The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-04-01
|fHG MITCHELL CAPITAL
FRIDAY, APRIL /. 1904.
a VOICE FROM IOWA

$50 A
Akron, Iowa, Register: Our
n%eiphbors over in South Dakota are
working upon the capital question
surprisingly. 1t is almost the sole
topic OF news paper discussion, with
the exception of the governorship,
and will overshadow that as soon as
the state convention for the nomlna-
tion of state officers is out Of the
way. The Elk Point Courier came
out a couple of weeks since with a
full page on capital matters, which
was a regular broadside against
Pierre. 1t will produce a profound
effect wherever it is read. All these
representatives from Union county
are in favor of moving the state cap
itol to Mitchell, where it will be
more accessible and convenient to
the great majority OF the people of
the state. Representative Lawson's
letter to the Courier is one Of the
strongest presentations of the remov-
alist that has come to our notice.
Editor Bruce put the question Of
capital removal in a personal letter
to Senator Frieberg and Representa-
tive Lawson, Ryan and Martin and
the Courier publishes their replies
in full. Senator Freiberg is rather
noncommittal, refusing to use his
official position to influence the vot-
ers n way or anoJher, but the
three representatives show a decided
preference for Mitchell and are not
at all backward about saying so.
AS is known to most of the Regis
tre-Tribune's readers, the capital was
located at Pierre thirteen years ago
last fall, but no sooner had the peo-
pie voted it there than they appeared
to be sorry for it. There has been
q constant protest from all parts of
the state for the past ten years or
more. The rivalry of several import
ant cities alone prevented the question
Of a capital location being submitted
to the voters years ago. At the last
session of the legislature, Mitchell,
Huron and Redfield combined their
forces and got a removal bill through
the legislature by a vote of 100 to 81.
In the caucus to determine which Of
three towns should be selected to
make the fight against Pierre,
H6sknho1l roroiyod OF votoc II,.oo 10
and Redtield z. The vote showed
that the sentiment for removal is
not only strong in all parts of the
state, but that Mitchell is considered
the proper place for the capital.
The result is being watched with.
intrest outside Of South Dakota.
Pierre's only claim is that it is To-
Gated in the geographical center of
the state. 1t vas the geographical
CENTER slogan that caught the vot-
res thirteen years ago. 1t is ex-
tremely doubtful about Its doing so
again. The development Of Nebras-
ka and Kansas TO the. south of our
sister state shows that the pioneer
reckoned wisely when they located
the respective capitals of those two
states near the eastern line, where
the population is much greater than
farther west, and will always be.
The Dakotas are much like Kansas
and Nebraska IN climatic features,
and it is impossible OF belief that
the western half OF either Of the
Dakotas will ever contain but a
small per cent Of the population.
Local j~ealousies may prevent an ex-
preston OF popular will in the cap
itol fight, but if the people Of South
Dakota consult the interest OF the
state and the future, they will
promptly embrace the opportunity to
place the capital where it will bene-
fit the greatest number.