The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-10-14


& The sample ballots with names, Of
candidates and also ballots for re-
ferred laws and amendments to the
|sconatitution are now in the hands of
the voters and should be carefully
studied by everyone 80 that they may
vote intalligently. If our system Of
direct legislation il to be success 9
we must abandon the previous GUS
tom that has so generally prevailed
9of either voting Eyes or voting
Mo- on all. The only safe way is
for the voter to inform himself so he
can vote on each measure according
to its merits Regarding the referred
laws, we believe the voter will not
Ego wrong in voting Yes on both. No.
II. is commonly referred to as the
Search and Seizure law but this is
misnomer. The objection common
ly raised to 1t is that it makes it il.
legal to keep quantities of intoxica-
ting liGuora in private homes: and it
is assumed that the officers may there
fore search private homes without
FIRST procuring search warrants, the
sane as though they were public pla-
ces. This 10 denied by the supporters
of the law, who cay that the search
and seizure laws would not be
changed by Its adoption. 1t would
simply give the authorities the right
to search private homes for intoxica-
ting liquors in the same way that
they may now search for stolen prop
erty.
No. 2 is the proposed primary law.
1t retains the direct primary vote for
nominating United States Senators,
Representatives in Congress, Cover
nor, and all county and legislative
officers. and electing delegates to con-
ventions where the candidates for
minor Offices would be chosen. This,
we believe would be big improve
ment over the present system. The
candidates to be chosen by popular
vote are candidates for Offices in home
districts where it is possible for the
voter to personally know the candi.
datee, and for officers 90 prominent
that their fitness is generally dis
cussed in conversation and through
the newspapers. The other candidates
are generally strangera to the voters,
and little is said of them, so the vo-
ter necessarily has to v,te blind.
Such candidates can be more wisely
chosen in q convention. 1t would cut
out much Of the red tape which has
proven to be not only expensive but
useless.
There are five proposed amend
ments.. Amendment A. would per"
NIT the legislature bv two. .thirds
vote, to fix the salaries of state Off
GERS. Most Of the salaries remain as
they were fixed when the constitution
was adopted thirty one years ago.
and are entirely inadequate under the
present scale Of prices. They are
not sufficient to attract our ablest
men whom we should have in ihoe e
Offices.
Amendment B would consolidate the
management: &C Gu: state institutions
under one head. From an economical
standpoint this would be decided
advantage. There might also be dis
advantages in that our educational
institutions require some qualifications
which would not be required for man
agement of our penal and charitable
institutions.
Amendment C would raise the limit
of bonded indebtedness of school
district from S per cent of the as.
sessed valuation to 10 per cent, for
the purpose of providing sites and
buildings for school and educational
purposes. 1t often happens. as it did
in Scotland when our school building
was erected, that a district can bond
for only q fraction of the cost. and
the balance must be made up bv the
issue of warrants which usually bear
a much higher rate of interest. and
are sometimes difficult to sell. Thi,
amendent. we believe is advisable.
Amendment D would empower the
state to furnish credit to assist people
to build homes in towns and cities.
The state now furnishes such credi'
to farmers to purchase and improve
their farms, and if the same advan'
tages are not extended to the urban
district, it is species OF class legis-
lation. : If the state is to lend it.
credit for such purposes to one class
we see no reason why it should no.