Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-09-09
STATE POLITICS
Republicans of the State are Confident
Attorney Opposes the Five
Sixths jury Law.

Sioux Falls, S. d., Sept Now that
the threatened railway strike has been
averted, it is expected that the residents
of South Dakota can devote some of their
attention to politics and make study of
the various matters which will come be-
fore the voters of tho state for adjust
ment at the election in November, and
in addition make their selection of the
men whom they wish to have charge Of
state affairs during the coming two
years.
The democrats evidently are prepar-
ing to make hard fight in an effort to
capture South Dakota for Wilson, it be
ing announced that before the close of
their campaign, they will bring at least
three of their speakers of national repu-
tation into South Dakota for the pur-
pose of advancing the interests of Presi-
dent Wilson. These speakers, as
announced, will be Vice President
Marshall, Postmaster General Bureson
anu DCIdlOi OlllC bdAhNo VI hthlOCh1s
three of the heavyweight democratic
spelbinders.
However, the republican leaders of
South Dakota do not fear this invasion
of democratic speakers, being confident
that South Dakota will be solidly for
Hughes at the November election. The
fon nT n.I
publcans are solidly united upon the
state and national tickets of their party,
and it is asserted will at the Novemo Der
election give their loyal support to
Hughes, the republican nominees for
congress and other offices and to Peter
Norbeck, republican nominee for gov
ernor, and the remainder of the men
associated with Mr. Norbeck on the re-
publican state ticket
Recently Mr. Norbeck has addressed
several gatherings of old settlers and
others in different parts of the state and
reports from disinterested sources show
be made a good impression upon voters
who had not previously heard him
speak and that as the result Of prelim-
mary work he has gained additional
strength among the voters of the state.
Those in close touch with the politi-
cal situation in South Dakota continue
to predict the election Of Peter Norbeck
and the remainder Of the republican
state ticket by plurality of not less than
25,000.
1t is said in behalf Of Mr. Norbeck
that he is one of the most effective cam
paigners in South Dakota is a level
headed business man and when elected
governor will give the state the same
sort of business administration that has
won him success in his private business.
Opposes Flve-sixths Jury Law.
Opponents of what is known as the
five-sixths jury law, which will be sub
mtted to the voters Of South Dakota at
the November election, take comfort
from a recent statement made by How
ard Babcock, a prominent attorney Of
Sisseton, in opposition to the proposed
law. 1t is said that practically all of the
attorneys of South Dakota take some
what the same view as Attorney Bah
cock and believe the law would prove
unsatisfactory and would notaccomplish
what was expected of it. The statement
of Mr. Babcock, which is made for the
consideration of the voters of South Da-
kots, is as follows
81 have practiced law in South Dakota
for twenty four years and in that time
have tried about one thousand jury cases,
and in only one of those cases would the
five-sixths jury law have made any diff
ference in the result. That case would
have been settled to the advantage of
my client if five.sixths jury law had
been in force, but that result would have
been obtained at the expense of lessen
ing the delberation required of the
juries in the other nine hundred and
ninety-nine cases.
"The present jury system has been
built up after the composite experience
of English speaking judges and people
for centuries. The requirement that
verdicts be unanimous imposes upon the
jury the necessity of giving each case tn e
most careful consideration possible to
be required. One of the chief purposes
Of courts and lawsuits is that all parties
concerned be satisfied, and that both
litigants and their friends accept the de-
termination of law suit as being sub
stantial justice.
"A unanimous verdict necessarily
conduces to the opinion with both lit
CANT and the public that the decision
must be right because twelve men bad
agreed on it. The same decision will
not be as conclusive in general if mere
majority verdict is substituted for a
unanimous verdict"
Hnpoapaan met with a sariOuo