Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1916-04-06
Conference Richards
Supporters Adopt !
Statewide Platform
Presidential Electors and Fun state
Ticket Agreed Upon at the
Meeting March 81.

Meeting March 81.
lMr. Richards, having called a meet
ing at Huron last week for the pur-
pose of considering the state situa-
ton, In view of the recent decision.
or the United States supreme court,
the proceedings OF the conference are
appended.)
Huron, S. D., March 31.-In re-
spouse to published call for a repub-
llcan state conference, a good repre-
sentation from over the state gath
cred at Huron Thursday. The follow
ing republican platform and candi-
dates were endorsed:
Republicans of South Dakota in
mass convention assembled affirm our
allegiance to the fundamental prin-
lc1nle that b supremacy of all gov
ernmental power rests in the people.
We accept the challenge of the Byrne-
Norbeck administration in its attack
upon h great principle of popular
representative government, in repeal
ing a law enacted by a direct vote
of the people and which the people
themselves refused to repeal; and we
pledge ourselves to defense of the
supremacy of the peoples rule
through the ballot box. We believe
it vital to peaceful republican form
of government that the peoples rule
shall be supreme! and that their YER
dict, by majority rule. at the polls,
shall stand until the people them
selves change the verdict by a direct
vote, whether such verdict pertains
to a constitutional amendment, a law
enacted under the initiative. or the
election of a public officer. We, there
fore, join issue with the state admin
~istration on it's public record in defy
ing the peoples supremacy.
1--WE solemnIy declare for peace
and point to the remedy through or
ganization for public welfare by the
adoption of better election laws which
will create intelligent discussion of
issues to give complete information
to the people before they vote, and
furnish an open, initiatory, education
ial process, in fulfillment of popular
Representative government to bring
Peace on earth to men Of good WILL
WAR is a remanence Of ignorance
and barbarism. AS an economic
waste, 1t is only necessary to point
to the fact that ~ per cent Of all rev
Ienues collected by the United States
government since the establishment
of this republic have been spent in
cause and effect of war. Militarism
is part of the spoils system and should
Igo as civilization advances. We,
therefore, most emphatically protest
against the aggressive democratic
war policy Of preparedness as a dan
Igerous political issue. We believe in
preparedness only as a defensive
measure, not as a dominating attitude
by interference in foreign wars, by
protection of private interests in
trade or travel in war zones.
I'VE favor abolition of the spOils
system and urge the adoption of the
merit system by intelligent o~rganiza.
ton through the ballot In place of by
the bullet. There a never be last:
ing peace until the people rule in
fact. We adopt, as our motto, for
the campaign Peace. Let the PEG
pie Rule"
The following persons were en-.
dorsed as candidates for nomination
in the republican primaries:
Presidential electors, Frank L
lMease, Madison; Hans /. O1ston
Lake Preston; w. s. Bowen, Huron;
wv. G. Lusk Yankton; James HALEY
Rapid City.
Congressman. G. n. Dillon, Yank
ton; J.. w. Parmley, Ipswich; o. b
Farnham. Newell.
For Governor. R. o. Richards, Hu
ron.
For Lieutenant Governor, r. 8. Ev
eritt, Redfleld.
For Secretary OF State. Frank M
Rood, Philip.
For Attorney General. Nelson P
Bromley, Redfeld.
For State Auditor. ]. e. Handlin
tSturgis.
For State Treasurer. D. D. Wipf
Parkston.
For Commissioners of School AM
Public Lands, Frank T. Jackson, Sal
EN-. asssT5T
For superintendent OF Public IN
struction, Mics Susie Bird. Bell,
Fourche.
We urge all republicans to registe
at once" says the concluding reso
luton, land all candidates for count,
and legislative Offices, to line up TO
the issue of the supremacy OF TIL,
peoples rule, and abolition OF tn,
Ispoils system, and to file nominatin,
petitions and organize In each an,
Ievery county in the state against tn,
machine candidates, that the issu
may be fairly and squarely tried"