The Colorado statesman., 1924-01-12


stands thoroughly the ins and outs of
the statutes.
About the only thing that seemingly
Is known definitely by the friends Of
the candidates of both parties is that
II Is necessary before New Years day
to make official declaration of their
intentions to the authorities of the
state. One of the somewhat amusing
features of the case is that some or
the men who do not understand the
South Dakota law in its entirety are
lawyers who have made study of 1t
for some years.
Ihlngs are not quite as cloudy as
they were four years ago in the pri-
mary laws of South Dakota. If they
| were. then President Coolidge and
Senator Johnson would be compelled
TO go there in person, or by proxy, TO
ueDate some proposed subject before
the voters assembled in a sort of
state meeting at Pierre.
-Four years ago Gen. Leonard Wood
was compelled to make winter trip
to Pierre, S. D., to debate with Sen
ator Poindexter, who was a minority
candidate for the presidential nomina-
ton and who, through some curious
construction of the law was allowed
as memory has it, to appear not only
as his own champion, but as that of
Frank o. Lowden and of Hiram w.
Johnson. Senator Norbeck of South
Dakota tells me that the provision of
the law which requires the presiden-
tial candidates to debate some ques-
ton or other before the voters has
been repealed.
Why This Primary Is Important.
The primary in South Dakota has a
significance far beyond that which
comes to it from the number of dele
gates which the state sends to the ma
tional convention 1t is the first state
to hold a presidential primary and
therefore the victor in the case gets
the prestige which comes from first
success. Every effort, therefore, will
be made by the friends of the Presi-
dent and by the friends of Senator
Johnson to make good in South Da-
kota
Four years ago General Wood
clinched his primary victory in South
Dakota by the impression which he
made at the debate at Pierre. The
meeting at the state capital was
picturesque affair and it had a rather
dramatic ending.
Your correspondent was present at
the debating contest between Wood
and Poindexter The latter is a
trained parliamentarian and debater.
General Wood knew nothing about
parliamentary nor debating tactics,
but he won the day, or rather the
evening, through curious misunder-
standing on the part of Senator Poin-
dexter of the temper and the tempera-
ment of the audience.
The time was divided between the
two contestants. One led off and
talked for fifteen minutes and the 9th
er responded for a like time. Then
there were two ten-minute allotments
to give and take and then each had
five minutes to sum uD.
Woods Defeat or Poinoexter.
The trend of Senator PoindeXter's
address was against anything looking
like American participation in Euro
pean affairs General Wood was for
a League of Nations with the reserva-
tions which at that time had been put
forward by certain senate leaders. The
senator made the error of intimating
that America ought to keep out of
Europe in every way and what he said
sounded as if he was asking the peo
pie of South Dakota If they wanted
their money to go to feed people over
on the other side of the water.
Just at that time there was suffer
ing among the women and children
in the Far East. When the senator
had said his say General Wood went
to the platform front and addressing
the audience said:
"If the people of South Dakota are
willing to see women and children
starve to death when it is within the
means of America to save them, l dc
not want their votes in the presiden.
tial primary"
Then, so to speak, the roof went
off. The sentiment of the audience
seemingly was for Wood.
Senator Norbeck of South Dakota
who four years ago was for General
Wood for the presidential nomination
is today for Senator Hiram w. John.
son. The President, however, has sew
eral South Dakotans who hold official
positions as workers in his behalf
Running to Fires Dangerous.