Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-04-30
The June Convention.

As the absorbing topic at the present
time is the capital removal, and capital
swindles generally, the mass convention
called to meet at Huron in June claims at
the present moment but little attention,
although the meeting to be then held is
by no means forgotten. The arrange
ments for the convention are being
quietly made and All preliminaries are
progressing as rapidly and favorably a.
the most sanguine supporters of the
movement could wish. It is now def
nitely settled that the Huron meeting will
be convention of delegates from the
southern portion of the territory, and
not an indiscriminate mob gathering, as
certain wise men of the north have pro.
posed. 1t is notorious fact, and COM
mon report, that the people Of south Da-
kota as well as those of the northern sec.
tion, earnestly desire division of the
territory. but 80 far there has been no
public meeting Of the delegates Of the
people to formally ASCERTAIN and declare
the fact. One great object Of the Huron
meeting 10 to ascertain the sentiment of
the people on the question, and suthori-
tatively publish the fact.
can be no question that all parties of
every shade Of political opinion are
agreed upon it. The wrstched experi.
ence they have been compelled to en-
dure during the last three years under q
territorial government, and from the
present governor, has cemented them
solidly upon the question of statehood,
however they may otherwise differ on
political questions and public policy.
Anything is better than territorial
servitude. We do not state the public
sentiment too strongly when We
say that for statehood the republicans
could hail with Joy the prospect Of even
q democratic state government, or the
democrats would cheerfully accept the
boom ofa republican state administra-
ton. We can endure almost anything,
or any form OF government, or even an-
archy, to be rid of Old Man of the Sea,
Ordway, who Is on the back of the peo.
pie and cannot be shaken of, or the
hack politicians who are in his livery
Such an accumulation Of political calan
tiles never before oppressed q free peo
pie.
According to the present apportion
meat the number of delegates to the
Huron convention will amount to 40(
members, the Black Hills being enti
tied to thirty. This may appear tot
large number for dcliberative body
But when the circumstances are consid
cred, it is not too many. This convention
is not political movement for the bene
fit of any man or clique. There il n,
pipe to be laid or wires +
be pulled. no differences are t.
be adjusted or interests to be concili
, ated. The intent of the meeting is onl
, to ascertain the will of the public con
cerning statehood and division. If thes
questions are decided in the affirmative
3 then the next step will be to call COZ
! vention for the forming of Q constitution
. 1t is hardly possible that one-half o
the delegates chosen will attend the cor
vention. This will reduce the numbe
r into more compact form. Although i
3 y multitude of councillors there may
wisdom, and doubtless is on An occaaio
Of this kind. still for the rapid and effe,
tive transaction Of business in all dellb
? erative bodies q small number can do th
e work better.
We hope our citizens will give thi
matter the attention it deserves and Q,
lect only the best men as their delegate
that in an affair Of this Importance th
Hills may be represented With credit.