Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-09-12

A canvass of the delegates now assem-
bled at Sioux Falls to enact state con-
stitutlon shows that strong majority
in that body are IN favor, not only of the
adoption of a constitution, but of pro-
vidiG: in the schedule for an election of
state officers, members of legislature,
congressman and senators. 1t IS
said by some that the convention
is unit on this proposition.
In pursuance of this intention on
the part of the convention, General
Campbell, of Yankton, was placed at the
head of the committee on schedule. The
general occupies the most advanced
position upon this subject and it can be
relied npon that the items in the
schedule relative to elections will cover
the entire ground.
The pluck of these representatives OF
the progressive element of south Dsko.
ia cannot be too highly commended.
They have assembled together with the
purpose of asserting firmly and decided
ly the rights of Dakota and they will
make no halfway, fear and trembling,
work of it. The delegates to this con-
vention are noticeably men of high
character and broad comprehension and
these characteristics, added to the cour-
age they exhibit, will enable them to
build strongly for the state their deter.
mination almost assures. They repre-
sent people who have deliberately
reached tho conclusion that tt day of
supplication has passed and that south
Dakota has reached crisis in its politi.
| cal affairs where manhood must assert
| itself and must take firm stand upon
its chosen position. Judge Edgerton
as the president of this body, is to be
congratulated upon the opportunity af
forded HIM to exhibit the courage
and independence of an
American citizen he is known to possess
He is true to south Dakota and it's inter.
| ests, and in the years to come he will be
| able to look back with commendable
pride upon his leadership of an organl.
zation assembled to advance those inter.
| ests.
The plan Of the conven ton is to elect
the executive, judicial and Legislative
officers necessary to state government
and member of the lower house oi
congress. These officials are not tc
assume the functions of thei,
respective positions until congres!
comedies the requisite authority, with
this exception: That the governor shal
assemble the Legislature and the legisla
ture shall elect two United States sena.
tors and then dlsband until such time as
congress gives vitality to its organiza.
tion by adopting an act Of admission
This is given as the popular plan among
the members of the convention. There
is certainly nothing hazardous about it,
nothing bearing the semblance of revo.
luton or antagonism to the existing
provisional government. 1t is merely
a getting ready to be q state. But il
will give to south Dakota a powerful
lobby in the interest of admission and &
quasi official organization to present anG
urge our claims at Washington.
The convention might rightfully &c
one step further in its pursuit of justice
1t might provide that. in case congress
turns deaf ear to our demand for state
hood and declares IN effect that we shal
not be admitted, the governor elect b.
empowered to put in motion the machln'
cry of state government, under the pro
visions Of the constitution of the United
States and of the ordinance accompany
ing the Louisiana treaty. The pre-
cedents established in the cases of Michi
gan and California could be followed, a
o last resort. We make this suggestion
under the accepted theory that our con
stitutional representatives. are assembled
for the specific purpose OF making stat
and that it is their intention to labor t,
the finish.