The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-12
BISMARCK ISSECURE
All the Capital Removal Agitation
in the Twin Dakota Strikes
No Terror to It. \: e.. r
It Has the Friendship Of the Lead
ers-State Not Ready for
Board of Control. -. =.
Special to The Journal.

Special to, The Journal.
Bismarck. N. D., jar. 12.-While the
legislators Of South Dakota are strug-
Cling with the question of capital removal,
residents Of the capital city of North
Dakota are congra tulating themselves that
the seat of government ct last appears to
be fixed permanently. .,.=-- .,..g.,
Bismarck, after many trials and tribula-
lions, has come to be recognized as the
permanent seat Of government. The old
log rolling cry of capital removal has no
terrors for Bismarckers. The city is
recognized a S the geographical center of the
state. Additional railroad connection has
afforded the residents of the southern part
Of the state quick and easy access to the
capital. The hospitality and good fellow
ship of the leading politicians OF Bis
marck have made the city popular and
! there are few prominent men who would
support a measure for removal. =,
! Alex. Mckenzie would frown upon any
such movement. Senator zJud LaMoure; of
! Pembina would also be found upon the
| side of Bismarck should occasion arise.
The members of the Cass county delega-
ton. always influential in the legislature,
could be counted upon to come to the. aid
Of Bismarck If it were necessary. In fact,
such an era Of good feeling, exists that it
! is difficult to, see where capital removal
movement would find any support. "sssSSEE5z
! 1t Is an important consideration, In the
| ma tier Of capital removal that the state
institutions were located by the state con-
/ stitution. There are few. states In which
| this has been done, and 1t was accom-
plshed in North Dakota only after much
hard work on the part of the Bismarck
contingent. .';' $500
ordway and Springer.
For years the South Dakota men, and
some in North Dakota, refused to look
upon Bismarck as the legal capital. 1t
was asserted that the location was illegal
and it was not until the enabling act, tic
admit North and South Dakota as states
was passed, that any. official recoXnitior
was forced. This was accomplished large
ly through efforts Of N. G. Ordway. He
was a personal friend OF William NJ
Springer of illinois, and Springer was al
II advocate of the minority representation
] plan, which gave the voter the option Of
II casting one cote for several representa-
tives in the constitutional convention, OF
casting as many votes for one member, be
Z he republican or democrats, as there were
representatives in each election district
altogether BY consenting to this plar
of representation in the constitutions
convention, Ordway obtained the aid O.
Springer and the democrats In the house
Of congress, and aided the passage OF al
enabling act. which provided that a com
ritory should meet at bismarck. thu
present seat Of government of the terri
tory, s. ..: - .t.s..-f =. X
When this official recognition Of tn
claims of Bismarck as the capital of tn
state was obtained, the partizans Of Bis
marck put their heads together further
clinch the location. There was much strif
in the convention for the location of pub
lie institutions. Many communities wer
eager to be recognized, and the tenure Q
/ institution location was Insecure. TIL
workers for Bismarck were shrewd enoug
to realize the prime opportunity offere
and entered into q combination with tn
: other cities holding institutions to locat
them by the constitutions. This ,woul
make their location secure. 1t require
2 much figuring to accomplish the end de
sired. Ex- Governor Pierce was one Of tn
Z men who rendered valiant service for Bis
marck Grand Forks. Jamestown an
other communities were brought In by tn
alluring prospect of having their institu
tions located unchangeably. In the en-
the matter carried the convention and tn
capital was located hard and fast by tn
constitution.
How Grafton Won am n.tltuslon. !.
It was also provided by the constitu
ton that no other institution OF the sam
nature should be located in any other par
u of the state. This compact has not bee
broken except In the case OF jamestown
Y which was provided by the constitution a
the location OF the state, hospital for th