Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-18
Day.
SESSION.

WHEN Nut G~O1lNelICiOIl was ld1ASu wv
order, it was 500 o'clock. No minister
being present to open the convention,
the president. looking over to II. NJ. Will
hanson Of Moody, said. with all the
gravity the occasion could summons:
81 will call upon Mr.. Williamson to of
Ter prayer"
With good deal of embarrassment,
Mr.. Williamson arose and replied, Il
am a lawyer. MI. President, and not a
minister"
There WAS an unusual bnoyancy OBJ
served in the risibles of those present
despite the subject.
Rev. Joseph Ward Of Yankton offer
ed prayer and the journal was read and
the convention opened.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE.
\. p. Allen of Moody, Edward
Wheelock and r. B. Spicer OF Cooling
ton We're granted leaves Of absence.
iii Liquor QUESTION.
II. NJ. Williamson of Moody present
ed II petition upon the regulation OF
sale and manufacture OF liquor. which
was referred to the legislative commit
tee,
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
ii. j. Campbell of Yankton called up
for further consideration the report of
the committee on schedule, beginning
with section s, and which went owe as
"A special order from the previous day.
Section S involved the question OF
electing state and other officers, over
which so much discussion was elinced
during the previous morning hour. 1t
resolved into the question OF whether
OF not congress wouldlook with greater
favor upon the constitution if Il full
complement of state officers were pre-
scented with the constitution.
w, NJ. Pierce OF Codington-lf this is
a non-partisan move we can do nothing
the constitution is submitted, it is right
that we should.
i. q. Caulfield of Lawrence-We Of
the Black Hills are and have been anN-
ious for statehood, for the reason that
we believe it will advance the interests
OF not only our own community. but
the whole state. We are cut Off from
our brethren in other parts Of the terri
tory, because we have no railroad facil.
tiles. ] believe statehood will advance
those interests. We have n OF the
finest mining and agriculturist coun-
tries in the world and we want it de-
veloped, and yet we are not selfish. ]
am for the admission Of the territory
to statehood, if democrat never holds
an Office. would rather 90 in now
with no democrats in Office than wait
and hold all the offices. But l am com
PEELED to differ with some of my friends
here. / give you all credit Of being
honest in your zeal and patriotism
in this work, but | fear You will make
a mistake if you adopt this clause and
elect officers. Members OF congress al,
Jealous OF the manner in which they
are elected, and they want every one
to 60 there elected in the same way
] have seen men elected in Il reg
ular way than we could hope to elect
banging around congress with acertiti.
cate ct election in their pockets, and
they We're not admitted to seats. When
we send members to congress we want
them to have clean and clear certiii.
Gates. Alaska two years ago elected
10y ii convention like this a delegate to
congress. and they laughed and srntfed
at him. until he was driven i....,4iy
from the floor as not being entitled to
it, and Mr.. Pettigrew had to go and
beg of the speaker to let him hi. I. ali
the courtesieS Of the floor. We don't
want to send Il member there who will
have to sit in the gallery and peep
through the glass door ut the seat his
heart longs for. Laughter. Let MS
go down to Washington with only one
constitution and say it is republican in
form and that we have complied with all
requirements, and they are bound un-
der oath to admit us to statehood. Men
have hung around congress for years
and years with certificates like those
we would issue, and they We're not adj
mitted nor given their salary. If
could be made to lmlieve it advisable
l would grab ut and grasp at the propo-
sition to elect officers, but ! cannot. /
believe we have the right to do so, but
! don't believe we can make others he
lieve it, not even the republicans. The
republicans Of New England are not
in favor OF v admission. anyway. be
cause they fear our power. They sec
they want to keep lis down.
y. Il l'CNAA VI i hlhloll-l IItNC
been greatly edited and much instruct.
ed by the ~gentleman's Mr.. Caultield's|
description OF the demoraliZing effect
in electing members to congress.
want to ask him if he has any doubt
about our right to proceed by electine
officers?
Mr.. Caullield-I have no doubt We
have the right.
Mr.. Campbell-Then what window
will IL congressional committee peer
through into congress?
Mr.. Cauliield-T The same window Oul
members OF congress will peepthrough
Mr.. Campbell Then. as the Scotch
proverb puts it, Deliver us from our
friends If we go to congress fearing
we have no rights. and go humbly and
say, ''Please admit us. for we believe
we have Il right to admission-that is
we think we had II right: we are not
sure but we think so-and we would.
that is we think so, like to be admitted
we must demand it us Il right we are
positive of, and produce our proof.
NJ. Grigsby of Minnehaha-I can't
see how we would be in any worse
plight it we back up Jul constitution
with state officers and congressman and