The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-04-01
The Dakota Scheme.

Flom tRe 4Ne.c York san:
WASHINGTON, March 2s. lift Congress passes
the bill which proposes to cut Dakota Terri
tory into two parts, and create state out of
one of these parts, it will not be done until
after hard fight. The Democrats showed an
indifference respecting the early attempt of
the winter to create sentiment favorable to
the passage of the bill which was almost IN
comprehensive 1t is quite likely that the bill
could have been rushed through had it been
reported and called up early in the session.
Marvellous stories were told of the growth OF
the Territory. 1t was claimed that IT had now
a population of 100, 900, which was increasing
at rate that would give the Territory half Il
million people in 1890. The people were rep
resented as being very anxious for the organ
ization of the lower half of the territory into
a state. and 1t was said that such organization
was all that was needed TO develop with won
derful rapidity the remarkable resources of
the Territory. But members have had time
to examine some of the extraordinary state
ments that were made and to learn something
of the political plotting which has been mag
nified into a great popular movement. 1t is
now known that the part of the Territory from
which it is proposed to create a state does not
contain population equal to the ratio of APP
portionment for one Representative in the
/ lower House, and of this population not one
in twenty cares to have the Territorial Gov
eminent legislated out.
The scheme is born of the desire Of few
politicians 10 obtain power. When Mr.. Win
dom was reelected to the Senate without OPP
position by the declination of his predecessor,
Mr.. Edgerton, to be candidate against him,
Window made it his first business to see that
Edgertou was we'll repaid. He procured Ed
gerton' 5 nomination for Chief Justice of Da-
kota, and it was said at the time that Edger-
ton was willing to take this Office because he
was assured that Dakota would be admitted as
a state this session, and that, with Admins
tration help, he could be returned TO the
! Senate. A part of the zeal that some Sena-
ators display is said to be due to the desire
not only to make the Republican majority in
the Senate secure, but also to have Mr. Ed
gerton back among them.
The Democratic members of both the House
and the Senate have now come TO an under
standing that IT viii require united action on
this bill Already it has been recommitted
to the Senate committee, because il had been
falsely reported as recommended unanimously
by the committee, and two Democratic mem
bers said that this was mistake. When 1t
gets back to the Senate and into the House It
will be fought step by step. and, as the Re
publicans seem now determined to put 1t
4 through. IL is not unlikely that contest may
be waged over il that will greatly prolong the
session. The Democrats believe that the PEG
pie viii support them in the position that new
states are 10 be received only after il Is GER
tain that their prosperity has been such as to
warrant release from Territorial jurisdiction.
ard their population IL sufficient at least to
equal the ratio of representation for one mem
her Of the lower Hoase.