The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-02-26
Ahe capital Should be Removed

Almost everyone believes in honesty
"nu fairness IN discussing public
questions, and when it is shown tina,
III opPoHent Is unfair in discussion
.nose VINO agree with his views either
lose interest in his cause or feel lika
opposing him. Now the Question al
the seat OF government of a state il .
debatable one, but when it il heing
debated it should be from the stand,
point OF what is the greatest good to
the greatest NUMBER and not wh Of
does Pierre want, what does Mitchell
want or what does Sioux Falls. Huron
ankton or Aberdeen want.
The question as to the Sc at of state
government resolves itself down to
one OF two propositions: Where will
large majority of the people of this
state be best subserved bv perma-
nently locating the state capital. a,
Pierre or at Mitchell? No other
question should enter into q man ,s
calculation when he is figuring on his
duty to the state. If he is figuring on
his duty to himself, why then he will
vote to put it where he will be perm :
nently benefited. Now it can not be
demonstrated that one man in four
will be permanently benefited by
leaving the capital at Pierre, but it is
easy OF demonstration to show that
three out of every four would receive
direct or Indirect benefits by locating
IL Tor all time to come at Mitchell,
Every honest voter in South Dakota is
aware that OF the two towns Mitchell
is the point that would best serve
most seople.
Eighteen months ago three towns,
either OF which were much prefera Bile
to Pierre, entered into a solemn com
pact or written agreement to submit
thelr respective locations to vote of
tne state legislature, and the wise
Judgment of a majority of all the
members selected Mitchell.
AS early as January 10, 1901, three
years ago, daily news paper published
IN one of the towns above named,
favored the very plan that was adopted
by majority of the legislature in
} anuary, 1903, and aided in bringing
about the very fair results that were
adopted. Under the following cap
heading, on January 10, 1901, the
Huronite said:
1.-THE CAPITAL SHOULD BE REMOVED. -
'The Huronite is in favor of a
capital removal bill, and in order that
The bill may pass, would draw the |
resolution so that Aberdeen, Mitchell,
huron, Sioux Falls and Watertown
nay be voted for, and provided that in
'ase no town should receive a majority
vote, all towns save those receiving
he Two highest, be dropped from the
lot OF candid ates, and at the next
.eneral election the people be given
he opportunity to vote as between
hose towns
1.-The capital should be removed from
'lerre.' Those were the sentiments of
ohm Langstaff, editor of the Huron
te, and 1t was the sentiment that he
dltorially advocated for two wears.
nd, as member of the leg stature,
elped to accomplish in January, one ]
ear ago. He was then in favor of
olng 1.-THE greatest good for the {
reatest NUMBER but the citizens of S
Aberdeen, Sioux Falls and Water
1n did not deem it wise or fair to
nter into the contest because they s
eclded they were not geographically 1
ocated near the center of population,
nd the same argument in a measure,
ould apply to them that applied to
lerre, although most of the legisla- I
We members voted to remove it from
'ierre year ago.
In any event the Gazette agrees
ith the Huronite's sensible 1901
rgument that "the capital should be
from Pierre.