Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1888-12-06
FROM JUDGE MOODY.

In personal letter to the editor of the
Centerville Journal, Judge Moody writes
as follows, regarding the advisability o.
admission under the Sioux Falls consti
tuition, and we can see no reason why
any fair-minded republican should op-
pose the measure after giving it due
consideration. The judge says:
My views are we'll defined, upon care
full consideration of the whole subject,
and based upon what know to be the
sentiment of our friends among the lead
ing republicans of the country. If the
democratic house this winter passes the
senate bill for the admission Of South
Dakota, which it may if the next house
is republican, then our apprehensions
are ended. If this present house does
not pass the senate bill, whether there
is an extra session this spring or whether
the next congress meets for the first time
at the regular session in December, 1889,
we should put in a bill at once similar
to the one now pending, which has twice
passed the senate, once under the super
vision and management of Gen. Harri-
son, and which provides for the admis-
sion of South Dakota under the Sioux
Falls constitution, and press it to pass
age. North Dakota should have pro-
vision made for it by the incoming terri
torial Legislature for constitutional con-
vention similar to the one that was made
for South Dakota. If they act wisely
they will hold constitutional conven-
ton, adopt constitution and if ratified
by the people, present it and ask for a
similar bill for the admission of North
Dakota.
In any event South Dakota should
take no step backward. The time which
would necessarily elapse before the new
constitution could be framed and adopted
would be SO long that the supremacy of
the republican party in congress would
be endangered, and nothing would be
gained by it, So far as any amend
ments of this present constitution that
may be desired all have got to say is,
if the people want to amend it, they can
do SO very readily after the state is ad-
mitted, and no matter what constitution
is adopted it will not suit everybody.
This present constitution has been pro-
nounced by the ablestmen in congress,
among them Senator Edmunds of Ver-
mont, as in the very forefront of modern
constitutions. The senate bill provides
for its re-submission to the people to-
gether with separate articles, inasmuch
as the question of the change of bound
aries from the 46th parallel north lati-
tude to the 7th standard parallel must
go back to the people for ratification.
Now, if it is not desirable to re. submit
the constitution in separate articles, it
need not be done. This re-submission
will take from twenty to thirty days, but
if new constitution is formed, with all
the delay incident to it, we might not
get admitted for eight or ten months or
one year after the bill passes congress.
Do not let us hesitate to adhere to the
Sioux Falls constitution. Whatever
there may be with reference to reelection
Of officers is matter of small moment.
We can do that, if the people desire it,
and it may be possible it will be requisite
anyhow. At least under the schedule,
new election must very soon be had. /
have not, however, looked into the sub
ject Of just what the schedule does pro-
vide in that regard. It is not matter
Of Importance. What we want is admis-
sion into the union; we can take care of
all the details afterward.