The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-30
ATTITUDE OF HURON
Longstaff's Pronunciamento on Cap
ital Removal in Cutting Away
From the Movement.

John Longstaff. editor of the Huron
Huronite, and a member of the lesis-
lature, also member of the capital
removal caucus, recently published Il
statement in his paper which alb
solved Huron from any further con-
nection with capital removal. What
Longstaff has to say Of the compact
between Huron, Redfield and Mitch
ell is as follows:
The writer has always believed that
sooner or later Huron would become
the capital Of the state. He believes
now that it should be, but realizes
after many years Of efforts ana many
defeats that such is now impossible.
1t has been a fond dream of his, and
now that it is broken forever, he is
] utterly crushed, and but for the fact
that he has always devoted every
effort unselfishly to the accomplish
ment of this dream the present stu
alton would be unbearable.
That Mitchell has a big fight on
hand to wrest the capital from Pierre
| Pierre realized this during the con
| OCSO lOl lCouOllIioSlOu LIN was dLiiGSo
in creating Mitchell sentiment as
against Huron, on the theory that
Pierre could defeat Mitchell in a vote
before the people, but as against
Huron it's case would have been hope
ess. The attempt to make it appear
that the coalition between Mitchell,
Redfeld and Huron extends to the
time when the people shall cast their
votes upon this proposition, is alb
surd. The agreement has been car
ried out.
Beadle county'S delegation is free
to act in accordance with the wishes
of their constituents.
In commenting on the peculiar
attitude of Huron the editor Of the
Dell Rapids Tribune takes the follow
ing very sensible view Of what Huron
intends to do in the future concern
ing the capital fight:
For years, in fact ever since the
capital was located at Pierre, Huron
has kept up the fight for the removal
Of the capital from Pierre, contend
ing that Pierre is not a suitable
place for the capital. Huron entered
into the combine with Mitchell and
Redfeld ostensibly on the broad
ground that the interests Of the state
demanded that the capital be re-
moved to a more favorable location,
and agreed to abide by the decision
Of a majority of the remOvaliSts in
the: legislature as to which OF the
three towns should be pitted against
Pierre, and the Huronite put itself
on record repeatedly to that effect.
But it would appear from Lonsgtaff's
correspondence that Huron had not
acted in good faith; that her only
interest in capital removal was in
getting the capital for herself; that
she entered into the combine in the
hope Of using Mitchell and Redfield
as catspaws; and that having been
worsted all around, she will now help
Pierre to hold the capital rather
than let Mitchell have it. Long
Stairs assertion that Pierre helped
Mitchell as against Huron is obvious
ly nonsense, for it must be evident
to everybody that Mitchell, the
f~avorite Of the whole south part OF
the state and the Black Hills region
as we'll, is a much more formidable
candidate against Pierre than Huron
would have been. 1t would appear
that Huron has played a double
game; that she went into the COM
bine solely for the purpose of win
ming the capital, and now that she
cannot get it purposes to turn on her
successful rival and do what she can
to block the removal Of the capital.
If this shall prove to be the case it
will certainly be anything but cred
liable to Huron; but perhaps Mitch
ell can win without any assistance
from Huron.