Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-02-16
Dakota NEWS ITEMS.
DAKOTA
The Bill TO Admit the Southern Hall
and for Lincoln Territory Report
ed n tina Sanafe

and for Lincoln Territory Report
ed to the Senate.
Washington, Special Telegram, Jan. g.
| Senator Platt reported to the senate the
substitute for the Henderson bill adopted
by the committee, which provides Tor the
admission OF South Dakota as a state and
the organization of the territory OF Lin
coin. he reprints entire Senator HART
sons report on the bill last session, and IN
addition appenIs q lengthy advocacy oil
the present bill. After recapitulating the
action OF Dakota looking to statehood, as
set forth in the report OF the COMMITTEES
on territories OF the Forty-ninth congress,
the committee says:
Since the adoption OF the report OF the
committee and the passage OF the bill ad-
mitting the people OF the southern hall TO
the privileges OF statehood, nothing has
taken place in the opinion OF the commit
tee which ~iustiies the reversal OF the ac-
ton OF the senate in respect to the divis-
ion of the territory and the admission in
to the Union of a new state, with substan-
tia lly the same boundaries as those pre-
scribed by the senate in the bill which is
approved. Indeed, the reason Tor the dE
vision Of the territory, and the formation
therefrom of two states rather
than the admission OF the whole as a
single state, becomes convincing and pat.
emit as the justiiable delay OF congress in
recognizing the rights OF Dakota Territory
for self-government continues. The people
OF Eorth Dakota and South Dakota, in the
interval since the former action OF the SEN
ate, have become, il possible, more complete
ly two political units, until to-day they
are as distinct in interests, character, as
sociations and institutions as are the peo-
ple OF any two states. In everything ex.
! cept the compulsory union in q territory,
| North Dakota and South Dako-
ia are as separate political com.
munities rs Massachusetts and Connect.
cut. To insist o their admission as
one state is as r%epugnant to the sense oil
justice and national propriety as would be
the enforced union OF the states named.
That this is absolutely true is shown by
the fact that the institutions usually found
in states have been duplicated in southern
and northern Dakota by the action OF the
territorial legislature.
The report recapitulates the institutions
which rave been located by the legislature
with an even division between the two Sec
tions, the acts for their establishment pro-
viding that il the territory should ever be
divided the portion in which each institu-
ton lies is to assume the indebtedness
incurred in its erection. The report con-
tinues
MATTER OF NAMES.
The completeness OF this political divis-
ion is still further shown by the TACT that
the names OF North Dakota and South
Dakota have attached to the different por-
tons of the territory as have the names
OF South Carolina n North Caro-
lima to those states. To admit
North Dakota and South Dakota as
states would add to their distinctive char
acter. To admit them as one state would
be to attempt to unite two people, hetero-
geneous in interests, associations, char
acteristics and aspirations. 1.-THE welfare,
the harmony n the good OF the people oil
the territory are to be considered, the argu-
ment in favor OF two states instead OF one
state seems overwhelming and conclusive.
If the result OF the vote in the terri.
tory seems to indicate a less unan-
imous sentiment in favor OF division
than has been supposed to exist, the rea-
SONS for il are quite obvious. Tn name
Of Dakota is lear to the people OF North
as OF South Dakota. The residents OF the
northern section Justly claim to have given
that name to one OF the principal produc-
tions OF the territory and to have made
Dakota wheat" famous throughout the
world. There is merit in the claim that
they are as much entitled to the name Da-
kota as the residents in the southern part
Of the territory and as division seemed to
imply loss of the cherished name many
were induced to vote against division.
However, the controlling factor
in determining whether Dakota should be
admitted as ono state or az two states
must always be the national interest and
welfare. And it seems to your committee
that states OF immense area OF great
wealth and power, and 18th population
which entitle them to abnormally large
representations IN the house ofrepresenta-
tives are elements OF national weakness
rather than national strength, and may in
future prove a danger to the republic.
Every consideration, national as well as
local, seems to point to the wisdom, pro-
priety and necessity OF division, and the
ultimate creation OF two states out of the
present Territory OF Dakota.
A minority report will be presented.