Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-18

in the north part Of the territory to-day
IS glad that we have up an issue that is
liable to divide.
AZ Mellette of Codington-I have
so far preferred to listen and not talk.
L must say that the evil of intemper-
ance is n of the greatest questions
now before our law-1naking powers.
| will not dodge the issue. t neve
dodge. l want to act consistently, and
that [ shall do to the best of nv judg-
ment. l thought l was in favor Of
submitting the question upon Il sepa-
rate ballot, believing l could so express
myself upon self-governmeut and also
upon the liquor traffic at the same poll.
The matter has, however. come down
to incorporating it into the constitution.
1t m up as a codicil, which is about
the same thing as placing it in the con-
stitution, except that it will be in an
abstract form and in the nature of an
other constitution or a supplement to
the original. 1t is IN issue that re-
solves into this question, Which is the
paramount issue, prohibition or state
hood? What is to be gainedi if you put
it in the constitution? The very first
legislature can practically annul it.
1t after all goes back to the legislature.
and it may as well 60 there at first. II
we are to meet the issue here, let us
put it right into the constitution and
meet it fairly. Unless we can agree
now we had rs we'll adjourn, and adj
iourn at this very moment. / cannot
agree to override these democrats who
object to this mode OF proceeding.
They command and deserve our re-
snect.
George II. Hand Of Yankton-The
paramount issue before these people is
self-government. All else sinks into
utter insigniticance' This territory is
in the hands of as INSCRIPTIONS a set
OF ~scoundrels as ever disgraced a peo-
pie. and | came here to help rid you of
the incubus. If you had seen what |
saw at Yankton last winter, you would
be willing to throw all else behind you
for self-government. Prohibition. fe-
male suffrage and other issues should
be laid aside for statehood. [ cannot
consent to travel with any such issue
as this. If it would save a human life
or dry a tear it woulddo to incorporate
prohibition in our constitution, but if
you vote upon it as suggested it is but
a straw. We should not Jeopardize our
constitution by incorporating this mat
ter into it.
j. Z. Whiting Of Sanborn said he
wanted to put himself on record as be-
ing willing to put before the people
anything the people demand. He favor
ed submission and thought no good ar
gument had been used against it. He
said we denounced congress because we
refused statehood on the ground Of ex-
pediency and yet the convention pro-
posed to refuse prohibitionists their
rights upon the ground of expedieney.
A shower Of bouquets rained down
from the gallery
j.. W. Taylor OF Lincoln-The people
of the county l have the honor to rep
resent are willing to wait for prohibit
ton until we have a state.
W. w. Bookings of Minnehaha said
it was not fairly IN the interest OF tenn
perance tOSubmit the question now:
that it would he defeated, although he
would vote for submitting.
James A. Ward Of Hughes said he
was opposed to submitting the question
to Il vote with the constitution, as he
was sent here to help frame a cOnstitu-
ton that would be ratified and that
would secure statehood, and not one
that would be defeated. He thought
it highly improper to have anything to
do with the issue in connection with
the constitution.
A. G. Mellette OF Codington said he
had no doubt the convention would
like to hear from the president on the
subject at issue.
There were cries for President Trip,
who finally called Mr.. Mellette to the
chair and addressed the convention in
a very strong argument against SUBJ
uniting the question with the constitu-
ton. He remarked, among the several
expressions: II regret that this ques-
ton has come before the convention
regret it because the first harsh word
yet spoken was spoken here to-day in
this discussion. l regret it sincerely
and deeply. This is but the excitement
OF a moment. however. and | believe
that the same candor which has char
acterized this convention will prevail
hereafter. [ am IL temperance man
and never drank Il drop of liquor in
my life. You cannot dodge this issue.
| am glad have an opportunity Of show
ing that l will not dodge it. l dep
recate the wrongs OF the liquor traffic,
but | am not in favor of incorporating
prohibition in the constitution. You
all came here to adopt Il constitution,
one that would please Your constitu-
ency, and one that would not be rele-
gated back by the people. There is no
%expediency or policy in this matter.
You are for Or against prohibition. l am
opposed to this proposition going into
the constitution. Throw AVA the
cowardly word "expediency", and assert
your manhood. Vote for or against
prohibition. But keep the issue out of
the constitution. Let the question go
to the legislature for legislation. Z
would rather be right, as has been
said, than president OF the United
States" prolonged a%pplause.l
The previous question was called at
4:4OP. NJ. and the ayes and noes were
demanded upon the vote. The vote re-
suited, ayes 81, noes 81, as follows:
Ayes-Allen of Moody, Akin, Baum,
Bronson, Brookings, Clevenger. Gala
han, Cort, Converse, Cheever, Elrod,
Eakin, Foster of Sphinx, Gunderson,
Hayes, Knox, Lane, Lucas, Lothian,
Lawrence, Lewis, Mitchell, Mcdonald
of Jerauld, Macdonald of Kingsbury,
Mallahan. Pease, Peek, Qualey, Shelter,
Sherwood. Smith, Sherman, Sterling,
Nm nv ~rvp -,