The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-09-04
Dakota TERRlToR1ALNEws
Dakota's Coming Statehood.

.Wn1C OF the state Ill DlKOC;l! asked
reporter few days ago OF Lauren
Dunlap, commissioner of immigra-
ton for the Territory of Dakota.
Mr.. Dunlap replied: "In spite
OF hope deferred we are conscious
that every day brings it nearer.
The census, Just taken, shows n popu-
lation af about 415, 1000, of which the
counties holding a constitutional con-
vcntion next month have 100000,
and North Dakota enough more for a
second state. The duties OF the Sioux
Falls convention, called to meet Sept.
8, as defined by law, are plain. Tho
law says that the convention shall
draft u constitution and provide for
IN election by the people of South
Dakota, at which election the consti-
tuition shall be submitted to the peo.
pie for ratification, and at which cleo
ton the state officers, member OF con-
gross, members of the legislature, and
all other officers provided for in the
constitution shall be elected. Thecon-
yention is given the further power to
provide for the assembling OF the leg.
islature when elected. South Dakota
docs not propose to set up an indie
pendent government of her own. 1t is
simply intended to erect Il provisional
government, whose officers may be
recognized as the accredited represent
tativcs of the proposed state on
presenting the constitution adopted
by the people to congress. A good
constitution, such as there is every
reason to believe the Sioux Falls con-
yention will frame, WILDE accepted by
the people beyond question. There
will be some opposition. The advo-
Gates OF the admission of Dakota as Il
whole and OF division OH the Missouri
river, who are very active, will throw
nll their strength againstit The peo-
pie of south Dakota generally want
division on the forty-sixth parallel,
using that term as q familiargcoeraph
ical. definition. The line OF division
east Of the Missouririversho corre-
spond with the county boundary line
between the lower tier OF North Da
kota counties and the upper tier of
South Dakota counties, so as not to
disturb existing county boundaries.
This distinction should he made i'll
the constitution rs an act OF Justice
to the people OF the counties inter-
cstcd.
HOW IT IS REGARDED IN TILE NORTH.
"In North Dakota there is very lit
tie said about the convention, which
would imply ncqliescence and not hos
tility. Thinking men in that section
realize that division Is us much i'll
their interest as it is i'll that OF South
Dakota. Indeed, the strength, the
characteristic backbone you might
say-of the separate statehood prin-
ciple is found i'll the fact that there is
nothing sectional about division as ~
proposition. The development of both
sections is last multiplying the differ.
ent local interests OF each, which will
de.sland more and more the fostering
cnrc o. wise and intelligent legislation.
Good for South and North
Dakota is the guarantee that division
may be said to offer, and believe
this view OF the question-.which has
not always been properly put, orright-
commend itself to II citizen ofDakots,
lliSSlNGllNc VI ScIliOil. upon ~ ittt4S
reflection"
"There ought not to be any obiec-
ton to clecting state officers beforet the
state is admitted"
"rhc situation of Dakota demands
something more than Il feeble protest
against being kept out OF the Union.
1t does not justify her people i'll over
stepping the bounds OF law. or OF an
tagonizing i'll any way the federal au-
thority. Nor is there any danger of
her people doing that. But it does
call 10Y decisive action, i'll taking the
steps preliminary to the formation OF
the state. The time has come for Da-
kotans to insist as flr as they can
within the law upon what are the ma
turai rights of Dakota III respect OF
division and admission. The t,favis-
ionnl state government is rs much i'll
order at this thug rs the constitution.
Neither do the officers so elected have
any powers to act, nor does the writ
ten instrument possess the vitality OF
u state charter.
SHOULD ACCEPT THE CONSTITUTION.
at is of equal importance, however.
that the people OF the proposed state
should adopt a constitution of their
own, leaving congress to set the ma
cllinery OF the state i'll motion, if it
pleases. Whether the admission of
Dakota would iegaiizc the Sioux Falls
constitution and election OF officers
wol:ld depend on congress. The prob
abilities are that congress would pre-
Ter to have the work done over again.
as provided in the enabling act passed.
In that event, however. the constitu-
ton framed at Sioux Falls and the
provisional state officers afterward
elected would have served all excellent
purpose without the former hayin g
become law or the provisional
officers having been permitted
to exercise any OF the func-
tions of Office; and there is q chance
for admission. 1t would be strange il
there were not i'll the case OF Dakota.
There is Il better chance, however, for
securing division into two territories.
Ii this could be effected as a csmrro-
,nisc, the Democrats STIMULATING that
no state shall be admitted out of the
present Territory OF Oak ta until after
the next presidential election-cxcept
in the remote contingency Of their los
}ur COhUEOl u 1iie HOHsc-tHc SIOUX
Falls convention would have accom-
plis],ed enough to satisfy majority
OF the people OF both sections. TIE
division OF Dakota into two terrific,
res, with an increase of the judiciary
now imperativciy demanded, would be
n happy compromise, and n.:g|;t please
both scctions-each OF wl.ici. is
ready for stat..hood-more than the
admission of sout.: Dakota alone. /"
AIr. Dunlap stated t.sst the outlook
for immigration was excsi!e,:t. Dur
ing the summer there had becn . ieir
increase OF population in the newer
sections Of the territory where govern
ment land Was to be had, and this
fall, following the grsat crop Of this:
year, and the wide publication OF the
census figures of population, xealth
and character OF population, with sta
tjstics showing the rapid improvement
OF the country and development OF re-
sources not any longer 10 bs doubted,
it WAS confidently expected that Da-