Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-06-27


public that an unjust apportionment is
a just apportionment. The error, how
ever, possesses no significance. as it is
not question as to how or when the ap.
porsionment of 1884 was made. We
called attention at the time to the wide
discrepancy between the city and the
country representation and have since
printed some remarks upon the subject.
In our later discussion of the subject we
have erroneously stated that the
committee of 1884 had second meeting
and changed the apportionment. Writ
ing entirely from recollection the case
was not presented entirely as
it should have been. This we are
convinced of now that the chair
man of the committee has gone out
among our citizens and secured list of
names in support of his proposition that
the committee did not change the ap-
portionment at subsequent meeting,
1t may be supposed that the gentlemen
who vouch for the utterances of the chair
man were members of the committee Of
1884, but they were not. A large majority
of them were not even spectators of its
proceedings and could not have had
personal knowledge of the matters
they vouoh for.
The gentlemen present at the first
meeting of the committee, which
arranged the apportionment, were G. w.
Kingsbury. J. L. Pennington, A. L. Van
Osdell, 81. Ellerman and T. L. Dickson.
Ellerman and Dickson were not mem.
bers but held proxies.
Now that we recall more fully the cir.
cumstances connected with the remarka-
BILE apportionment of 1884 it assumes
this attitude: The committee which
made the apportionment was represent
ed largely by proxies in the hands of
men not appointed by the convention
as members OF that organization
BY the force OF superior
numbers they succeeded in establishing
on apportionment which gave to the
country fifty-two votes and to the city
twenty-five. One precinct adjoining the
city, which had at that time refused to
come within the control of the combina.
tion, was denied any representation in
the convention. This apportionment
was so unjust that it was supposed to
have been enormously made and the
chairman called the committee together
again to correct the apportionment. The
tactics employed at the first meeting
prevailed at the second meeting and the
unjust apportionment was affirmed and
the scheme carried out to its completion
1t makes very little difference about the
date of the contamination of the iniquity
or whether the apportionment was
changed or remained as originally con.
structed. We have shown by the figures
that the country received much large,
representation than was its due and that
the precincts sure to fall under the con.
troll of the manipulators were especially
favored. The motive for this arbitrary
act was not at the time apparent. The
parties who sought nominations in the
convention were not opposed in theil
aspirations. It developed, however, a,
the close of the convention, when q
county committee was manufactured
solely in the interest oi
these political conspirators and til,
machinery of the party was placed il
their hands. They can hold to 1t indefin
itely, under their peculiar methods, ane
that they intend to do this is evidenced
by the apportionment of 1885, wherei,
the city was given thirty.four votes il
the convention and the country sixty
three. The neighboriug precinct which
last year was denied any representation
in the convention, this year fell into lint
with the manipulators, and though i
contains but thirty-tive voters it was &C
corded representation of three in th'
convention. If this basis of apportion
ment had been followed out the cit,
would have had between sixty ant
seventy delegates in the convention, in
stead of thirty-four. But the city is q,
uncertain quantity. It cannot be worked
for proxies or hammered into line.
In putting forth these remarks We ar
actuated by no personal motive. A ma,
who has not the courage to announce hi
identity. but sneaks behind th,
cover of q non de plume, assert
that the Press and Dakotaian ha
q grievance. Words are cheap an,
printers ink can be bought by the bar
rel. The grievance OF this particula
anonymous writer is that, while tn
Press and Dakotaian has always willing
ly accorded him full credit for his hon
est work as public servant, it refuses
and will continue to refuse, to app,au,
every disreputable political act of his
The class of politicians to whicl
he belongs has no us
for people of Independent
thought and action-what it requires i
blind subserviency aud unquestione,
loyalty to every thought and act Of tn
| leafs.rA. II IN the P.ttiCrev anhonl n