Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-02-23
BOWEN 4 KINesBURY. Prop'tr.

Third and Capital streets.
number g.,
BOWEN KINesBURY. Prop'trs
The effort to secure division of Da.
kota into two territories, with the pur-
pose OF eventually etfectlng their sd.
mission as two states, is one dating back
to the very early days OF territorial
history. 1t was always a recognized
fact that Dakota was too large for salts
factory, economical or honest mansge-
ment under one governmental orgsniza-
tion and from the beginning until 1888
there was an unanimous voice in favor
OF division. Our legislatures regularly
congress in behalf of
and the conventions OF both
parties made it q practice to sdopt
resolutions favoring two states. With
the year of 1888 carae the capital COM
and among the evils that
followed in it's train was carefully
plan to prevent the division OF
Dakota. This was northern movement
originating at and centering about
Bismarck and finally extending through
channels of Northern Pacific railroad
influence ell over North Dakota. It
was the product OF a fear that if the
south was separated from the north the
preponderating influence in the north
(thst oil the Red river Valley would take
the capital away from Bismarck. Aoer-
deem, in Brown county, South Dakota,
was the center OF another anti.division
organization. Occupying nearly central
position in the populated portion of the
whole of Dakota, it built largely upon
capital hopes, provided the territory
could be retained intact. From these
two centers, with their purely selfish
motives, an anti-division sentiment
spread and was aided and abetted by the
powe. OF the Northern Pacific corporation
and she territorial government until the
friends of division in the. north gave up
thecause as lost and despairingly declared
that division was dead.
Bat over che southern hal! OF the ter
ritory, excepting Rs the Aberdeen center,
the spirit of division still prevailed and
was backed by ssslwart determination
to refuse statehood 20 the end of time
unless it WAS accompanied by division.
The outlook at that period was not en-
coursgipg. because OF the strong oppo-
sition to division created in behalf of the
local interests OF Bismarck and Aber.
deem. But strong opposition made
strong fighters of the diyisionists. Their
FIRST movement resulted in the constitu-
tional convention OF 1888, at Sioux Falls,
presided over by Bartlett Tripp, of
now chief justice of Dakota.
This convention adopted consultation
for South Dakota. which was ratified by
popular vote. Here was the beg,npiug
of organized effort for the political sepa.
ration OF the two halves OF Dakota.
Though the movement fell far short OF
its object, il was the entering division
wsdge. Following it was q series OF
remarkable statehood meetings and the
second constitutional convention, In 1885,
in which ell OF South Dakota was repre-
sented, This convention was presided
over by Chief Justice A. J.. Edgerton.
OF Ysnkton, and was made memorable
By the efforts cf General Hugh j. Camp.
bell. OF Yaukton, to commit the conYen-
tion snd South Dakota to his plan of
becoming state without congressional
Though he had strong
following, he was outnumbered
and e majority Of the people
stood by the more conservative
course. The second Sioux Falls con-
stitusion was ratified by the people and
state officers, legislature, congressman
hnd United States senators were duly
elected and Huron was chosen the tenn
porsry capital. The Legislature met, Gov
ernor Mellette delivered his message the
convention re-assembied
and the embryonic state was IN full blast
without assuming any governmental
powers. The legislature didn't leglslste,
the governor didn't pick up the reIns OF
government. There was few days
over the I'VE are state"
and the gatherings dissolved
--and We were still an undivided terri
tory.
But ell these proceedings had marked
effect IN furthering the object which the
south kept always in vIew--they drove
still deeper the division wedge. They
aroused the interest of the people OF
Dakota in their cause and they convinced
the people of the states that
Dakota was unalterably in favor OF q
separation OF the north from the south.
Congress became interested and political
parties gave attention to the Dakota
situation. So the movement grew uuder
the impulse OF these several meetings,
conventions and state or
ganizstion. The legislature WAS in
daced to order vote upon the PROPOSE
ton to divide the territory and the prop.
osition won with an almost solrd north
in the negative and an almost solid sonth
in the affirmative. But the majority for
division was marked one.
At this juncture new and disturbing
element entesed into the conflict. Cover
NOR OhuYoh came into power as tba had