Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-09-11

The constitutional convention in ses.
sion at Sioux Falls is an organization of
representative Dakotaians of which every
resident of the territory may be proud.
1t Is composed OF men of ability and of
integrity-some of them belonging TO
The socalled school of politicians and
others coming from the less conspicuous
walks of life. All trades, professions and
honorable avocations are represented
all the various elements of the whole
have voice and recognition in it's deliber-
atoms. These representatives of varied
interests have combined themselves into
one harmonious body and the conven.
tion moves onward in its work without
jar or friction. 1t is bending Its full ell
ergies to the task before it and by the
end OF the present week will have fin
ished the work imposed upon it and will
present to the people of Dakota con-
stitution containing the best ingredients
to be found in the organic acts of the
several states. There are to be no ex.
perimental clauses in the constitution,
the convention wisely concluding that
it is no time to inject radical issues
into fundamental law when so much de-
pends upon the reception of that docu-
ment by the members of the coming
congress.
The only period in the existence of
the convention when there was any
cause for feeling OF uneasiness regard
ing future results was at the time of its
organization for permanent work. There
are many men in that body who would
have honored the position of president,
and where go much good material was at
hand a choice agreeable to all must ne.
cessarily be reached by the exercise of
the best judgment and without regard to
party or factional feeling. In the final
selection of Bartlett Tripp the conven-
ton acted wisely, as subsequent results
have shown. Before he had been an
hour IN the chair lie gave evidence OF his
eminent fitness for the position and un.
der his direction the work moves on tlar.
moniously and expeditiously. Among
the other members of the convention
who were prominently mentioned for the
position of president were Judge Kidder,
Judge Moody, Barney CaulGeld, A. c,
Mellette, General Campbell, George H
Hand, Judge Brookings, J. R. Gamble
aud F. NJ. Ziebach Either of these
would have graced the position and
proved themselves efficient and popular
But they all gracefully gave way to th,
final conclusion and joined heartily il
a common support of the man who
was called to the char by the unani
nous vote of the convention. These are
little points i'll the details OF the organi
zatlon which came under our personal
observation and which we have not seer
mentioned in any of the printed reports
One noticeable feature of the conyen
tion is the entire absence of intrigues, o.
log rolling, of lobbying, which has here
tofore characterized the legislative anc
political assemblages of Dakota. Eacl
member of the convention is left te
reach his own conclusions without the
persuasive aid of outside pressure. I'm
der this condition of affairs Dakota il
insured an honest constitution-ont
which will be free from the odor of lob
berry and the taint of corrupt practices
The trading element is conspicuous b,
its absence, and the fact that it is absen
for the first time in general assemblag
Leads to the inevitable conclusion that i
resides beyond the forty-sixth parallel
Tue members of the gathering were Sc
lectsd entirely outside the domain O
partlsanship and outside the dictation O
political factions. They came from th
people and they represent no especia
element. They are for the state of Da
kota first, last and all the time and vii
accept no other result.