Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1884-12-13

6ASSuA6s NOAsA SH0A
met them all with q smile and ready
reply, but it was evident that his old
time ex~uberance of spirits could not be
summoned at will.
DAKOTA IN CONGRESS.
Efforts for Division Interesting
Figures. D.
In the senate Wednesday, the business
being consideration of the bill to divide
Dakota on the 18th parallel and the ad-
mission of the southern hall, MI. Harri-
son said the movement for the admis-
sion Of a new state had originated where
such movements ought to originate
with the people Of the territory. A dis
cussion of its admission to the Union
could, Of course, assume the shape Of
party discussion, but that was a shape
unworthy Of so important a question.
To consider the application of people
for admission to the Union from the
point of view of its relation to the for
tunes of a political party was to consider
it from a level far below that of states
manship. He believed the feeling in
the territory wa almost unanimously in
favor Of the division of the northern and
southern portions, and equally unani-
NOUS that the admission of the whole
territory as a single state would not be
acceptable. Judged by population and
producing capacity, Dakota was entitled
to admission. In 1870 the improved
lands and farms in the territory COM
prised 9,645 acres; in 1880, l,15O,4ls
acres. The number of farms in the
territory in 1870 was 1870; in 1880, IT,
4S9. The value of those of 1880 was
$22, 100000, and the total value of the
agricultural products of that year $15,-
$4,000. This was a greater valuation
than could be stated of several states.
AS to capacity to bear the burdens of
state government, the territory was al
ready defraying nearly all those ex-
penses in the territorial form of govern
ment. With regard to the question
how much population should entitle a
territory to admission as a state, there
had been no rule established by con-
gress. It had been suggested that pop
ulation should be required at least equal
to the unit of representation in the lower
house of congress, which at this time
would be q little over 10000 persons.
Few of the states, however, had had
population enough at the time of their
admission to bring them within that
rule. No state, since the admission of
Missouri in 1921, had population sufi-
Gent to entitle it to n representative
in congress. It was therefore a matter
for the discretion Of congress; but even
on the basis requiring such population.
he believed that with thu naturally rapid
increase of population of the territory,
the portion proposed to be admitted
would, in a census taken at this time,
show enough population to entitle it to
two representatives.
Taking up the question of ratio of
voters to population, and the bearing of
that question upon the admission of Da-
kota, Harrison stated the vote of Dakota
in 1880 at 2S,426, while in 1884 it was
$1,000; increase, 81 ,574 voters in four
years. OF the $1,000 votes nearly two
thirds had been cast in Southern Dako-
ia, the portion seeking admission to the
Union. Estimating only four inhabitants
to a voter, Southern Dakota would now
have a population of 100000. In 1880
it had a population Of 49,, LIZ, or a pro.
portion of 4.82 inhabitants to a voter. If
it were objected that the proportion al
lowed was too large, he would look at
some other states. The proportion of
voters to inhabitants in Florida in 1880
was n voter for every 5.22 inhabitants,
Georgia n in 9.27, Mississippi one in
nearly 10, Louisiana one in 9.67, Ala
bama n in 8.46, Missouri one in 5.45.
The average of those six states gave one
in a little more than eight inhabitants to
each voter. Mr.. Harrison criticised the
report of the minority of the committee
on territories represented by Vest,
which strongly opposes the admission
of the territory, and which declares, if
the statements of the advocates of ad-
mission are true, the proposed state is
already IN Elysium, and its people en-
joying every blessing of religion, educa-
ton and prosperity. Harrison thought
this no answer to the demand of the
large, active and progressive population
when they claimed the right to elect
their own governor and take part in
making laws by which congress provides
for their government.
At one point Harrison said that Da-
kota, with & vote of $1,000, had no rep
resentatives in congress. while Louisiana,
with'a vote Of 10000, had six members
and two senators. Senator Gibson at
once resented the allusion to the sup
preston of the negro vote by charging
that Dakota allowed unnaturalized for
eigners to vote-a statement which was
promptly refuted by a quotation from
the election laws. The bill D to
have wen chances of passing the senate,
but cold death awaits it in the house.
Look Out for Hiram.
The St. Charles Mimi Union says
there are a bakers dozen on the list of
aspirants for hepostofice at that place,
but the editor suggests that "there is
| one impOrtant factor in the nosfomce