Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-10-13
DAKOTA BApTIsTs.


In Territorial Session they Agree TO stand
by the Constitution.
Sioux Falls Press.
That the section inserted in the con.
stitution for the benefit of the prohibi.
tionists is being appreciated aud will be
supported by them received another
proof at the Dakota Baptist territorial
convention held in Watertown last Sat,
urday. At the evening session of that
organization preamble aud resolutions
were passed IN tayor OF the constitution
vi clause referred To and it will be no.
tlced that among all tue speakers upon
the subject but one was found who had
anything to say contrary to the general
sense OF the meeting, and he began to
come to his senses before adjournment.
We give space to that portion OF the pro.
ceedlngs Of the convention regarding the
temperance movement. They are as fol-
lows:
"WHsnEAs, The subject of the prohi.
bltion OF the manufacture and selling OF
intoxicants has become the leading issue
in politics and morals in many OF the
states, and in this territory IL particular
and
WHEREAS, The constiiu,ion conven-
tion which assembled in Sioux Falls re-
fused to submit to the votes of the peo
pie separate prohibitory clause, but
gave instead one requiring petition oi
500 legal voters to be presented to the
first legislature organized under said
constitution after we are admitted as a
state. which shall submit the prohIbi-
tory amendment TO the people; there.
fore,
"Rssolced, That we, the pastors and
delegates to the Baptist territorial con.
ventlon of Dakota, meeting at Water
town, will do all within our power to
secure every legal voter in the county in
which we live to sign snch petition and
ace that it is presented to said legisla-
ture.
"Resolced, That we use our utmost en-.
deavors to select men of known prohibi.
tory proclivities to said legislature.
The line of thought which followed
was not strictly confined to the text OF
tue resolution, but given considerable
latitude.
The first speaker introduced was Rev
g. 8. Clevinger of Brookings, WHO Was Q
member of the constitutional conven
tion. After asking the question, "What
attitude ought the temperance people
to take regarding the constitution be
proceeded to tell them that they ought
first of all to support tue constitution
and then mould into solid phalan1es th
| temperance workers of the territory
preparatory to an active campaign whel
the time arrives. Temperance peopl
are yet unorganized; organization ant
leadership is now demanded
The first legislature can not
dodge the resolution; the peopl
have right to petition and their prayer
must be ans@ered. The speaker SAID "
have no enabling act to govern us in th
constitutional election, and what is t
prevent ballot box stuifing by the enemy
thereby defeating the very thing desired
"Hon. h. b. Keith OF Sioux Falls
moderator, threw bonbsbell into tn
meeting by saying the temperance pee
pie had no back bone; they fail to com
issue on Temperance. iu his practice i
the courts he saw TOO much shrloking {
duty on the part of temperance peoplt
He appealed to his hearers to snppol
the constitution, believing it the hes
tuinS temperance peopie Sould du.
Rev. J. Il. Travis OF Iankton spoke
the same line of thought, though L
gave an illustration OF the exceller
backbone the people of Yankton hay
manifested in carrying on temperate
work, and cited an illustration of ho
they were instrumental in stopping tt
saloon privileges at the fair ground
the ladies' pledging not to EXHIBIT hn
articles unless their demands Wei
needed.
"Sholt stirring addresses iavoring Il
ladoption of the constitution were mao
by Revs. Ross. Cofrman, Lansing. Eli
| Updyke and Ennis. Rev. Cressey
Huron seemed inclined to oppose Il
constitutlon, thinking the resoiutic
adopted at Sioux Falls sugar-coate
pill for the temperance people to swa
low. Before the meeting closed, hoy
ever. he showed symptoms of conversio
aud will probably join the ranks OF su
porters.
, "The resolution offered at The openil
of the meeting was then adopted unar
mously.'