Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-12-05
STATE MAKING.

washington correspondence, I'd:
Friends of the northwestern territories
here do not fully understand the object
OF the North Dakota convention called
to meet at jamestown Wednesday, but
they ali approve it on general principles.
Amid all the divergence of opinion as to
methods and details there is substan-
TALLY unanimous agreement that the
territorial cause must inevitably be ad :
vanced by every form and variety OF
proper and legitimate agitation. II the
Jamestown convention accomplishes
nothing more-aud it may reasonably
aspire to achieve great deal more-I
trust it will at least convince all persons
not deliberately self.fortitied against
conviction that North Dakota is es sin
cerely and heartily in favor of division
and opposed to Springer's one state
scheme as South Dakota ever was. |
find singular obtuseness on that point
among eastern members of congress-,
republicans as well as democrats. They
recall the vote of two years ago when
North Dakota gave majority against
division and seem unwilling to be per-
s1aded that the motives that indicated
that opposition have since been elimin
sted. j hope the Jamestown conven-
sion will be sufficiently emrhatio and
unanimous upon this point to satiefy
every body that the two Dakotas stand
together In demanding separate exist.
ence as states. 81,
The simple moral effect upon congress
and public opinion in the east of such a
declaratory statement as 1t will be qnall-
fed to make should be worth all the
trouble and cost OF holding the conven~
tion. But | take it the meeting will
have two more serious and permanent
oblects--to prepare North Dakota for
statehood, and to take such measures as
| shall most effectively faeten the etten-
tlon of congress and the administration
upon the subj ct OF it's claims and hold
it fixed there until they are recognized
by appropriate legislation. The beet
means to these ends | believe TO be the
calling OF a constitutional convention at
the earliest possible moment, end the
immediate arrangement Of programme
of JOINT action, agitation, petition and
pressure on the part OF all the territories
seeking admission at the hands OF con-
grefs. This judgment ia the result OF
a general and careful canvass of the
opinion Of the friends OF the territories
in Washington, and OF close study OF
the status of legislation upon this sub.
jsct, the conditions existing in the terri.
tories themselves, and the attitude to-
wards them OF the most important per-
sonages having official relations in the
rIt.tteF. .,tasf E
This ls the situation here in briefest
ri 10 81 L
ing in the house, the Platt bill to ad-
nit south end organize ncrth Dakota
passed by the senate and sent to the
house; enabling acts for Washington,
Montana and North Dakota pending 10
the senate, with Washington ahead and
blocking the progress OF ell the rest on
account OF the senseless wrangle over
Stewarts panhandle of Idaho annexa
aIon clause. The only one of these that
has o ghost OF o chance of becoming a
law this winter is the four state bill,
with the Platt bill Incorporated ts an
amendment. The chance OF this is
slender. depending largely upon the
the yigor, persistency and promise OF
success of tie agitation for en- extra
session OF the next congress. This may
possibly coeroe the democrats INTO ac-
tlOn tnl5 winter.
This 10 the situation in the territories.
Sonth Dakota has constitution which
requires amendment by popular vote
(since the Platt bill changes the name
and boundaries prescribed in the Sioux
Falls constitutiop1 and state officers
Whoee terms have expired. She muet
have another election before becoming
a state. North Dakota has nothing,
and should not lose day in pro.
viding herself with the preliminary fur
niture Of statehood. She has to have
both constitutional convention and On
Eelection. Montana and Washington
both have state constitutions. but one is
four and the other ten years old, and
neither would serve the present purpose.
There will have to be constitutional
conventions ss we'll as elections in both
territories. South Dakota, having q
| constitution, can afford TO wait for an
| act OF admission by congress before
| holding her election. II the othes three
wait for enabling acts before holding
their constitutional conventions, heaven
only knows when they will get in. As
was made clear in my letters from India.
| nepolis, it may be till 1891 OF later.
think they should call Conventions and
frame constitutions Rs once and ask con
greBs to approve them afterwards. Thi.
ID the adYice OF the three delegates and
of the friends OF the tsrritore, her.
generally. though there is some differ.
ence of opinion as to the exact time.
DAKOTA and Montana have Legislative
session this winter, and by waiting q
month The conventions might be belt
under the authority CT the leg'slatur,
and at the public exr ense. III they ar,
called earlier private persons will hav,
to bear the expense and trust to Iegisla-
tiIe reimbuis I'm ents after wards. Their,
are surely patriotic rich lnen enough ii
both territories to do this IL necessary
Delegate G ford believes in waiting TO
the Legislature. His plan, as Outlined i,
Q letter to E. P. Wells Of Jamestown, ;, ii
this: That the convention OF next Wed
nesdsy should declare emphatically ii
favor OF division aud admission as tw,
states, ask for constitutional conyentio,
and an election for state officers and con
gressnaen; urge congress TO take promp
action for the admission OF the state
Il then adjourn and await developments
The objection to this plan is that i
would not qualify north Dakota 10 tim
for admission at this eession OF congress
fbut Mr.. Clifford does not believe in th
|, possibility OF such lmissjen. Deleest
Toele OF Montana does. he is resolve,
tn urgA fha 6eYnnsrata NJ Aha v,yaaon