The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-10-10
JUDGE WRITINGS VIEWS

Charles S. Whiting, one or the
Judges of the South Dakota Supreme
Court has sent out to the papers OF
the state the following statement of
why he favors the new suffrage
amendment to the state constitution:
have been asked why | am in IA
vor OF the provisions of Amendment
E."
| am in favor of equal suffrage (a)
because without it WI cannot have a
democracy-a government Of the peo-
pie; (b) because, while fifty or one
hundred years ago it mattered little
whether we had a truly representa-
tive electorate under our present so
cial and industrial conditions, we
need to look upon and determine mat
ters of governmental policy from
every possible view-point-certainly
that of the female member Of socie-
ty as well as the male. In other
Il. words, / favor %entrusting the ballot
to women because we need their aid,
and should impose upon them the
duty OF giving such aid in the only
way in which it can be made effec-
tive; (c), because equal suffrage has
worked satisfactorily wherever tried,
as indicated by its rapid spread and
by the further fact that there is, in
no state or country having equal suf-
frage, any movement to revert to male
suffrage only; (d), because. like pro-
hibition, there is nothing that can be
said against it; its opposition rests
either upon MISREPRESENTATION, or else
upon q belief-which few possessing
will concede-that the female is In
reality a being inferior to the male
and to be treated as such.
I am in favor Of non but citizens
voting because, inasmuch as the SUI
preme power under our form of gov
eminent rests wholly in the electo-
rate, the exercise of such power or
any person who is not a full citizen
Of such country and as such owing
an undivided allegiance thereto. A
declaration by q man of his intention
to become a citizen of this country,
neither makes him such citizen, nor
requires him to swear allegiance to
this country, nor requires him to re-
nounce allegiance to the country of
which he has been a subject--he re-
mains an alien owing allegiance to
some foreign country until he is fully
naturalized in accordance with the
laws controlling that subject. With
in this state, we have today hundreds,
yes perhaps thousands, of alien en-
emies-men owing allegiance to our
PEELED to fight our battles, men some
Of whom are subjects to be placed in
retention camps because they are not
only "alien enemies" but because they
are "pro-German" in their %sympathies;
and yet these men have a right to
cast their votes and it may be, in GER
tain cases to he the deciding vote in
choosing a "pro-German" for political
Office. Few perhaps realize that to-
day, because of his right to vote, the
rankest pro-German "alien enemy"
who chances to have taken out his
d~eclaratiory statement, is qualified to
hold any executive state Office in this
state, except that of governor or lieu
tenant governor. any executive coun-
try Office except states attorney and
any city or township office. A pro-
German "alien enemy may be attor-
ney general, sheriff. constable, Judge
OF a municipal court. justice of the
peace, police OF city justice, or mayor
of.e city. The situation. il 1t does not
IN fact exist. II can be terminated by
the adoption of Amendment e. The
vast majority Of our aliens. not "en-
amy aliens" can take out their final
papers before the general election Of
1890. That alien who IL not patriotic
enough to be willing to lose the right
- vote ct the local elections held be-
tween this fall and the fall Of 1920.
= order that the existing evil be cor
rected. il not possessed Of sufficient
as to make Of him = safe
I ~ "a favor Of the extension OF
aeriodG u residence IN state. county
snd preclnct. a.. because the periods
now required ~ not suincisns n