The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1882-01-26
A BUSINESS Meeting.
Action Taken By Our Wide Awake
Citizens at The Court House.

Action Taken By Our Wide Awake
Citizens at The Court House.
Concerning The Question of Admis-
sion Of Dakota as State.
Pursuant to call published in the AD-
vocATE a number of our leading and in
| fluential citizens met at the court house
on Saturday evening to take action upon
the question of sending Canton and Lin
coin county Delegation to Sioux Falls,
said convention being being called in the
interests of southeastern Dakota, i. e., to
admit her into the Union as State, and
the question of division.
On motion Mr.. J. W. Taylor was called
to the chair, and Mr.. Frank R. Aiken
acted as secretary.
Mayor Clifford was called upon to give
an outline of the object of the meeting.
Mr.. Clifford stated, as he understood it,
that the meeting was called to take action
on the question of the admission of the
southern half of Dakota as State, that
the Black Hills and the northern portion
of Dakota had already sent delegation to
Washington to watch her interests, and
that Canton should be alive to her inter-
ests and send delegation to Sioux Falls
where delegates to Washing are to be
selected. The gentleman then went on
and give his listeners to understand that
the division wonld probably be on the IS
or 46 parallel.
Calls were made for Mr.. j. w. Taylor,
who arose and and stated that he was
heartily in favor of admission, because it
afforded better facilities, gave us the ri ght
of electing our own officers, and that the
question Of taxation as State was as
nothing to the benefits to be derived.
The territory was too large, and cited, as
an instance, that portion of the Legisla-
tors had to travel through three States in
order to reach the capital. He wanted
Dakota State. We had been living as
wards under the government long enough,
and that Canton and Lincoln county
should have what belonged to it in the
way OF appropriations, etc. The
speaker had the close attention of the au-
dience, because his remarks were full of
sound doctrine, facts and figures.
Mr. Cuppett, Clerk of Court, was the
next speaker. He also was heartily in IA
vor of the movement, and urged the i'm
portance of sending delegation to Sioux
Falls, and let Sioux Falls send a strong
delegation to Washington.
Mr.. Brown was in favor, and wanted no
more nonsense about the matter; that
now was the proper time, for if we had to
''take the dose we might as well take it
now and be through with it.
Mr.: Tom Hood had nothing to say,
which surprised the speakers, and the
same may be said of Mr.. Bertrand.
Mr. Harlan was in favor of admission,
and stated that the only papers he MOTTO
ed that were oppos-
ed to admission, were the Yankton Her
aid and Sioux Valley News. He had
lived in three territories in his life time,
Iowa. bleeding Kansas and suffering Da-
kota, and it was time that Dakota should
join the sisterhood of States.
Mr.. Aiken, after repeated calls, arose
and warmed up to the question like one
meant business, and warned his listeners
not to be luke-warm in the matter. AL
though but a citizen little more than a
year, he was opposed to the government
sending carpet-bag governors from the
south and other sections. He cited an in
justice that might arise under our present
existence, where the Legislature and Gov
ernor might strike sway and defeat the
express will of the people, by vetoing any
measure that might be to our interest.
The same might be said of Judges Let
the Territory become a State, where we
can elect our own officers, and if he be not
honest, can have the power to turn him
out. As state we would have better
credit and better name. Capitalists
would come to seek u.s. and not be afraid
as now Taxation was nowhere as to the
benefits that would accrue.
DIR. Clark could not make speech, and
so DR.. Taylor was called upon. That gen
tleman gave brief outline of what we
might become if Dakota was admitted in
to the Union, and was in favor of the
movement.
Squire Wilson said this was question
of whether Canton wanted carpet-bag
government or not, and wanted Canton
to be alive to the Importance of the hour.
Nj. Madole moved that every able bod
led citizen that could go, to go to Sioux
Falls
This had the effect to bring out several
motions, with amendments, but the mo-
tion that finally was agreed upon read as
follows:
Rasolved, That the chair appoint a
committee of three, said committee to Sc
lect ten persons outside of the bar, who
are to 60 to Sioux Falls as delegation,
and in the event of court adjourning over
the Goth, that as many members of the
bar and as many other citizens, attend
said convention.
The chair named as said committee the
Messrs Aiken, Russell and Tom Hood.
The committee, after an absence Of five
minutes returned and reported the follow
ing names:
Messrs Madole, House, Hood, Bedford,
Fosdick, DR.. Clark and Taylor, Rudolph,
Gale and Harlan; also that the reporters
for the ADVOCATE and News be included.
Mr.. Aiken offered resolution which
read about as follows:
Resozred, That this meeting tenders its
heartfelt thanks to the Hon. R. f. Petit
grew, delegate in congress for his untiring
efforts made in our behalf on the question
ofthe admission of southern Dakota as a
state in the Union.
After seykral suggestions of minor ma