The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-07-19
DIVISION AND ADMISSION.
The Dakota Two-State Convention Meets at
Huron..Details Of What Was Done, and the
Scenes In COnyenfiOu- Ia ="

- DoAVt6 1WOs0Iato CONVENTION metC0 NJ
Huron..Details Of What Was Done, and the
Scenes in Convention. -
The division and statehood convention
met at Huron, and was called to order by
Judge Campbell, who read the call. Waldo
NJ. Potter OF. Fargo was chosen temporary
chairman and W. H. Lyon of Sioux Falls
secretary. On taking the chair Mr.. Potter
gave some reasons for being q. divisionist.
| He said:
We are here to suggest what we think
should be done by an incoming legislature,
but what that ought to be I am not pre-
pared to say off hand. As representing one
of the great parties | take a firm stand on
this point. I think we should go on wisely
and cautiously and take such measures az
will bring us speedily into the Union. l
would recommend proceeding in such a way
as not to interfere with the plans of friends
in the East who are working in our behalf.
The committee to formulate a plan for the
statehood convention to recommend to the
| people, reported thefollowing, after discussing
it for eight hours.
First-To urge upon the people of Dakota
the vital Importance of making division and
the admission of the two states of North and
South Dakota the controlling issue above
and beyond every other issue for all repre-
sentatives and officers in the fall election.
Second-To urge upon them the especial
Importance of selecting for the Legislature
honest, brave and determined men who will
I pledge themselves first, to O sweeping re-
form of the abuses which flourish under the
| present territorial administration, especially
In it's finance department., and second, to
sternly retake from the governor all the
/ despotic and unusual powers which have
been bestowed upon him by the legislative
authorities of the territory,
Ihlrd-TO pass laws Immediately during
the first day of the Legislature convoking
two constitutional conventions, one for
North Dakota. and one for South Dakota, i
deemed expedient, and who will pledge
themselves, in case the resultso of the coming
presidential election shall be adverse to Da-
kota, and shall place in power men and
parties whose policy and measures shall
threaten Dakota with q perpetual or indefi-
mite colonial vassalage, and to take such
other measures as they lawfully may for the
| relief of the people of these two states.
Mr.. Keith offered an amendment to change
! section 3 by requiring the calling of a con
vention for North Dakota, also onefor South
| Dakota if deemed necessary. A lengthy dis
cussion followed, which resulted in the adop-
zion of Keith's amendment, and then of the
report as a whole of the committee; and
afterward it was unanimously adopted by
the convention.
These committees were appointed: First,
q publishing committee, to furnish articles
for publication advocating the claims of the
two Dakotas for division and admission,
composed of Messrs. Aplin of Huron; Potter
Of Fargo; Brown of De Smet; Adams of Web
ster; Humphrey of Faux. Second,
q committee of five to prepare an ad-
Dakota, and which will urge the Importance
of this movement, and of selecting the most
able and suitable men for delegates to con.
gress and men for the territorial legislature.
Third, q finance committee of five to raise
and expend Il campaign fund under direction
Of campaign committee, members, Messrs.
Diggs of Milbank, Snow of Springfield, Ruth
of De Smet, Langley of Huron, Pinkerton OF
Iroquois. Fourth, O campaign committee OF
five to conduct the campaign and carry
out the objects Of this conventions; mem.
bers, Messrs. Arnold of Huron, Sheets
of Kingsbury, Poindexter Of Sphinx, John,
son of Hyde, Williams of Coddington.
ty to organize his county and a chairman for
| each legislative district. District chairman
First, E. E. Ericsson of Elk Point; Second,
George w Hand, of Yankton; Third, Paul
Landman Of Tyndall; Fourth, w. II. God
dard Of Montrose; Fifth, G. A. silsby of
| Seventh, l.. J. Bolts of Lake Preston; Eighth,
j. w. Shannon of Huron; Ninth, e. W. Foster
of Frankfort; Tenth, C. H. Seely of Faulkton;
Eleventh. r. E.. Price of Hyde; Twelfth,
r. E.. Carpenter of Watertown; Thir-
teenth, E: r Taubman of Brown; Four
| IecutN, COl. J. uFkeT vi DeuuWOCu, IlUGcutl,
II. F. Marshall of Deadwood; Sixteenth, T..
A.. Fenton of Aurora; Seventeeth, Frank Pot
ter of La Moure; Eighteenth, unappointed;
| Nineteenth, George B. Winship of Grand
Forks. Twentieth, II. e.. Hansbrouge of
Devils Lake; Twenty-frst, JIM. Sinclair of
Bottineau; Twenty+seeond, Johnson Nickeus
of jamestown; Twenty-third, E. A. Williams
of Bismarck
These gentlemen were chosen a state cen
trail committee: Hugh J. Campbell of Yank-
ton, John A. Owen of De Smet, Joseph Allen
of Turner, E. w. Caldwell of Sioux Falls,
John Fogarty of Yankton. The utmost
harmony has prevailed in all the delibera.
lions Of the body and the best of good feel
ing is noticeable in all. ~,
-" JOHN BROWNS COUSIN.
One of the peculiar features of the after
noon session was the appearance of Rev.
Edward Brown of DE met as a delegate.
He is a cousin of old John Brown and
he voted for Harrison in 1886,
In 1910 he had moved and could not vote
an oldfashioned freedom speech and then
sang a Tippacanoe song that he sang in 1910:
This created such enthusiasm that the con
vention called the gentleman back to the
platform when all in the great hall arose and
with cheers sang one stanza of John
Browns body liesa Wondering in the grave
closing with America 1t was o thrilling
scene, never to be forgotten. ,
WHAT II LAWYERS SAID.
The enthusiasm in the statehood meeting
continued to the close. The class ~[conven-
tions held were as interesting as the proceed
ings of the general body were on Teusday
and Wednesday. AL of these were exceed.
ingly well attended, for delegates. continued
to arrive down to this noon after the con-
Lyention adjourned. The lawyers assembled
in Grand Army hall. Hon. George Hand OF
Yankton. was elected chairman, and Hon. j.
A. Owen of De Smet secretary, Messrs. Owen,
Kemp, Pondexter, Evans, Keith and
Melville Were appointed a commit
mittee on resolutions. They reported the fol-
Whereas We deeply deplofe the inadequacy
of our territorial courts to transact the bust
mss before them, that our present yrdiciary
Isystem lie not suited h the present need Of
the people, and Justice is often denied because
30 long delayed Owing to the vast amount
of business which our ~overworked judges are
made to transact. and whereas. the people
are and have too long been denied the right
which they have to self-government, and it
is fine that action wrs taken to secure this
END.
Resolved, Tint we heartily favor the iii
vision of Dakota and the speedy admission
.pf the tWosstates, and. concur in and approve
( the4actiOn OF the convention held at Huron,
July 10 and11, looking. to that result.
PIE MINISTER'S
convened in the Baptist church, Rev. Edward
Brown, of DeSmet, chairman, and Rev. ID. s.
McCastin of Huron, clerk. They put forth
this declaration: L
Resolved, That we heartily endorse the
action of the two states convention now in
| session in this city: That, we welcome the
Enrospect Of two .states for the, citi.
EEens OF Dakota, believing that thereby moi
j only shaltwe secure our political rights, but
shall be s2t free from the demoralizing in.