Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-12-01
THE STATE OF DAKOTA.
Some Comments Wise and Otherwise
before Our Present Legislation.
i El..,x.


Chicago Inter Ocean,
There is no such territory now as
south Dakota, and there never may be,
but one thing is reasonably certain,
| there Will be, sooner or later, the state
of south Dakota. The steps taken
toward the organization OF a provisional
state government all conspire to show
that the people are thoroughly in earn.
est and fully resolved upon making two
Estates out of the present terrltc.y.
Both sections of Dakota recognize the
propriety OF the division. A democratic
| mouse OF representatives may refuse to
admit tie provisional state, but when
admission comes, as come it must, 1t will
be south Dakota and north Dakota.
This may be set down as very nearly
settled already.
The official canvass of the vote of
south Dakota showed that 81 ,665 votes
were cast on the adoption of the oonsti-
tuition, OF which %, ,13S were for it. The
territorial census of 1854 would indicate
that the population of south Dakota is
262,5l5, and oil north Dakota l53, 149.
The two sections are substantially
agreed upon the advisa5ility of division.
The area is too large for one state, and
there are many reasons why 1t would be
better to divide them. Political mean
ness may hinder admission, but IL can
not compel Dakota to come into the
union as one state. 1t IS reported that
President Cleveland favors the division.
J That will help matters some. Let him
cast the weight of administrative lntiu-
enee in favor of the admission of south
y I'D fe
viii favor it to secure admission at this
I, session.
9 The provisional legislature will meet
on the 14th of December, and elect two
United States senators, and they, with
the two members of congress elect, will
: oe charged with the duty OF presenting
J the claims of their prospective state to
f congress. The machinary for state
: has been fully prepared, but 1T wouic
be idle to go on with the provlsiona
: government beyond the election of sen
8 atoKs. 1t will be time enough to pro
:. ceed with the enactment of laws, etc.
O when the provisional merges in the &C
: tual. Huron may well felicitate itsel
I upon being chosen the capital of sontl
Q Dakota. 1t is centrally located ane
n may reasonably hope to perpetuate 1T
. capitoline -eminence. 1t had seyera
. competitors, Pierre being the oDl.
n really formidable one. There was, prac
5 tieaiiy," only one candidate for each stat
office. There were two open question
10 before the people: First, prohibition
r. and second, minority representation a
we have it in Illinois. The latter propo
" sition was voted down, 1l,251 for it AM
l664O against it. The people shove,
D. their good sense. Theoretically it is
?. fair'and reasonable concession, but prac
y ticaily it is an unmitigated nuisance
d The spectacle presented last winter an,
g. spring by the Illinois house OF represen
a, tatiyes with its almost lnterminabl
u dead look, and above all, its speaker
A. Haines, fifty illustrates the folly of min
IN ority representation.
,e Prohibition barely scratched through
II, The vote stood 1852 Tor 1t and 10, q
b against it. Here is chance for Govel
L nor ST. John to come out strong. Ih
democrats owe him and his third part
t, great deal, very much more in fac
~ than they do George William Curt
al snd his few fellow mugwumps. IL
of should In all fairness be afforded som
in democratic help in an effort to secui
o. the admission of the only proyisiont
at state which ever came to congress wit
to q prohibitory constitution. But it is
70 no means certain that st. John will Ii
I'd | q finger in behalf of south Dakota. ID
1T has never, SO far as We know, been
Ir. practical worker in the cause. Ii ke
m not prohibitionist for revenue only
a. does certainly eeem to be one for pol
ge tics only. The prohibitory vote OF sont
90 Dakota has no connection whatever wi
re the prohibitionists as party.
no simply means that small majority