Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-12

| VIII oiSo oo iesisidtcu dRaiust. Aue sCCfe
ballot system meets with considerable favor
Politics are warming up, especially il
North Dakota.
SIOUX FALLS, OAK, July 1.-THE
eighth days session of the South Dakots
Constitutional Convention was marked by
another spirited debate. 1t had been pro
posed to memorialize the President to sus
pend mineral entries upon school lands neal
large cities in agricultural districts until
the State is organized and can defend its
rights thereto in case such entries are at
tempted to obtain such land fraudulently.
| Strong opposition was offered, on the
ground that the operation of the law j.
sufficient to prevent such fraud and that tc
ask the President to suspend an entire clas,
of entries was equivalent to petitioning him
to do the same thing that resulted in SC
much criticism OF ex-Commissioner Sparks.
1t was further opposed on the ground that
even if parties obtained possession of school
lands under cover of mineral land laws and
such lands should prove non-mineral, the
| title thereof could ultimately revert to the
| public and therefore no loss be sustained.
Despite these considerations, however, the
memorial was adopted by a vote of 80 to %.
DIRECTIONS WITHDRAWN.
All opposition to the reference of every
| part of the Constitution of 1885 to appropri-
ate committees was withdrawn, nothwith-
standing the strong objections of the day
| previous. There is no intention of going
outside the strict limitations of the en-
abling act. 1t was generally expected
that this matter would result in
a protracted debate. An examination OF
the enrolled copy of the old constitution
shows large number of errors in construc-
tion and punctuation. These will be cor
| rected, and the document has been referred
to a committee for that purpose.
A petition was received from the Metho-
dist Ministers Association of Southeastern
| Dakota asking the convention to provide
| safeguards for honest elections in the Con-
| stitution, and also that the vote ON State
Offices and temporary location of the State
| Capitol be taken at a different time than
that of the Constitution, when every effort
will be made TO guarantee an honest elec-
tion. 1t is not likely more than one will be
ordered.
The work of the convention shows that
while large majority of the members are
new and without reputation in public af-
fairs. the readiness and breadth of a consid-
erable portion makes the body average very
high. The proceedings are characterized
by tone which is certainly very creditable
to the convention.
AGAINST THE CORPORATIONS.
At the North Dakota convention, assem-
bled at Bismarck, the President has an
nounced all of the important committees.
OF the committees to consider subjects re-
lating to corporations other than municipal,
Mr.. johnson is Chairman, and it Is worthy
of notice that he is classed as prominent
among the so-called anti-railroad people.
He has promised perfect justice to all cor
porations.
The Chairman of the Committee on Tenn
perance, A. P. Hughen, is pronounced in
favor of Constitutional prohibition and his
committee is also of the same views on that
subject. 1t is probable that this question will
be submitted to vote of the people in the
form of an amendment to the Constitution
to be voted upon at the same time as the
new Constitution.
By request of the convention Governor
Mellette delivered an address, in the course
of which he emphatically denounced the
frauds on the ballot in modern times, and
urged the closest attention to keeping it
down here, and the man who buys, as he
who sells, vote should be made to suffer to
the fullest extent. He Endorsed the secret
delegates gave good indications of the feel
ing in that direction.
THE SISTER STATES.
The Governor looked for much good work
by the convention, and although his own
home was in the new State Of South Dakota
he was with the other sister in the spirit of
progress, and expected that the two Dakotas
would work together tor the good of both, at
home as well as at the National Capitol.
Mr.. Purcell called attention to the re-
ported inaccuracy of the boundary line be-
tween North and South Dakota and moved
that the joint commission of the two sections
be authorized to affect a temporary
agreement regarding that line, which
motion was made special order for
tomorrow. Rev. R. G. Wiley, of
the National Reform Association, by re-
quest, addressed the convention in favor of
the new constitution of recognition of the
civil Sabbath and of the Almighty Ruler
and Savior of the Universe
After adopting motion comforting upon
the Chairman of the Committee on Militia
the title of Colonel, the convention ad-
Njourned until tomorrow afternoon. The
political pot still boils merrily. Both par
ties are anticipating a lively campaign.
This afternoon General Harrison Allen,
the Chairman of the Republican Committee.
for North Dakota, received a telegram
from Hon. w. F. Chandler, at Washington,
urging the importance of making certainty
more certain in the fight for Republican su-
premacy in the new State by pitching the
fight all along the line, as suggested in the
dispatch of yesterday the political situation
in North Dakota evincing more features of
interest for delegates even than more press
ing constitutional matters.
LEGISLATIVE PLANS.
A dispatch from Olympia, W. T., SAYS,
The principal business this afternoon was
the debate in committee of the whole of the
report of the Legislative committee fixing
the number to constitute the State Legisla-
ture. The committee recommended that
the Senate be half the size of the House;
the house to be not less than g. nor more
than 100 members. Numerous amendments
for the Lower House, and changing the
Senate from one-half to one-third.
In the course of the debate it developed
that the Democrats nearly all favor pro-
vision for minority representation. The
reason universally given for desiring large
body was that it cannot be easily corrupted
by corporations. The committee of
the whole finally arose without
action. The report of the Commit
tee on the Preamble and Bill OF Rights
recited that all men have an equal right to
life, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness;
all power is in the people; all governments
founded on their free will declares the State
inseparably part Of the Union, the Fed
eral Constitution the supreme law of the
land; confirms religious liberty; forbids
voting money to sectarian purposes; guar
antees
FREE SPEECH,
freedom Of the press; right to petition for
trial bv iurv. uakea the military suhor.