The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-09-18
THE SIOUX FALLS CONVENTION.
What the Constitution Makers are
Doing for Lost Cause
Sioux FAILS, Sent. 16. 1855.


The convention still drags its weary
length along, and, from present appear
ances, we should Judge chat it viii con-
tinue to drag its aforesaid weary length
for at least ten days from the present
writing. Action upon all matters is
slow, so slow, indeed, that many Of the
members are becoming weary of the
monotony and propose leaving for
home the latter part of the week. For
instance, the entire forenoon session to-
day in committee-of-the-whole was
consumed in discussing two sections of
the report Of the legislative committee,
Verify it appears that there are men in
this convention who, fearing they may
never have another opportunity to be-
come CONSPICUOUS, are determined to
infict themselves upon a long suffering
audience on'the slightest proyoeation--
and sometimes without any proyocation
at all. But it should not be inferred
that the convention is composed solely
of this pestilential class. There are
men here who compare fayorably with
any in the United States-m men who
make their presence felt and whose
opinions, when expressed, carry more
weight with their associates than the
windy platitudes of themo ambitious
We cannot but see that many of those
who have heretofore been prominent in
territorial affairs have maintained their
positions by sheer cheek and a persistent
pushing to the front. But their days
are numbered and we predict for them
speedy relegation to their proper
sphere.
Since our last letter very little has
been accomplished, but one report, that
of the committee on military affairs,
having been approved and engrossed.
Several other reports are now in readi-
ness, however. and the next few days
will see considerable business dis
patched. From present indications we
should judge that the constitution fin
ally prepared by the convention will be
creditable document, the principal
regret being that it can be productive
of so little good. Its legislation upon
matters more directly effecting the
people will be satisfactory IN the main,
a strong manifestation having already
been made in favor Of restricting rail-
road corporations, prohibiting special
legislation and preventing members Of
the legislature from accepting consid-
erations to bias their official actions.
The prohibitionists are getting to the
front and displaying considerable
i alacrity in the 'furtherance of their
Hobby, YET it is still probabLe that the
question Will be submitted to .he peo-
pie in a seperate clause, many Of the
more polite being afraid to burden
the, constitution with anything that
might tend to bring out an opposing
vote. Yet there are not Lacking those
| who want it engrafted in the consti-
tuition or dropped altogether, not be.
| ing content that the people should say
| for themselves whether or not they de-
sire to Live under its restrictions. There
are fanatics in every cause.
The democratic members are clam.
orous for a minority representation
clause, and it Is not impossible that
a proposition to that effect WILL be
also submitted separately. To this
there should be no objection, for, as
the people are sovereign, no body
should take unto itself to say whether
they do or do not favor particular
subject when their real feelings can
be ascertained SO easily.
BY next week we hope to report some
thing more defnate, but at the present
4 time any assertion in regard to the
action Of the convention is little more
than mere supposition. Mac.