Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-01-28
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THE nclRcUso Ar FARGO.

gsAAAy SkSea Asaat Gg5aANsfaAeM
THE nclRc0soA AT FARGO.
It's Tsue Iawardness Explained by
the President or tho Acrobatlc body.
The following editorial reference to
he late Fargo convention was written
by its president. Hon. Waldo F. Potter,
and Published in his paper. tho LaMoure
Progress. IL states the case as il was:
The convention held at Fargo last
week was only significant as . faithful
type Of the usual Dakota gathering.
Ustensibly called to give expression to
north Dakota opinion concerning divl
8 or and statehood, and Incidentally
TO sit down on Commissioner Sparks
and the Northern Pacific rond, it proved
to be OF little value except to ILLUSTRATED
how much easier it is to turn the Dako-
ia energies into. q mischievous rather
than Q useful channel. No sooner was
the convention called than steps were
taken to .neutrAtize any possible action
on the main question with which it was
to deal. Those who favored division
went about their private business, leav-
ing the peoplelo the various counties
to act OF fail to act as might
happen, But the opponents OF division
we're wide awake; they advised their
friends every where TO be on hand, and
to send proxies if unable to attend; and
by close attention to details were able
to present q formidable front when the
hour for assembling, arrived. AS q speci-
mel OK their handy work we may mem
ton the case Of Cavalier county which
touches the canada line, and is forty
miles from . railroad. This county was
assigned one delegate ia the call, bnt
was represented by an anti-diyisiopieb
from Ransom county, who somehow &C.
cured recognition for sfiye proxieaP'
After the roll had been settled the diyi-
sionistB managed TO wake up sufficiently
to realize that the. citadel Of the position
had been taken BY strategy.
There was considerable figuring, and
some excellent by-play, on both
sides, az the convention wen on, and
considering how the body was made up,
IL will surprise no n that an agree.
ment was finally had to dodge The man
issue. Division had nothing to gain
from q defeat, or from q nominal
triumph; and the Opponents were not &c
anxious : Q go on record as to force 8
vote. ", however, there had been nc
fear OF iniuElonRiy affecting the situation
ut Washington, the divisionists would
have been only too anxious to compel
the antis to face the music, both in de.
bate and on the record. AS however
scarcely twenty counties ont of over fifty
IN north Dakota, were represented al
oil, any verdict would have been q poor
showing OF north Dakota opinion; and
~ the case stands, our faith remains I'M.
shaken that an overwhelming majority
Of the people favorsdiyisioD by an cas-,
and west line,
Commiesloner Sparks was not without
ope defenders OF all his monstrous or
ders and rulings. Indeed, 1t is said thai
ayoung democrat who was anxious x
get solid with Sparks, for Interior p1r
poses, actually managed to get a place
on the floor through o manufactured
proxy. This is only another REPETITION
OF the old story, that no cause, however
bad, fails to find public defenders in Da
kota. Resolutions were passed by al
overwhelming vote denouncing the raj
ings of Sparks; out NC shall be sarprisef
to learn thst any steps we're taken tc
bring them to the attention of his supe
rlor in office, Secretary Lamar.
The Trail county tax decision received
9 liberal share OF time and attention u,
Fargo. 1t was recognized as q difficult