The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1883-08-02
Terms of Subscription.

Some of the newspapers, and also some
of the delegates to the constitutional con-
vention, who were undoubtedly elected
yesterday, advocate the policy of. in the
| addition of framing Of constitution at
their session, designating persons for the
office of governor, United States senators,
member of congress and full set of state
officials, to be voted for at the same time
of voting upon the question of the consti-
tuition. The constitutional question itself
is not liable to meet with such a unanimous
endorsement as would warrant cucumber
ing the matter with an element that brings
into force choice for officials. Anything
that will tend to ALLEVIATE people belonging
to either of the political parties from a
support of the real issue that was only
supposed to be presented, that of adopt
ing constitution that is to form base
for statehood, should be promptly ignor-
ed, for several reasons. First the people
are not now at this early moment prepar-
ed to express themselves as to who are the
best men for the several important post
tions. Among the large population, d
one that is daily increasing, the qual6ca-
tiOns and merits of men to be selected can
not be properly considered, at least TO the
satisfaction of the voters The people are
far from being united upon this move
towards statehood, some are opposed to
division and some to present admission,
upon the theory that increase Of taxation
will surely follow, and others pronounce
the scheme as one suggested by and to be
manipulated solely by scheming polite
ians and for their ACKNOWLEDGEMENT alone
Whatever truth or fallacy these arguments
may contain they arc and will be made
use of and to some effect, and they are
to be met in the canvass upon the consti-
tutional question.
Again, when the Huron convention CON
vened, and during its labors, there was
nothing considered bearing upon the poll
cy of any other matter to be acted upon
by the people, than the presentation of
constitution to be adopted or rejected by
the voters, and the immediate action urg-
ed as necessary step to insure an early
recognition by congress, and this was the
only matter thought or talked OF prior to
the calling of the county convention for
the nomination of delegates to the conven-
tion at Sioux Falls; gentleman have been
designated regardless Of their political
proclivities for the sole purpose of franz
ing a constitution, and not to be delegated
with power to select candidates for state
officers; was the latter to have been done,
the complexion Of some delegations surely
would have been changed. The people Of
this territory have already had a taste of
premature legislation by parties assuming
to reflect the sentiments of now dissatisfi-
ed constituency by setting the capital afoat
to be anchored where the most ducats
could be garnered, regardless of eligibility
or the voice of the people
1t will be some time before the use of
state officials are required, and the one
question which the people only expected
or will be prepared to understandingly act
upon, is the approval Or rejection of the
proposed constitution, ard let that be
alone submitted, untrame!ed by any other
question, particularly the political one
that ticket for state officers would Ger
tainly raise,