The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-01-25
THE STATEHOOD CONVENTION.

THE STATEHOOD CONVENTION.
Inc representative gathering at
Huron Oh Wednesday was in some
respects the most important conven-
ZION OF the statehood period. As the
delegates sbegan to come in from all
directions as early as Monday night
anu as each succeeding train up to
Wednesday noon added to the num-
Ders, until all but seven or eight coun-
Ties were represented, the fact devel-
oped that no one was fully advised as
10 the motive behind the call. The
great emergency" which the state
hood committee seemed to feel con-
fronted the people of south Dakota
was even more of mystery than the
one John Cain unearthed later on,
There was an almost unanimous feel.
ing, hcEever, that the convention had
within its possibilities something of
menace to the cause of statehood
unless the wisest counsels prevailed
The people of Huron, who denied
all responsibility for the call, were
especially apprehensive on this point,
and were quite of the opinion that TIE
gathering was most untimely. They
seemed to fear that their pet ambition,
their capital aspirations, were in some
way imperiled, although no express
sions from the delegates assem-
bled warranted this fear. There was
latent feeling, however, that if any
attempt were made to use the conyen-
tfon to further the interests of any To-
cality Or of any individual, those inter-
ests might be made to suffer.
All|day Tuesday the situation was
discussed informally, and on We'd
nesday forenoon delegates from some
twenty counties met in room at the
Depot thotel to talk things over. Gam
BILE Of Yankton was made chairman
and an Interchange of views had. Gen.
Pease of Watertown favored conserv-
alive course and hoped nothing would
be doneto embarass the cause before
congress. Major Kellam and H. q.
Preston of Mitchell were of the same
opinion. Ayers of Plankinton, Hum
phreY Of tFaulkton and Adams of Day
county believed that the safest thing
todoswonld be to endorse the Sioux
Falls constitution, upon which now
rested the position taken by the repub-
lican party at Chicago, in congress and
at Watertown. Mentzer of Mitchell
opposed this view. He hoped the
Sioux f Falls constitution or any other
particular plan would not be dragged
into this discussion. There were some
things in the Sioux Falls measure
which were open to objections. He
wanted to see broad, strong platform
adopted on which all present, no mat
ter what their individual views might
be, could stand, and of which neither
friendor enemy at Washington could
complain.
This brought John Cain of Huron to
his feet in an earnest little speech in
favor Of the Sioux Falls constitution.
He believed failure to reaftirm faith
In it now would prejudice DaBota's s
best interests at Washington. The
convention could not afford to take
any other course. At this point in the
discussion some details as to the time
and place-for holding the convention
came, up, after which the caucus was
adjourned.
Enough had developed during this
discussion, however, to indicate that
serious differences of opinion existed
as to methods, although there was
practical unanimity as to the end de-
sired. The Huron men seemed to real
ize that any attempt to so to extremes
on their part would result disastrously,
and the fact was slowly dawning on
them that there was strong element
present which onlv awaited an oppor-
tunity to strike direct blow at their
capital desires in the shape of a resolu-
tion to favor the amendment of the
Platt bill so as to resubmit all propo-
. sitions to new vote. This phase of the
situation was accentuated Wednesday
noon By the arrival of the Sioux Falls
delegation, whose instructions were to
ask forSan entire "new DEAL"
Thus matters stood when the con-
yentions met sc 8 O'clock in the after
noon. Huronw was out in force in ad-
8:dltion 70 her delegation, alert to catch
the latest drift Of sentiment. Anxiety
and apprehension were stamped on
every co1ntenance, and there was a
mott able lack of that complacent as
Ssurancs which marked the bearing of
heHur0n men at the late democratic
convention in Mitchell, when they
knew they had everything their own
way. Gen. Campbell as chairman OF
the stateh hood cea:pgmittee had come up
s from anktont to call the convention
stoiorder aud did so in a brief speech
explaining the object thereof, and de-
nying that the idea of meeting at this
time had been his. He had favored
IN earlier gathering but had been over
ruled by his colleagues on the commit.
tee. and this call had been made at the
request Of his fellow members and a