The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1921-02-10
STATE BALLOTS ON SECESSION
South Africans May Sever Connection
With British Empire

No less vital an issue than the So
cession Of an important state Of the
British empire by ballot arose in the
election Tuesday Of new legislative
assembly in the Union Of South AZ
rica. In England it is considered that
few more important elections have
taken place in . British dominion.
The election issue was whether
South Africa should continue its al
legiance to the king Of England as
one Of the self-governing dominions
Of the empire, or whether the South
Africa union shall set up % an inde-
pendent republic.
English sympathies naturally are
with the loyalist set Of South Africa.
Both sections are, however, admired
for their decision to settle differences
by the ballot rather than BY more
drastic means. -. 81.
At the headsto thu. sloyalist section
Of the South African population Zap
proximately 6,O00, 600 is General J. C.
SHUTS, former Boer general, now
prime minister of the union. Opposed
to him is General Hertzog, also . for
mer Boer military leader. r.
General SHUTS represents the large
British element Of the population and
that portion Of the Dutch population
which believes that the union formed
in 1909 is the solution of the political
problem. General Hertzog leads the
"irreconcilables," the exponents Of the
last cause Of the Beers.
In the general elections Of March,
1920, the Hertzog party obtained AZ
seats in the legislative assembly, thus
becoming numerically the largest par
ty. It was supported in its opposition
to the SHUTS government by labor
party Of 27.
Support by 40 members Of his own
party, Is unionists in test votes and
the occasional favor of three doubtful
members did not give sufficient
strength to. General SHUTS for sue
cessfully carrying out his administra-
tion.
An attempt was made by the prime
minister to join with the nationalists,
but the followers Of Hertzog held ten
aciously to the principle Of secession
from the British empire, thus making
them unacceptable to General SHUTS.
Failure at coalition was considered
further evidence Of the necessity to
appeal to the voters for definite set
tlement Of the independence question.
+ The result hinges on the success Of
the third or balance Of power party,
that Of labor. English political OBJ
servers expect small but working
majority for Gen. SHUTS. The labor
party returned 81 members to the leg
islature in the last election but it is
predicted that the representation is
likely to be cut down now.
Confusion Of issues has arisen as a
result Of the nationalists' inability to
agree upon the time Of the establish
ment Of the republic. Radicals insist
upon immediate cutting away from the
British empire while others make the
time indeterminate.
General Hertzog's opinion is said to
have been expressed in a speech when
he declared for South Africa's right
to secede from the British empire.
Despite the action Of the union, he ID
quoted as saying that South Africans
have the right to alter their constitu-
tion to gain independence. If the king
should refuse to alter the constitution
he would be approached again and
again and in the end the king would
be convinced that it was better to
have an Independent friend than de-
pendent enemy.