to the peo-
pie of the state. Attention ought
to be directed to the fact, however,
that absolutely not one of the laws
mentioned can be secured thru the
action of the members of the Legis-
lature, the Governor, or any state
or county officer, because all but
one law, that providing for state
hail insurance, must be secured by
amendment to the constitution Nv
direct vote of the people themselves
and the state hail insurance law, if
enacted by the Legislature, would
of course, under the referendum,
be directly referred to the people,
and must be enacted by their vote.
In other words, the collection of
Sic head from the farmers to
elect a governor or legislature
might just as we'll be devoted to
the election of the King of Morro-
eco, SO far as it would effect any
law i'll South Dakota. As matter
of fact, there was submitted by the
Legislature of South Dakota at its
last session constitutional ame nd
IN e n t allowing the legisla
lature to pass laws exempting farm
improvements from taxation, and
providing for state system of rur-
alcredits, and if the farmers want
these laws, the only way they can
get them is to vote Yes on the
amendments without giving SIG
apiece to organizers for some other
purpose. With reference to the
third article on the program, state
terminal elevators, etc. 1t will be
necessary to submit constitutional
amendment to be passed upon by
the people, and if this is wanted,
past history has proved that it will
be necessary for the farmers to do
will be to ask the Legislature to
submit the question to the voters.
There has not beena year that at
the general election the citizens of
the state have not been allowed to
pass on from fifteen to twenty pro-
position, and this year alone we
understand there are twenty-five
different matters to be balloted up.
on. If state hail insurance is
wanted. all the farmers have to do
in this state is not to assess them.
selves $l6 head, but simply to
submit small petition to the Leg
islature asking for the submission
of the law. Everyone realizes that
thereshould be both state and fed.
eralinspection of grading and dock
age of grain, but every intelligent
man knows that the minute Con
gress passes law effecting the
question, the state law will have
practically no effect Senator Ster-
ling and Congressman Roval G.