The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-02-09
THE MOVE rsn STATEHOOD.

lb~ rtfpiutien, As OIigHlaiit ohNitn' Pi"~
vided that a convention TO frame coistitu-
tion should assemble 81 Helena, July I'd,
1898; the convention 10 consist of thirty nine
delegates, apportioned 10 and elected In the
several counties by the electors thereof. on
Tuesday, May 1st, 1883. The members were
10 receive 81 per day and twenty cents mile
age from the Territory. The constitution
adopted Was TO be submitted for ratiHcali ion
at a general election to he held <ovemJrr
9th, 1893, In the manner 10 he pro ided by
the convention, which WAS also TO prescribe
the mode, manner aud agency by which. II
ratified, the constitution SHOULD be submitted
to Congress, with the petition for admission.
This resolution, we, were advised by one
of our delegation, would be amended in
the House, and we notice il has been,
although not advised at this writing what
the amendments are. It certainly requires
. limitation upon the duration Of the con-
veAtion, or, At least, upon the cost.
The Initiative In the direction Of Stxte-
hood has induced more careful eonsidera-
ton Of the question and what Is involved In
IL than had heretofore been generally given,
and, notwilhst anding the aspiration for State
hood Is almost II not quite universal, the
project is studied over and discussed with
considerable regard as to the practicability Of
the project now, aud the expense that will
ne entailed. This Is right. We trust the
Legislature will be deliberate and wise In Its
conclusions. The method entails two gen.
-ral elections, Q convention as expensive as
q legislative session, . census OF population,
aud active exertion At Washington, even TO
get our application fairly considered. The
lime and the conditions are propitiJus II we
an show the re .uisi,e population-not but
hat the East will oppose II, but because We
will stand In the estimstionof Congress as
political ceunterpoise to Dakota, which has
stery qualification for Statehood, and thus
autagonism on partisan grounds will be fore
stalled.
Under ordinary circumstances we might
ieem It better to defer the present action
aud, instead, apply for an enabling act, with
.
Two, and subsequent application for adtnis.
.ion. But the condition Is extraordinary In
Montana, Dakota aud Washington Terri
'ories. What 10 1t keeps Dakota outr As
Tong as IL remains Territory the Northern
Pacific Railroad company claims, and, We
oelisvs, legally. claims, that ito road bed
therein Ia not subject TO taxation. 1t Is
cuisines: for that company to have Dakota
remain Territory, aud We see instead Of q
united front to achieve 81 atehood, sectional
issue raised to divide the Territory. Whose
interest 10 IL to prom ote this ? aud why will
IL not have the same motives In frustrating
he aspirations Of Montana ard Washington
Territories.
Mr.. L. v. smaliey contributed to the Cen
tury msqasine. fs February, an article en-
] tled Features Of tho New Northwest
/ In January he, In connection with Mr.. II. j.
ginser, an officer Of the N. p. z. R., estab
lished at tire headquarters Of that company
IN New York . newspaper entitled the
North Vest, one Of the principal objects Of
shlch sto advocate the interests Of The N. p
company. This nseh to show Mr.. Smslley''
identification with that company. We now
riote frsm his paper In the Century:
Public opinion IN Dakota has firmly de
.ided that the Territory shall be cut into
halves by line following the 18th parable
I latitude, and be thus made into 1--WE
states.
/ .-.
Montana Is even. larger than d akots. bu
Il contains.fa less fsriRfng land aiid, save. In
few valleys, will no. support dense popu
lation. The eastern portion Is mainly ,
grszing country, whfle the western portion
IS mass Of ain ridges, between which
lie narrow, fertile valleys, where agriculture
| very profit able, but can only be cal ried ps
with the aid Of irrigation. There 10 no tall
yet o: dividing this immense Territory, bu
Ire time will come when conflicts Of opinion
sill arise between the people living oil tn
| Yellowstone and It's tributaries, and thos
,nhabiting the mountain country. .Prrhap
IL will then be found wise TO make two 5. ate
nut Of Montana, by lirie drawn north an
south.
| 1t Is unnecessary for us TO dsclaim an
hostility to the N. T. Il. r. Co. In its legiti
mate purposes. We fear, however. 1t vii
impsde and delay As long as 1t can, and b
very means In Its p,wer, the erection int
Statehood Of any Territory traverssd by i
To that purpose we are opposed. and befof
he seeds of division, as cited above, ar
i ,owA and have taken rootin Montana Is !
Dakota, we want Montana to request I'D
mission, and 10 do II unitedly and. earnestly
and to pnt the brandof disapprovsl on a
corporate projects, PROMISES, and perform
,nces for localities and individuals IS again'
he common purpose and common iateres
| If we hesitate We are lost. The same "put
tic opinion" referred TO in Dakota will b
nuilt up aud maintained for years In MOI
/ ana. The TOO miles.of N. p. r: X. ,tbs
will be completed In Montana this gear wi
have an Immense taxable value, and IL wi
Ne to the interest of the Company 10 ayoi
ahess taxes and the legislation rsgulstir
, 1 railroads which State may make:
In. q former article we referred 70 th
heavy iacresss of expenses under Sta
,svernneat. We do,not overlook that nov
il aud vs Huss the Legislaurs will protect I
d from 80: bssry sIRnsss IN ~ iaitisiol
| ss@e0snts. 1u, whst ss "a shh h TO .
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