Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-31


An examination of the Springer
omnibus statehood bill reveals what was
not uDsuspected-a trick to defraud the
psople of Dakota of their rights and ia
smother the voice of popular desire al
the polls. A conspicuous feature OF this
bIfl lsa provision which practically
enacts the Illinois minority representa-.
tion law, something unheard OF in past
statehood preparations by the terri.
tories. 1t Is provided in the Springer
force ball that the constitutional con-
ventlon of all OF Dakota shall consist of
ninety-nine delegates, to be elected
from tulrts three districts. These
delegates are to be voted for by districts.
Upon each district ticket three names
are to be printed, but it is provided that
the single voter can vote for only two
OF the three whose names are on the
ticket. Through this process it is pos
sihle to elect thirty-three democrats,
who are politically opposed to division
and Will follow their blind instincts,
though their personal interests incline
them to division. That this provision
IN the bill is unconstitutional there Can
be no doubt. bat advantage is taken OF
Dakota s helpless condition and boid
attempt is made ta overturn the popular
will of the people through partisan
trick. Congress caunot impose mi
nority representation upon state and
1t can no more impose it upon terri
tory Under the provisions OF the nation
al constitution and an irrevocable or.
dinance AS sacred as fundamental law.
Another provision IN this remarkable
bill specifies that after the constitutions
al convention OF Dakota has adopted q
constitution, in which provision Is made
for the election of officers, and after the
people by vote Lave ratltied that con-
stitution the state shall uot be admitted
until congress passes another bill rati-
flying the law which gives authority for
ell these proceedings. The common
practice under enabling acts is for the
,reeident to admit the state by proclama.
tluu alter the provisions of an enabling
act are cou piled with, bat IN this case
even that u ach ln tue way of decent
regard for the rights OF the people ie
thrust out.
The whole scheme OF the democracy
OF the administration and of couRi eBs
Is laid bare &c these two provisions oi
the Springer bill il scheme to
force up the peo, a., against the
wishes OF large mej -. the admis-
sion OF Dakota Us one state. Ii, through
all the advantages of al unconstitu,
tional plan of minority representation
that mtnou Is still unable
to dictate to the majority at the polls
congress, under it's reserved right, will
reject the coust tuition aud the state
government and declare all proceedings
null aud void. Ii the scheme succeeds
and minority representation prooIaime q
lie at the poile upon the important sub
lect OF division, congress will complete
| its infamous work end will breathe its
putrid breath into the qnickening mass
and fasten an uIcesous production upon
the body polite
In view OF this conspiracy the people
OF south Dakota should go forward un
hesitatingly to the full organization o.
their government apder the Sioux Fall
constitution. 1t is their only safety Rnc
| their only hope. The ominons hand
| writing is on the wall.