Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-09-19
saturday Eleventh nay.
MORNING SESSION.

=
saturday Eleventh Day.
MORNING SESSION.
When the convention was called to
order. it was $40 o'clock. No minister
being present to open the convention,
the president, looking over to II. NJ. Will
hanson of Moody. said. with all the
gravity the occasion could summon:
Il will call upon Mr.. Williamson to Of
fer prayer"
With good deal of embarrassment,
Mr.. Williamson arose and replied, IL
am lawyer, Mr.. President, and not.a
minister"
There was an unusual buoyancy OBJ
served in the risibles of those present
despite the subject.
Rev. Joseph Ward of Yankton offer
Ell prayer and the journal was read and
the convention opened.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE.
a. +. Allen of Moody. Edward
Wheelock and r. II. Spicer Of Coding-
ton were granted leaves of absence.
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
II. NJ. Williamson of Moody present
ed petition upon the regulation Of
sale and manufacture of liquor. which
was referred to the Legislative commit
tee.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
II. J. Campbell Of YanktOn called up
for further consideration the report of
the committee on schedule, beginning
with section &, and which went over us
Especial order from the previous day.
Section involved the question of
electing state and other officers, over
which so much discussion was evinced
during the previous morning hour. 1t
resolved into the question of whether
or not congress would look with greater
favor upon the constitution il full
complement of state officers were pre-
sentetlswith the constitution.
w. NJ. Pierce of Codington-1f this is
non-partisan move we can do nothing
else than elect officers ut the same time
the constitutiOn Is submitted, 1t Is right
that we should
Il. q. Caulfield of Lawrence-W OF
tuC I1l0Ch l1llISolt hllu HAVE UCCu duA~
iOus for statehood, for the reason that
we believe it will advance the interests
of not only our own community. but
the whole state. We are cut off from
our brethren in other parts of the terri
tory, because we have no railroad facil-
tiles. / believe statehood will advance
those interests. We have one of the
finest mining and a9riculturist coun-
tries in the world and we want it de
velOped, and vet we are not selfish.
am for the admission OF the territory
to statehood, if u democrat never holds
an Office. l would rather 60 in now
with no democrats in Office than wait
and hold all the Offices But am COM
PEELED tOdiffer with some OF my friends
here. / give you all credit Of being
honest in your zeal and patriotism
in this work, but fear you will make
a mistake il you adopt this clause and
elect officers. Members OF congress are
jealous of the manner in which they
are elected, and they want every one
to % there elected in the same way
have seen Inen elected in Il more reg
ular way than we could hope to elect.
hanging around congress with Il certifi-
cate ot election in their pockets. and
they were not admitted to seats. When
We send members to congress we want
them to have clean and clear certiti-
Gates. Alaska two years ago elected
by convention like this u delegate to
congress. and they laughed and sratfed
ut him. until he was driven L..a.ly
from the floor as not being entitled To
it, and Mr.. Pettigrew had to go and
beg of the speaker to let him HI. III
the courtesies OF the floor. We dvn't
want to send a member there who will
have to sit in the gallery and peep
through the glass door ut the seat his
heart longs for. Laughter Let us
20 down to Washington with only one
constitution and say it is republican in
form and that We have complied with all
requirements, and they are bound I'M
der oath to admit us to statehood. Men
have hung around congress for years
and years with certificates like those
we would issue. and they We're not adj
United nor given their salary. Ii |
could he made to believe ii advisable
would grab at and grasp ut the prOpO-
sitiOn to elect officers, but cannot. /
believe we have the right to do so. but
! don't believe we can make others be-
lieve 1t, not even the republicans. The
republicans Of New England are not
in favor Of our admission, anyway, be-
cause they fear our power. They see
their power waning. financially. and
they want to keep ua down.
II. j. Campbell OF Yankton--l have
been greatly edited and much instruct
4sl by the gentleman's Mr.. Caulfield'sI
description Of the demoralizing effect
in electing members to congress. |
want to ask him if he has any doubt
about our right to proceed by electing
0fficersY
Mr.. Caulfield--I have no doubt We
have the right.
Mr.. Campbell Then what window
will our congressional committee peep
through into congress?
Mr.. Canlfield-The same window our
members of congress will peep through.
Mr.. Campbell Then, as the Scotch
prOverb puts it, Deliver us from our
friends" II we 20 to congress fearing
we have no rights, and 60 humbly and
say, please admit us, for we believe
We have q right to admission-tha is
we think We had a right: we are not
sure but we think so--and we would,
that il we think 20, like to be admitted"
we must demand it as right we are
positive of, and produce our proof.
NJ. Grigsby Of Minnehaha- can't
see how We. would he in anv worse