Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-05-10

recent lsbue OF the Sioux Falls Press
contains an editorial upon q subject in
which the south half of Dakota has q
deep interest. The editorial opens as
follows:
As has been said heretofore in these
columns, the paramount issue in the
coming political campaign will be the
composition of the next Legislature.
Upon that will depend more Of the vel
tare Of the territory aud the prospective
state or states, than upon auv other fea.
tu,e of our public affairs. The fate of
so many of the states which have suffered
from "lorty thlevt q" combinations should
ne u ~aruiug to the people Of Dakota.
There are always to be found in new
c"mmonwealths considerations Of d.
slgulhg men who strive to.ge their
clutches upon the administration of af
talrs for the purpose OF bleeding the
treasury for their own benefit There is
huch confederation to-day in Dakota.
and The Measure OF success it achieved
in manipulating the last legislature Is au
Indication Of what attempts may be ex
pected ~ regard to that which IL forth
coming. They are organized tor plnnder
aud upless the people attend to it
promptly there ls great danger of the
perpetrati"u Of robbery from til.
effects of which the commonwealth
tnlKht not recover in years. The Press
has heretofore sounded the warning, aud
1t will continue 10 do 80 as long az it NAV
seem to be necessary.
The Press goes on to stste that the
organized gang OF plunderers. from
its headquarters at Bismarck.
Is sending forth it's Instructions tor u
campaign by which it hopes to capture
the next legislature. Its heavy work is
to be devoted to the south half of Dako.
ia, as it counts with something akin to
certainty upon solid north. The south
will send to the next legislature two.
thirds Of the representation and tue
north the other third. The remaining
votes which will give TO the copsplrs.
tors the majority they so much need
must come from the south. Pursuing
the subject, the Press says further:
The organized gang having Bismarck
for its center, it naturally expects t.
have the legislators from northern Dako.
ia solid, but there is bare possibility
that the eleventh district may not re-
spond with that certainty which they
might hope. Nevertheless, they Will
count upon it. This would give them
one-third Of both houses. They think
they are quite certain TO Obtain at least
two districts ln southern Dakota, which
would give them half the assembly, ano
they must rustic to by hook or crook
gain one more in each branch. It il
cheaper to elect the right man than to
ouy hlm after he 10 elected-for = mau
chosen to the legislature upon q dlrec,
issue has to be high priced when it comes
to selling his vote. The gang centers III
the first aud fifth its hopes for the two
necessary southern Dakota districts
aud this ought to be sufficient to put the
ters therep upon their guard, and
prompt them to energetic and persistep
work to prevent the consummation u
the scheme which is plotted agalns
them, aud through them against ali til.
territory. Ii the honest peopl,
Of those districts will only an
preciate the magnitude of the in
terests which devolve upon them
they can certainly thwart the projec
|
mouwealth. Let it be hoped that the,
will rise equal to the occasion, aud pre-
vent the corrupt scheme to which thei
negligence is expected to contribute
Aud, also. let every one of the other dis
trlcts see to it that none but umimpeach
able men are sent to either house Of th
next assembly-men whose character
are q guaranty that they can not b.
bought aud whose ability aud experi
ence will make it certain that they car
not be bamboozlei.
The first legislative district is com
posed Of the counties of Clay, Lincol
aud Union, and the fifth district OF tn
counties of Brookings, Klngsbiry, LAX
aud Moody. These districts are clulme
by the northerners to be their souther
stronghold, and it is within them that til
usual process Of political manipulatio
is in progress.