Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1889-01-18
IN D-4KOTA,s BEHILE.

An Interesting Letter From Congress-
man Macdonald of Minnesota,
Col. c. A. Lounsberry received the fol-
lowing letter yesterday from Congressman
Mcdonald, one of Dakota's warmest cham
pions i'll Washington. The letter is full of
good points and suggestions that may be
OF value to the legislature now in session:
DEAR SIR: Your esteemed favor of the
10Th INST came to hand yesterday after
noon: 1t get an opportunity to-day
Will nave an interview with Mr. Springer
and lay your letter and the newspaper
clippings therein contained before him.
mission of Dakota, is that it is impossible
10 make members here feel the same ne
cesslty for immediate admission that the
impatient citizens of North Dakota do. It
IS dlflcult to see how any law could be
framed which would secure the admis-
sion OF North Dakota at as early day
as your people desire. which would not
leave congsess liable to the charge of act
ing with undue haste, and as having acted
without obtaining what would be regarded.
under ordinary circumstances, as a reli-
able expression of the will of the people
ed.ls OF Morth N Dakota, Your people should not
Iorget that when test vote was taken
there TWO years ago, there was ma
Jorlty OF 10000 against admission, and
while am individually in favor Of acting
upon what | am fully satisfied is the
fact, namely, that North Dakota is, BY a
large majority, in favor OF admission and
organization OF the state Of North Dakota,
still it should be borne in mind that the
great majority Of the members of congress
reside at points much more distant and re-
mote from your territory, and not being
subjected to the same influences, or pos
sesSed OF the same reliable personal knowl-
ENhn
i'll the same light or be as warm friends of
early admission as we Of Minnesota are.
mention this as a reasonable explanation
OF why many members Of congress do not.
ana apparently cannot, look upon the
matter as we do. The feeling in the house
Is Is as Isl, favorable to the admission of Dakota
as two states as your friends would have
any right to expect: and in voting to sub
NIT the question of division to your people.
our members simply desire to guard them
serves against making the mistake of COM
pelllng North Dakota to separate from
ooutn Dakota against its will You must
admit that there has been no authori-
tatlve, statement or declaration in favor
OF change having taken place in the feel
lngs OF the people OF North Dakota since
they declared against division. You send
me cuttings from the North Dakota Dem
ocrat to show, by interviews therein pub
lished, that the sentiment is in favor OF d.
vision, and yet you have to admit that its
editor opposes the division of the territory.
Now, it is hardly fair for the people of
North Dakota to criticise and condemn
members OF congress, residing 1000 miles
or OF more m away from them, for declining.
in the face OF these facts, to conclude that
your people are substantially unanimous
| in favor Of division.
DO not think that Mr.. Springer's
opinion Of the fertility OF your soil is as
anIavorable lll5 as you conclude. There are
few persons not residents OF Dakota, and
who have not visited the territory at the
proper time, who will believe that it is as
fertile and productive as its enthusiastic
citizens would wish them. But do not
thlnk 1t necessary to 60 to any pains to de-
fend the fertility and productiveness of
your soil or your climate.
The only important question now. that
u Is necessary for US to getcongress to coli
slider, is, that it provides for the holding OF
| your constitutional convention as soon as
possible. l will endeavor to bring this
matter before @ Mr.. Springer's committee. [
90 not think there IS any disposition to
aelay the matter more than what is neces-
pie and proper notice Of these matters. Il
IS not true, that at our first caucus there
was any general feeling of unfriendliness.
| 70 your territory, manifested. The neces-
| shy Tor an adjourned meeting was caused
Dy me evening not being long enough to
pLal1 INV al1 WHO Wlsned TO speak upon the
SUBJECT to have their "say." The news
papers took it for granted, because we had
NOT arrived at any conclusion, that we We're
much divided, and many members IN :
friendly to the admission Of your territory
as as two states. In this they were in error.
Ihere was no more opposition feeling
manifested at the first meeting than there
was at the last; and that feeling was con-
fined to not more than half dozen.
Since debating this, / have seen Mr..
springer and committee and they con-
sented to provide for submitting the matter
10 your people at your own spring election.
Very truly yours. n
). =. MACDONALD.