Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-10-29

THE DIVISION QUESTION.

THE DIVISION QUESTION.
What the People Have to Say on the
Subject.
The Minneapolis Tribune sent out into
all parts Of the territory questions in re-
gard to the feeling of the people on the
subject Of division of this territory and
elected answers which are condensed
below. Following are the questions:
1.-Do the people Of your neighborhood
desire division of the territory In view
of its admission to the slsterhood of
states?
2-lf they do desire it, do they prefer
division into north and south or by the
Missouri river?
The answer from Bismarck was that
the people there before and during the
last session of the legislature were largely
in favor of division, but now the CORES
pondent says: "If the question of dlvi-
sion were submitted to vote of the peo-
pie IN this locality, am of the opinion
that 1t would not interest the community
sufficiently to call out two thirds of the
voting population, but without doubt
the result would be that the anti division
party would carry the day BY a very large
majority. No basis of division than that
upon the 18th parallel would be consider
ed, even among those who most siren
uous]y advocate separation.
The Mandan correspondent answers:
"The people Of Dakots living west of
the Missouri on the Northern Pacific line
are divided in their views as to the ad
mission or division of the territory. Some
want admission to the sisterhood of states
as whole; Others want division on the
46th parallel. with admission of both
halves as states; while third section
would prefer to sec division on the Mis-.
souri,, with the admission Of the eastern
portion of the present territory
The following answer comes from
Pierre: "The people Of this section Of
Dakota are unanimous for the division Of
the territory before admission into the
Union, and will 60 80 far ~ to vote down
any constitution that might be framed
for admission as WHOLE
The Fargo correspondent in . lengthy
review of the question barely touches
upon the question asked Of him by inter
polstirg into his voluminous digest the
following: If am not entirely mis-.
taken the idea OF division on the Missouri
river was first brought into prominence
by Senator Dawes, Of Massachusetts,
evidently for the purpose at the time ol
retarding the scheme and blocking bott
division and admission for the time being
Since that time the division scheme ha
been talked of on the Missouri river b.
the north more to oppose the south thai
in any good faith. Consequently Nortl
Dakota Is not in favor Of division eithel
from one point or the other. She il ready
however, for admission ss . whole. II
there should be any COED reason for North
Dakota to believe that congress would
recognize the present constitution a. made
by the South, an immense amount OF
work would ne done to defeat the pro-
ject."
The Yankton correspondent spreadt
himself all over South Dakota, and, like
the Fargo correspondent, speaks more
for other places than his own immediate
vicinity. The following 10 the voice from
Yankton: "The people of South Daksta
would never consent to admission as Z
whole. Public sentiment is strongly IN
favor of division on the 46th parallel, Of
an east and west line that will equitably
DIVIDE the territory. There is substan-
TALLY no desire whatever for division OF
the territory on the Missouri river. Such
a division, if made, would not be accept
ed by the people, if it was put to vote.
1t has only been since the Democratic ID
ministratlon came into power that any
anti DIVISION or anti statehood sentiment
has shown itself in South Dakota. Now,
with view and hope of controlling the
| federal patronage in the territory, some
of the Office seeking leaders of the Demo
| cratic party have arrsyed themselves
against the statehood movement, while
they, at the same time, pr etend that they
are IN favor of division"
The Wstertewn correspondent comes
right 70 the point as follows: "The peo-
pie in this section of Dakota, with few
exceptions. desire division of the territory,
in view Of It's admission as state. Many,
however, express themselves Is being
favorable to admission As whole if in
sistlng on q division will destroy our
chances Of admission.
The Huron correspondent says: "By q
| careful inquiry among those most thor
oughly posted concerning the proposed
division of Dakota territory, in view Of
its admission into the sisterhood of states,
your correspondent meets with but enc
| response in this locality, viz; IN emphatic
desire for division As to the division
| line the sentiment is unit favorable 70
the 46th parallel. The Missouri river q
the dividing line has no advocates IN this