Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-07-08
The Constitutional Convention.
Sioux Falls Press.

! OF certain features IN the 1unuanehtal
law Of the proposed state, met at Red
ford hall, Canton, Yesterday morning
DIR. w. I. Taylor, of Canton, called the
convention to order, assumed the chair
and stated the objection of the meeting.
Judge w. G. Bower, of Sioux Falls,
was chosen. secretary.
Rev. J. V. Hines, of Elk Point, asked
divine guidance for the proceedings OF
the gathering.
The ptr-onnel of nc convention, as
viewed from the desk i'm front, whittier
the reporters had been invited by a
formal vote, included but few of the
prominent citizens of the territory,
among these, however, We noticed Unit
ed states District Attorney Hugh j.
Campbell. Rev. Joseph Ward, Bud
Taylor, Rev. Stewart Sheldon, ex-Mayor
J. r. Sanborn, and------Fogarty, com.
prising the Yankton delegation, and y.
+. Reed. Esq, Of Huron. The general
appearance Of the assembly was very
creditable, including as it did twelve
clergynen, and several members OF the
Woman's Christian Temperance union,
whose convention was held in Canton
the day previous.
Later on, the committee on credenti-
ais, through its chairman, y. {. Nash of
Canton, reported $50 delegates present,
whom over two-thirds were from Lin
coin county. The representation was as
follows:
Lincoln, I06: Clay, Is; Turner, II !;
Yankton, II Moody, 1 Beadle, .; Han
son, |.
The temporary organization, with the
addition Of three vice presidents, was
made permanent, Judge Bower, how
ever, being permitted to divide with n.
( Nash, of the Canton News, the labors
Of the secretaryship.
Without dissenting voice Mayor w.
NJ. Cuppett, of Canton, was invited to Il
seat on the rostrum, from which at the
beginning Of the afternoon session he
delivered an eloquent address Of wei
come.
At the outset Judge Campbell of
Yankton, took charge Of the proceed
ings, which in spite Of the efforts Of Il
few bad spirits, rolled smoothly along
the prearranged grooves.
On his motion it was voted that all
matters relating to politics and personal
preferences should be considered out of
order.
On his motion, also, committees were
appointed Oh resolutions, rules, school
lands, taxation, finance, name and
boundary, prohibitory and anti-monop-
oily legislation and other subjects likely
to come before the constitutional con-
ven,ion.
In the afternoon, following Mayor
Cuppett's address, the chairmen Of the
several committees submitted the re-
ports which had been carefully prepared
in advance, and in the main they were
adopted without alteration. They may
be summarized as follows:
Name of new state to be- simply Dako-
tn, comprising that portion Of the terri
tory south of the forty-sixth parallel f;
no municipal Indebtedness exceeding
| five per cent Of the assessed valuation
counties not to bond for railroads; no
special legislation in behalf of corpora
tions; prohibiting legislation which per-
mits the cancellation or scaling down of
any public or private Indebtedness
directing the sale Of school lands by
public auction at not less than ten dol.
lars per acre; and prohibition of the
manufacture of sale of Intoxicating
liquors.
On the question of boundary and pro.
hibition lively discussions brought out
the latent eloquence of the delegates.
Uncle Jerry Gehon, OF Lincoln county
led an attack on division along the forty
sixth parallel, which Judge Campbell!
had proposed, and was warmly support.
ed, but after heated debate the con
vention coldly refuse to receive north
ern Dakota as a part Of the new state
and as usual Judge Campbell's plan pre-
vailed.
On the question Of prohibition ex
tremely radical ground was taken by N
z. Reed, of Huron, who proposed tina,
no LIQUOR should be sold in the state
even for medical, mechanical or sacra
mental purposes, and on this point 4
split seemed imminent, when at tine rec
ommendation of Rev. Joseph Ward, 0
Yankton, the convention contented it.
self with recommending 81 IMPLY prohi
bition.
An executive committee consisting O
Rev. w. Whitfield, Rev. Joseph Ward
n. c. Nash, s. F. Andrews, +. b. Foster
and J. V. Hines. was appointed to have
general charge of the work organizing
state league and preparing the people o
the state for admission to the union, ant
amid much enthusiasm a contribution
was taken to enable the committee Il
print and spread broadcast over the ter
ritory large variety Of literature OF
the subject. The contribution nettet
$48.34.
| T. tAo ay.,,:rc racol,tsnoo forr,,a m