Republican farmer., 1919-11-28
Who Wants Delegates
 From South Dakota?
presidential Candidates Must File Claims Within Eighty 1our Weeks-Constitution Prevents General
 Direct Primaries Day

ntlcal parties who aspire to the
 presidency of the United States
 must make known their inten-
 tlons, if they desire to compete
 for the ten delegates to their
 respective national conventions
 from South Dakota.
 This probably will be news to
 most, if not all, of the candidates
 themselves, but the fact is that
 under the South Dakota presi-
 dential primary law candidates
 who desire to participate in the
 primary in that state must file
 their petitions not later than the
 first day of the new year
 While the South Dakota pri-
 mary which is fixed by law for
 March 23 is the third that will
 be held in the coming year the
 last day for filing petitions there
 is earlier than n any other
 state.
 The South Dakota law also is
 unique in that it requires candi-
 dates to file a personal declara-
 ton of principles and a state
 ment defining "the issue'' of the
 campaign :n not more than eight
 words. It is also provided in the
 South Dakota law that candidates
 for the presidency who seek
 the states endorsement in the
 primary must engage in at least
 one public debate in the state,
 either in person or by designat-
 ed representative.
 Many students of politics had
 expected that 1920 might witness general presidential preferen- tial primary race but this has been prevented by constitutional limitations which precluded the passage by Congress of a law ap- plicable to the whole country. When efforts to frame such na- tional legislation were made prior to the war it was discov- cred that a law fixing a common primary date would be impossible without the consent of all the state legislatures.
 Agreement by the forty eight states upon a common primary date was not considered prac- ticab1e without the submission of an amendment to the federal con- stitution which, many believe, would encroach upon the rights of the states to enact their own election laws.
 While for this reason no presi- denttal primary legislation has been proposed in Congress, some twenty-one of the states have, in one form or another, made pro- vision for choosing candidates for nominations in a popular manner. The majority of the states, however, still adhere to the old state convention sys- . -em of selecting delegates to the conventions.
 As the dates of these conven- tloRs in tWenty-six of the states are yet to be fixed by the state political committees of the re- spective parties, they do not 1gure in the public interest at his time. Only in Wyoming is he convention date fixed by law. n those states where primary tates are fixed by law, however, md in particular where, by en- breed petition or otherwise, pres- dential aspirants are required openly to declare their inten- ions, the interest will be great.
 The first state presidential primary will be held in New ori March next. AL hough there is no direct vote for presidential candidates in that tate in the primary, delegates nay file statements of preference, they so desire.
 The first really direct vote for candidates will occur North Dakota when the pri- nary is held. in that state on 1arch 16- These candidates may lave their names placed on the ballot through petition I not less than five hundred oters of their party. March 1 the last day upon which these editions may be filed The next rimary date is that of South Da- -ota heretofore referred to.
 On April 5 the Michigan pri- nary will be held. At least one undred qualified voters Of the tate must sign a candidates De- Itlon before twelve o'clock noon n March 1 in order that the andidate may participate in the rimary. Delegates to the na- onal convention are not se- 'ctei at this primary in Micht- an but at a state convention.
 The following day, April 6, lew. York and Wisconsin hold residential preference prima- es. Delegates are selected at le primary in New York but no reference is indicated on the Hbsllot. b4pT Wisconsin. oWeVer. at least one per cent. of le party electors in at least six 'unties, (not less than one per mt. nor more than ten per cent. the total vote in the state) ust file petition for the presi- sntial candidate not later than arch 6. The delegates are losen In the primary and can dates for delegate may file a atement of principles or presi- sntial choice, in not exceeding which will be print
 On the ballot.
 The Illinois primary comes 'Nt, on April IS, at which dele .tes from congressional dis tets to the National convention T be selected. Delegates at rge from the entire state of inois are named in a state con ntion held on May 10, when the eference indicated in the pre- eding presidential primary is pposed to be ratified Under g Illinois law petitions placing 3 name of the presidential can late on the primary ballot Ist be signed by not less than rec thousand nor more than five Jusa1d electors affiliated with : candidates party. The last y for filing these petitions is