Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-02-15
TWO TERRITORIES.

Arguments for and Against tho Admlssion
of Dakota aud a1ont.na.
Washington, Feb. l2-The house com.
nittee on territories to-day listened to
arguments for and against the bill pro.
siding for q constitutional convention IN
Dakota. The bill is bette understood
,s the Ordway bill, aud provides for
constitutional convention for the whole
erritory. and submits to the convention
he question of whether the territory
hall come 10 as one or two states, Pat
Jouan CT Fargo, Mr.. F.annery Of Bis
narck. w A. Bnrleigh OF Miles City.
Mont, aud Gov. Ord~ay spoke III favor
Il the bill, aud Judge w. W. Brooklugs,
Il Sioux Falls, aud Bartlett Trlpp, of
Yankton, against it. The advocates OF
,he bill claimed that in the event of con
kress failing to admit Dakota this year
The hOldIug OF q convention would be
,ue step III the direction of statehood.
aud that the people of Dakota ought
10 determine themselves whether the.
should be admitted into the
Iuion as one or two states. The Oh.
,oneDts of the measure a,gued that there
was no need Of submitting the question
# division to the people. That question
.ad hardly been practically settled iu
he territory. Every Legislature that has
yer met III Dakota has declared III favor
i DIVISION aud memorable d coOgr So tu
he sdme effect. Every republican OF
iemccratic platform in the territory con.
aimed plank IN favor of division.
Constitutional convention bad already
een held. A constitution was framed
nj St1 ul tr, 4
| y large majority. This .eonstitntiou
Il southern Dakota. Even those who
err'tory two years ago favored division
All legislation OF the territory
outemplated division. The peui.
ieDtiuries, two universities, two
.usane asylums, two normal
schools. one OF each for north and one
ior south Dakota. had been established
The commlt'ee have not considered the
oil, but will take it up very SOON. The
'pposition IL very strung, aud will prob
abty succeed in defeating the bill. Del.
gate Ray moud said to day that be
scarcely expected auythlug would be
lone on this subject this session. He
Understood that y number Of democratic
members had said they would vote for
ilvlsion. but nevertheless, iu his opinion
uothing would be done III regard to it.
Those favorlug division are, however
very hopeful, and declare that they Will
succeed III carrying it through this ses
slOD.
Tue political complexion of congress.
is such that it is not likely that elthel
Dakota or Montana will be admitted
separately into tue UNION this session
The democratic house will undnubtedl,
endeavor to pass q blil to admit Mobtana
out tho republicans will oppose it for the
same political reason that the democrats
refuse to admit Dakota. aud the bill If il
tail in the house, will fail 10 the senate
Since the adoption of the state coustitu
ton by Montana clamor Is being u ad,
tor its ratification by congress, aud tn,
frle0ds Of admission are urging tn.
claims Of the territory. Delegate Magin
uls of Montana has q bill providing TO
the admission OF both Dakota and Mon
taua ut the same time. This would neu
traiize the political effect of the admis
sion Vi .lther QUE OF them, aud mlgh
pass this session. The passage OF Al,
MaRinnis' bill will, however, d-peu,
upon the result Of the quarrel IN Daku
ta over division. THIS may be carried
10 far as to defeat the admission of an,
part of Dakota and Of the bill to admi
both territories at the same time.