Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-09-20
THE STATE.
Interesting Resume of the Work of
the Constitution Makers.
A''',set tod nisrnsSinn Over MI.
Points.
1wE1rru DAY coS11SUEp.

a "
Robert Dollard of Bon Homme-It
has been said by delegate that if We
elect officers the ballot-box will be stuff
ed. Now, as delegate who was elected
by just such an election as will be held
to select officers, he is stopped from such
charge. Oregon gave us precedent
for proceeding as it is proposed and
electing state officers. If We have au-
thority, the question is, shall We proceed? ?
came here with no pet views as to how
we should come into the possession of
state government. I came determined
to abide by the wisdom of the convention.
The committee have reported in favor of
state officers being elected now, and
am in favor Of adopting the report of
the committee. We are much in the
position of the Children OF Israel who
paused on the banks OF the river in sight
of the promised land. We have con-
structed the bridge; now shall we cross
upon it?
C. W. Mcdonald of Jerauld-It is
useless to elect officers now. No taxes
can be collected and no act performed
by them, and the consequence will be
we will have to have two elections.
Thomas Sterling of Spink-There ale
two grounds we may stand upon
doubtful and safe. If we elect officers
we stand upon doubtful ground. We
cannot afford to adopt doubtful meas
ures. There should be unanimity. We
have considered what congress would
think of the election of officers, but we
have not considered what the people OF
south Dakota would think of it. We
should consider that. We have ignored
prohibition petitions, and yet we pro-
pose to submit the election of officers
when the prohibitionists are against it
beg of the convention to think before
incorporating feature obnoxious to the
masses.
at 1920, the convention adjourned to
2P.M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr.. Gamble, in .resuming discussion
of the question pending-whether O
not state officers should be elected-sait
the issue was not party issue, and il
! electing state officers there should be
, division Of the offices between the demo
Gratis and republicans, and announce,
that he would offer an amendment late
to that effect. He moved to postpon
0 the question until Monday morning.
n w. w. Brookings of Minnehaha sal
i, that since hearing of the overthrow c
one of the most corrupt monopolies tha
= ever existed he could afford to renal
e out of statehood year longer than b
g felt he could before, but he hoped
n would be decided to elect officers, as
wouid surely do good, and could possibl
do no harm.
D. H.J. Campbell of Yankton cited
s number of states that had proceeded
W statehood by FIRST electing state officer
as proposed in the section under discu
=. sion. and moved to lay on the table Il
IL motion of Mr.. Gamble to postpone.
ir The motion of Mr.. Gamble was table
j.. A. b. Melville of Beadle-No man
- more anxious than to proceed wit
re discretion in this matter. / am in fav,
" OF adopting a constitution and the
ar carrying out its provisions by electir
=. officers. We are here to assert the figl
10 Of self government, and if We are qua
ne fed to adopt constitution We are cor
ct petent to elect officers and carry out II
n. constitution. 1t is our duty, and Il
"a. man who shirks that duty is not
W honorable man. Drop party matte,
es selfish ideas, and then your work v
is amount to something. Let us els