CHAPTER XVI.

Parties, Politics and Elections.

373. PARTIES

A political party, as an organization, is a body of citizens who have in general the same beliefs as to what principles of government are best suited to the state or nation and to the times. The election, which is conducted under the supervision of the state, and in which any voter may take part, determines which party shall come into power and put its political principles into operation.

At the time the Constitution was before the thirteen states for ratification those who favored its adoption were known as Federalists, while those opposed were known as Anti-Federalists. Following the adoption of the Constitution questions began to arise as to how it should be interpreted. One class of citizens felt that the nation was permitted to do only such things as it had express authority in the constitution for doing. These were known as close constructionists, and through many changes of name this class has now come to be known as the Democratic party. Others believed that the nation was sovereign and could do anything which it was not by its constitution expressly prohibited from doing. These were known as loose constructionists, and are known as Republicans. Recent developments in political parties has had a tendency to make the above statement regarding the Democratic and Re

publican parties true only from a historical standpoint. It is scarcely possible to tell now whether either can properly be classed as a close construction party. Any group of citizens may advocate principles and form political parties, such as has been done in the case of the Socialist, Populist, Prohibition, Progressives and Woman's Rights parties, whose principles are not founded upon a method of interpretation of the constitution.

The principles governing or advocated by a party, as such, are usually developed as national issues, and as state officials have little, if anything, to do with these national issues, they are not really material in a state campaign, except as they effect the election of Senators and Congressmen.

Nevertheless, it is usual to maintain party organizations in all state and county elections, and to nominate all candidates as representatives of some party.

374. POLITICS

Politics in its broadest sense in the science of government and is almost a synonym for civics. In the sense in which it is most commonly used it refers to the conduct of political matters so as to carry elections and secure public office. It is also used to represent party intrigue, political wire-pulling and trickery.

375. PLATFORMS

Each party has what is known as a platform, which is simply a set of resolutions, adopted at the party's convention. Each resolution usually deals with a single subject

and is called a plank of the platform. It is customary for each county party convention to adopt a platform; later each state party convention adopts a platform, and every four years, at the time the candidates for President and Vice President are nominated, each national party convention adopts a platform. The latter is usually considered the official platform of the party and the two former are given small consideration in comparison, except, of course, as staté platforms may deal with important and vital state issues.

376. PARTY MACHINERY

There is a national committee consisting of one or more men from each state, which committee is organized, and, through its chairman, secretary, treasurer and executive or advisory committee, carries forward the national campaign for the election of its candidates for President and Vice President. Following the election, the committee as a whole is not active but each member, for his state or district is constantly looking out for the party's interest and is, if in the dominant party, endeavoring to see that men are appointed to office who are honest and effiicient, and whose appointment will strengthen the party. This same kind of an organization is repeated in the state and again in the county. Owing to what is known as direct primary nominations, both for state and county officers, the efficiency of the old party organization is somewhat weakened, and, at least in theory, the mass of the people rather than a few party leaders, dictate

what shall be the policy of the party and who shall be selected as state and county officers. A party organization is essential to the life of a party, but such organizations have been considerably modified in South Dakota and a few other states by recent legislation, in that the nominating convention has been abandoned and the party candidates are now nominated by primary elections.

377. PRIMARY

ELECTIONS

By a primary, we mean an election to determine what individuals within each party

may become the official candidates of the party for an office. Formerly the county candidates were selected by conventions made up of delegates selected at meetings called caucuses held in each voting precinct, and state candidates were selected by conventions made up of delegates selected by county conventions. Now the state and county conventions confine their work to making platforms. Under the present South Dakota primary law, United States senators and congressmen, all state and county officers, and state, county and precinct committeemen are nominated at primary elections. The law also contemplates that postmasters may be so nominated. Under a new primary election law, adopted by the people at the election in November 1912, persons not selected by either the majority or the minority proposal committees, as representing the majority or minority faction of the party, may run at primary elections as independent candidates for the nomination as the official candidate of the party at the regular election.