The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-02-20
oratory and Eloquence Op.
posed the Adoption of
the Suaflower.
SHEEP INDUSTRY AT STAKE
Anenome Is Declared to Be Vicious
and Dangerous Weed, Imperl-
ing the Life of State
Industry.

Pierre, S. d., Feb. 19.-The value.
policy and revenue bill went into the
shade when the state flower bill reached
third reading in the house. Never be-
fore have representatives been wrought
up to such excitement. Not before has
oratory flowed from SO many lips.
During all the years South Dakota
has struggled along without a floral
emblem, until last autumn "Pansy"
Hopkins OF Canton discovered the void
and threw himself into the breach.
Undismayed by untoward circum-
stances the singer Of the Sioux took up
the campaign in the interest of the
"amemone," got it recommended by the
teachers and circulated petitions to the
legislature. The senate passed the bill
and 1t was favorably reported to the
house. All moved as if creased, until
third reading in the house.
At this juncture the judicial branch
brought grief. Judge Haney of the
supreme court called Longstaff to his
chambers and exhibited a bulletin of
the agricultural college which de-
nounced the anemone as the enemy Of
the sheep industry, as the seed pods
formed hair balls in the stomachs of
the sheep which frequently proved
fatal.
you fill the flock with hairballs and
the shepherd with highballs, what is
to become of this industry? Destroy
the sheep industry and you destroy
South Dakota's position as the great
est per capita"
Longstaff, fastening back to the
floor, caught the eye of the speaker and
interposed an amendment to substitute
the sunf1ower. Then ensued wild ex-
citement. Mullen denounced the sun
flower as a miserable weed, and Brom-
ley retorted it was not the enemy of
the sheep. Longstaff recited Judge
Haney's speech. Teare, Goddard,
Bromley, Mullen, Lawson, Kribs and
Welch each took a fall out of the sun
flower, some of them several falls, and
the sunf1ower went down. An attempt
to substitute Aberdeen roller mill flour
failed, and Welch proposed to adopt
the wild rose. The friends of the ane-
none forced the fighting, and as the
roll was about to be called it was dis
covered the bill had not been en-
crossed. 1t went over with forty-eight
hours for lobbying.
Pierre, S. D., Feb. 16.-The divorce
laws of South Dakota will not. be
changed at this session of the legisla
ture. Probably the interpretations laws
will not, either, although this is not
certain.
Inc Motel keepers and the lawyers are
rated as the most effective of lobbyists.
The hotel men don't want the divorce
laws changed because it would drive
away the six-month residenterS; and
the lawyers, or a considerable element
of them, oppose changing the present
easy incorporation laws because they
have worked UP a big business incor-
porating concerns under this states
laws, getting blanket charters to go
where they choose and do whatever
business they please
Divorce law legislation has not been
seriously discussed. Despite indignant
protests against present conditions,
there is no chance of the legislature
offending the business interests that
profit by lax laws.
The Incorporation Laws.
A corporation can be organized in
South Dakota with powers to do al
most anything, anywhere in the coun-
try, with or without real capital, and
at practically no expense. Lawyers
have worked up a great business by
advertising the laXity of South Dakota
laws. and getting outside people to in
corporate all kinds Of concerns here.
These charters are expected some day
to be valuable. Thousands of such
charters have been issued to wildcat
concerns.
A bill to increase the fees, graduating
them in proportion to the capitalization,
is desperately opposed by these inter-
ested lawyers, who would lose their
business if South Dakota charters
should become more than nominally ex-
pensive. The fees now run from $40 to
$50 for Incorporating company, with
any amount of authorized capital.