Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-09-19
MonAay--Aixth Ebay.

j. \. McLoney OF the First Congrega
tional church. Sioux Falls. opened tn.
convention with prayer.
PROHIBITION.
From Bea,lIe, Lincoln, Hamlin. Kings
bury and Dawson counties were re
csived petitions for prohibition. An
other from numerous citizens in diff.
ferent parts of the proposed state asked
that the question of prohibtian lie sub
mitted to vote of the people when the
constitution is put before them for rat
itication.
EDUCATION.
The committee on education and
school lands reported. The laws refer
ring to the establishment and govern.
ment of schools are left to the legisla.
ture to enact. In relation to school
lands, which is an important feature
it provides that I'LL proceeds from the
sale Of pnbllc school lands and property
for educational purposes granted by
congress, and all donations to school
interests shall remain IA perpetual fund
for the maintenance of schools. This
fund can be increased. but not dimin.
shed. The usual methods of increas-
ing and maintaining the fund are in
corporated. No land can he sold for
less than $40 an acre which has been
appropriated for school purposes. and
that sold within ten years shall not
exceed one-third of all lands set apart
Tor the use of public schools. No
school officer shall be allowed to he in
terested in the sale or rental or other
disposition Oh public school lands. The
usual means are incorporated relating
to normal schools and the funds for
them.
The report went t. the committee on
printing.
PREAMBLE
The committee IN preamble reported
as follows:
I'VE the people ri the territory OF
Dakota. having the right OF admission
into the union as one OF the United
States OF America by virtue of the Or
dinance OF 1851 and the treaty OF cession
of the province Of louisiana, and by
virtue OF the guarantees Of the conSti-
tution of the nitp,l states, all the nee.
..ssarv conditions of said compacts and
treaties of ceS,ion having been fulfilled
on the part of the people OF Dakota
territory, and We of right being enti'
tied to IL change from our territorial
condition to the enjoy ment Of all the
rights of state government as Il free and
independent state in the union, dOnow
in convention assembled, in order to
establish Justice, promote the welfare
and insure the blessings of liberty tC
ourselves and to our posterity, ordain
and establish the following constitu
ton and form ourselves into Il free an(
Independent state by the name of thu
state of Dakota.
CONTEST.
1t w.,s u stated by a member of the
committee On the contested election
ease from .Ierauld county that in the
election there seemed to have been
grave irregularities affecting both
sides. IL was presumed that the irreg.
ularities arose from lack of organiza.
ton of the county. He moved that
the contestant, George Whalen. he
also given seat.
PROHIBITION AGAIN.
Alonzo Converse of Sanborn offered
a petition from citizens of the proposed
state asking that AT the same time the
constitution is submitted to vote OF
the people Il clause prohibiting the
manufacture or sale of Intoxicating
beverages in the state he also submit
ted to to a vote. lie stated that his oh
=,
bring the snbi.ct Of prohibition before
the convention for discussion. There
are many people in Dakota. he said
who Favored prohibition and its incor-
poration in the constitution. He did
not refer 10 prohibition us an eN
pediency. but as right lie was sent
here with the understanding that what
ever is adopted must go before the peo
pie at the polls, and he felt that he
would not do his duty If he failed to at
least attempt to bring this subject be-
fore the people, knowing as he did that
large majority of his constituents
favored it. This he should do as mat
ter Of Justice to those who sent him
here, no matter what his own ideas
might be on the subject. He thought
it matter of policy to place the sub.
Ject before the people. To satisfy the
element demonstrating it. The matter
should lie settled ut the very outset. II
he favored prohibition he would favor
submitting it t. vote of the people.
to the end that all agitators be quoted.
If hedisapproved it he would favor set
sling the question now and at the polls
He believed it was the only democratic
way OF slisposing OF such issues. lie
thought it would be also Advantageous
TO the supporters of the constitution.
1t would cali out full vote on the con-
stitution. He referred to the adyant-
age of statehood rs Il sequence to sub
uniting the issue to Il popular vote. He
failed to see why Il solitary vote would
he east against the constitution if the
subject Of. prohibition is submitted
with the constitution to the people for
ratification. He thought other ques-
tons in doubt could he submitted that
would also help out the vote on the
constitution.
The president stated, ut the close OF
Mr.. Converse's remarks, that until the
convention otherwise ordered he would
permit remarks upon the presentation
of petitions.
The petition and resolution of Mr..
Converse were referred to the commit
tee on legislative.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.