Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-10
GOVERNOR .oxunos INTERVIEWED.

6UvEHNOH EOMUNOS INTERVIEWED.
Ths Opening OF the sioux Rsservat,oy
and the Next Candidate for the Prcsi
j, deacy the Themes Of Convcrsation.
Governor Edmunds. of Yankton, Whiloo o.
hts way to Washington was caughtin Chi.
cago by the reporters of the Times and In
ter.Ocean and interviewed. The followiu,
70 what the Times scribe gives as the result
Of his interview:
The Hon. Newton Edmunds, who wa.
appointed BY President Lincoln, In 1851
trst governor Of Dakota territory. and who
10 at present q member Of the national re-
publican committee, arrived at the Palmer
mouse. 10 this city, from the west on yes,er
day morning. Mr.. Edmunds was seen du-
ring the Afternoon BY a Times representa-
tive. and chatted pleasantly on the object 81
his mission east.
Il will continue my journey toward
Washington Tomorrow morning" said Mr..
Edmunds. II 60 there In a double capaci-
tv-to prevail, If possible. upon the presi-
the new treaty with the Sioux, aud also 70
attend the meeting of the national republic
can committee, which takes place on the
18th Inst"
After imparting this much information
Mr.. Edmunds evlnced . disposition to re-
train from further discussion Of the Sioux
question.
1T has been generally supposed" said the
reporter, that the Sioux reservation was 10
remain intact, for the present, at least, from
any fresh legislation" X,
II have been q resident of the territory
for the past eighteen years." promptly re-
plietl the gentleman, "and certainly should
know its requirements. Civilization has
marched with rapid strides, and demands
elbow-room. The Sioux reservation covers
an area of over fifty thousand square miles
nearly as much territory as the entire
state Of Illinois, and on which are squatted
over forty-ive thousand of the Sioux tribe,
all supported by the government. We may
morallze as much as We please on the In
dian question, but the fact is patent to all
who have given this matter attention, that
the government must provide other hunting
grounds for the Sioux tribes than those now
occupied by them. The reservation stands
directly in the centre of a passage-way from
the middle states to the Black Hills, and
already it is largely surrounded by the har.
dy pioneers Of civilization. 1t is about one
hundred and seventy miles in a direct line
through the reservation from the Missouri
river to the Black Hills, aud it is the desire
Of the people of the territory that this right
Of way be granted to the railroad corpora
lions that stand in readiness to extend their
lines to the latter point. The Chicago and
Northwestern and the Chicago Milwaukee
and St. Paul roads propose to continue their
lines through to the Black Hills, provided
. straight right of way through the
Sioux reservation is granted them. Both
these lines will reach the Missouri next year,
and if permitted, will continue from the
mouth of the White river, running up the
Missouri about eighty.fve miles. The plac-
ing of this matter properly before the pres
ident and secretary of the interior is one of
the objects of my journey to Washington ;
but whether the wishes of the people Of the
territory are to be acceeded to must remain
a question for future solution"
Mr.. Edmunds, in common with many
others of his political texture, has firm be-
lief in Gen. Grants return to the white house
in 1850.
"Grant,' said the ex-governor, "has taken
Dakota by storm. In 1876 we sent a solid
Blaine delegation to Cincinnati, but we could
hardly repeat that act at the present time"
Mr.. Edmunds believes that the democrats
will concentrate their northern strength on
two states, which, if carried, with a solid
south, would give them the victory. He
further believes that Bayard. of Delaware,
is the coming standard-bearer for the demo-
cratic party and that he is the strongest man
they could bring out. "Mr. Bayard," said
The gentleman from Dakota, "has long been
recognized as a staunch hard. money man and
this would give him undisputed strength
With the leading capitalists of the north.
Besides, he is a man popular with the think
ing classes of the entire country, and is
kindly thought of by republicans as we'll as
democrats. All in all, l look upon Bayard
as a very eligible candidate for the presi-
dency,"
Mr.. Edmunds, in reply to a question as
to the nature of the work outlined for the
national republican committee at its session
on the 18th, stated. in substance, that very
little would be done beyond the election Of
a chairman to fill lack Chandler's place,
the naming Of a place for holding the con.
v%ention, and the formal call for the latter.
"What are the chances, Mr.. Edmunds, in
favor of Chicago as the place for the next
convention
"The chances, in my opinion, are deci
dedly in favor of Chicago. She holds every
inducement to bring us here. Your magni'
icent hotels and general attractiveness will
probably weigh in the balance against Other
cities holding out inducements for the gath.
ering. The contest will lie between Chica.
go and Philadelphia, with the odds, in my
opinion, largely in favor of the former"
"Who is to succeed to the chairmanshir
of your committe"
"This question, at this early stage, is q
difficult one to answer. If the east should