Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-04-10
For The CONSTITUTION.

Hon. Theo ID. kanouse Delivers AN
Effective Address TO q Hal Full OF
Interested Listeners.
Hon. Theo. D. Kanouse, OF Woon-
socket, Dakota, addressed o full house
at Turner hall Lass evening IN behalf OF
the Sioux Falls constitution Of 1885.
Mr.. Kanoase was elected to congress In
1885 under the statehood Organization,
which did mot materialize. He was a
member of the constitutional conven-
tion and among its MOST active working
members. He is q gentleman OF talent,
in the prime OF vigorous manhood and
is an orator without o superior In Dako-
to. With these Characterization and ex.
periences he could not fail TO entertain
his audience. He held their close at
tention from the beginning 10 the end OF
his discourse and furnished his hearers
an abundance OF food for thought.
Mr.. Kanouse advocated che adoption
OF the constitution OF 1885, taking up
shat document in detail, explaining iss
features and advancing good reasons Tor
It's ratification. The constitution had
been placed before the people-a copy
was available for the perusal of every
peEsoL. Its contents could be known 10
all voters. The public knew what 1t was
and did not know what q new constitu-
sionel convention would provide as the
organic act OF the state. Whatever was
given us must be accepted by she peo-
pie or statehood would not come to
them. A particularly strong poins was
the character OF she men who framed che
constitution of 1886 for ability and learn.
ing. They were elected without faction
al strife or sectional opposision--a body
OF msn selected from every neigh
boshood by the suffrages of those mos
desply interested in the statehood move
ment, the professional politician giving
very little attention to the matter. /,
was nos Supposed that anything would
come out OF the lebors of the constitu-
tional convention OF 1885 and ID was 10,
alone by Lobbyists and .~uninfaenced b.
corporations or trusts. Its members
were 80 far unrecognized by railroad
magnases that shey were unable TO pro
cure even @ reduction of rates, sheir sp-
plication for the usual courtesy being
treated With the contempt OF silence
Under such circumstances the fTsnerl
OF the constitution were let alone by al
the interests shat usually haunt the
halls OF the Law makers and seek TO in
haeace the pnrport and effect OF theil
work. These constitution builders were
90 completely ignored ell around tina
they we're not Y provided with
place OF meeting ct Sioux Falls and hat
to secure o hall after they bad assembled
No one attended their meetings, no on
looked in upon their iseasions, no on
gave them aid or comfort. They labore'
by ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF rare ability III
steadfast purpose-snd ground out
constitution that can be equalled
becausei it was the product OF unint1aenee
d%eliberasion, shining only to provide TO
she necessities OF the greatest number Q
people, Eioh and poor, stsong and wes
alike. II would not do to Sc! aside suc
q document and trust to the uncertain
ties OF another convention beset by o.
the iphaencies which seek the mos
|. liberal interpretations IN behalf oil thsl
, owa interests.
Mr. Kanouse's effort was n whic
leaves . lasting effect. He solidiae
: public sentiment in behalf OF the conssi
tuition. He favored the prohibitio
J clause and opposed the minority claus
he spoke we'll and ably.
The meeting was presided ovez b
Rev. F. a.. Burdick end wis opened wit
q prayer by Father Nichols.