The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-05-29
JOIN A. OWEN.


The first meeting in Klngsbur,
county under the state League move
ment was held in De Smet last Monda,
evening. Among those present from
abroad were Judge Hugh J. Campbell
OF Yankton; Hon. A. G. Mellette, o
Watertown, and X. Lewis, l.. j. Bates
and others, from Lake Preston. The
hall was well filled with ladies ant
gentlemen, who manifested Geer
interest in the proceedings. The meet
ing was called to order 10y C. L. Sher
wood, vice president for Kingsbury
county. Upon request Rev. j. III. La
Grange offered short prayer, followed
by America" by the choir, with Miss
Freddie Knapp at the organ.
Hon. John A. Owen, president OF the
State League, being called upon came
forward and gave history of the
movement from Tie beginning, its OBJ
jects and aims, and urged all who favor
division and admission to join the
League and contribute to its support.
Gov. a. c. Mellette followed with an
able address Oh the needs of division
and admission. He stated firstly that
we needed division, and gave as reasons
in support Of the proposition the inn
mense size Of the Territory. 400 miles
square, which necesstated an enor-
nous outlay for travelling expenses of
each legislature which assembled at the
capital, as well as for every individual
obliged to go there. He compared the
probable cost Of running the govern
ment if admitted as whole, and the
cost of two small States. Each officer,
lie said, should be paid according to the
work he bad 10 perform, therefore the
governor, secretary, treasurer, and all
other officers should receive double the
salary for the large State as for the two
fMal o9p SEQ UleG. is already provision
State institutions, and nothing can be
saved there. Therefore, he reasoned.
the expense would be as great for rum
ming the glorious State Of Dakota as q
whole as the two States if divided. AS
advantages under division he gave the
fact of having four senator's instead of
two. a possible increase in representa-
tves by having the benefit Of the frac-
ton, and better legislation in conse-
quence Of having our interests more in
common. and not, as heretofore, a con-
tnual strife between north and south.
thereby destroying all legislation. The
governor signiiied his willingness and
readiness to do everything in his power
for the cause Of division and admission,
and TO faithfully perform every duty
assigned him as governor He closed
by paying glowing tribute TO the
memory Of John Brown and proposing
the addition of two verses to the song,
the first, John Browns knapsack is
number Co." and second, The State OF
Dakota is number 39," and asked the
choir and congregation to sing the song
with those verses added, which they
did with will.
Judge Hugh j. Campbell. Of Yaak-
ton, one Of the ablest and most earn est
supporters Of the movement was then
introduced, and he gave the audience
one Of the ablest addresses ever heard
in De Smet.
The former speaker had spoken OF
| the needs of division and statehood
and the Judge took up our constitu'
tional right for such division and ad.
mission. He first cited the case OF
Tennessee. The people Of that Terri
tory without an enabling act framed q
constitution and elected State officers
and then gave notice to Washington
then president. that at certain date
the Territorial government would cease
and the State government begin. The
President transmitted the constitution
to Congress with a message of approval
and Congress passed upon it. admit
ting the State, without hint that the,
consd cred the move rebellious. Ii,
cited fro m the ablest judges and sena
tors, sho wing that the steps being takeI
by Dako are only such as they hav,
full power and constitutional right t.
take. and gave as precedents the case
Of Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee
Maine, Michigan, Arkansas, Florida
Iowa, California and Oregon. Ill
urged the necessity Of keeping a'iv,
the Sioux Falls constitution, as it wOul'
be impossible to get another Territoria
legislature to authorize the framing o
new one, from the fact that an
Democratic governor would veto 1t an
a two-thirds majority could not be sc
cured to pass it over him. That tn
constitution was good one and shOul
be preserved is his earnest belief, an
therefore his determined work in favO
of the State League. The Judge gay
as his personal belief that the sectiO
restraining the State machinery fror
being put In motion should be repeale
at the November election and the Stat
government put in motion. That thi
We have q right to do under the const
tuition Of the United States, and tn
precedents already established. ii
believes this the only way to secure aC
mission before the end Of four or 81
} years. He would not have this done !
!. a rebellious spirit, but with feelin