The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-10-02
SIOUX FALLS CONVENTION.

a
and all free government is founded ON their au-
thorty. and II 10 instituted for their equal pro.
lection and benefit; and they have the right, by
reform their forms Of government in such man
ner g they may think proper: and the State Of
Dakota 70 sa inseparable part Of the American
y the supreme law Of tho land.
The adoption of this resolution may be re-
garded as settling the controversy. The
principal event Of to-day's session was the
discussion Of the woman suffrage question
while the convention was In committee Of
the whole in consideration of the report of
the committee ON elections and the rights Of
suffrage The report recommends in SEQ.
ton =, that the legislature may extend the
right OF suffrage to any class or clauses Of
citizens not enumerated in section (the
right being limited by that section to male
citizens) BY general law enacting the same
and ratified by vote Of the qualified voters
OF the state; and section o extends the right
OF suffrage to all citizens twenty-one years
old and over, provided that at the election
held for the purpose Of voting for the con-
stitution majority Of tho legal voters vote
in favor of tho provision. Judge Moody
offered the following as substitute for SEC
tion 8:
II theright Of suffrage shall be extended to any
article. then In that case during tho existence Of
such privilege such class shall be eligible to
ONCE the samo ~ other class of electors
CAUTION URGED
In support Of his resolution Judge Moody
argued that great caution should be used.
In framing tho constitution no unusual pro-
vision should be inserted, lest tho document
be thereby jeopardized Congress would be
looking for weak points in the constitution
In order to make unfavorable action nlxusi-
bic. He referred to the narln that had been
done Dakota by the acts Of the capital COM
mission, and denounced that organization In
the most vigorous terms G. H. Meyers, a
member Of the commission, who Ia q dele
gate, and had WINGED perceptbly under
Moody's charges, rose excitedly aud made u
personal explanation. Moody again took
the floor to reply, and had proceeded but .
short time when calls for order were heard.
Smith of Hand county, who was in the chair,
had no comprehension of parliamentary
practice, and was completely disconccrted
A scene of confusion followed Finally
quiet was restored, and number of long
winded speeches were made, the speakers
using arguments In favor of woman suffrage,
After recess for dinner the matter was
taken up again, and Moody's amendment
defeated When the committee rose to
report was adopted, with the exc ,ption OF
section 2, which was stricken out, and Sec
ton was sent to the schedule COM
mittee, with instructions to prepare and
report section for the sepalate submission
Of the same. The section as adopted grants
to women the right to vote at school cleo
tions, and to hold all offices except as other
wise provided for IN the constitution The
report Of the committee on name, boundary
and seat Of government was adopted with
but few changea The 7th standard par
allel was fixed as the northern bound
ary east Of the Missouri river. ana
the 10th parallel west OF that point; tho
temporary and permanent seats Of govern
ment to be located by vote Of the people.
ALL AGREED AS TO RAILRoADs
The report Of the standing committee on
corporations other than banking or munich
pal was adopted with little or no debate. A
lively time had been anticipated when the
subject Of regulation of railroads should
come up, but these expectations were disap-
pointed Section 1G was go amended as
to prevent tho consolidation of rival rail-
roads, by lease or otherwise; and section
10, as adopted, gives the legislature power
to prevent discrimination. unjust or other
wise, in rates of transportation. The re-
malnder Of the report, rs we'll as that Of the
committee ON public accounts and expend-
itures, was adopted unchanged. The ques-
tion of the separate submission of certain
articles OF the constitution was settled
this morning, by the adoption of q resolution
offered by Campbell Of Yankton. The reso-
luton provides that all such articles, includ-
ing the location of the permanent seat of gov
ernment be printed In a separate division Of
the constitution headed, articles to be separ-
ately submitted, 'prescribes the form of ballot
to be used, and provides that majority of
all votes cast for and against any separate
proposition shall elect or reject, except seat
OF government which shall require plurali-
ty. Resolution introduced and referred to
appropriate committee.
Defining Jurisdiction, on waters in or border
ing upon the state: exemptinQ from taxation all
church property Of less value than $1,000;
providing that all appropriations, exceedina
S2O.G0O, be submitted TO q vote OF the people.
Upon reassembltng ut 7:3O the convention
took up the report of the committee on
county and township organization. The fol-
lowing amendments were adopted:
Enlnr0ing the minimum area of organized
counties to twcnty-fOur townships: requiring
four years instead Of six to intervene between
attempted removals of county seats: doing
election a. that at which the constitution IL
submitted.
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