The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-06-24
LEGISLATORS STANDS PAT
They have the Same Opinion on
Capital Removed Now as
When They Voted IL
(From The Mitchell Republican,


1t has been one of the cries of the
Pierreites that the 100 members of
the legislatures who voted for the re-
ers of the state that they did it to
get the question out of the way, and
that they were not in favor of TAX
ing the capital away from PIERRE.
Pierre has reckoned without her host
IS has been proven several times By
the members of the legislature from
various counties. Editor Basford,
If the Redfield Press, in the issue of
hst week presented the views of
three members from Sphinx county on
the capital removal proposition, and
tney each feel the same today as
when they voted in the legislature.
The members are standing pat
against. Pierre with wonderful una
rimity. The following is the letter
written by Hon. r. H. McCaughey:
Mellete, S. D., May 10, 1904.
Hon. O. S. Basford,
Redfeld, S. D.
Dear Sir:-In reply to your request
If recent date that | give you briefly
nv reason for supporting Senate
Joint Resolution No. /, being a Joint
resolution proposing to submit the
question of the seal of government
ID a vote of the people, permit me to
say that | did so for the two main rea
sons:
First, because l was fully con-
yinced that the people of Sphinx
county were practically unanimous
in their desire that the seat of gov
eminent of this state should be To-
Gated in the James river valley, and
at a point accessible to the people of
al parts of the state.
Second, because | was fully con-
yinced that the people OF the state
Of South Dakota were practically
unanimous in their opinion that
capital removal would lever down or
cease to be agitated within our state
until the voters at the polls had had
an opportunity to pass upon this or
p similar resolution.
From the very day Pierre was de-
clared the capital of our state, dis
satisfaction has been evident because
of the inconvenience in reaching the
place and the amount of valuable
time consumed in going to and from
the capital. At the last session of
the legislature the deliberations
thereof have been materially affected
by the agitation of this subject, and
as often as the subject has presented
itself. just SO often have the farmers,
business and professional men-the
men who keep in touch with the
affairs of the state and who will pass
upon this question from the broad
view of a state question-urged upon
thpis aanpoSnrt a 7 iyrnS fn nEn oil hon
orable means to bring about the pas
sage of such a joint resolution as
would permit the voters of the state
to express their judgment after ma
ture deliberation.
and dissatisfaction has shown itself
and been guarded against in the or
ganization of our legislative bodies
since statehood until, finally, in the
session of 1901, it jeopardized our
very necessary appropriations.
so thoroughly did this action
arouse the voters CT the state at large
that those who favored removal, as
we'll as those who did not, with prac-
tical unanimity agreed that the
question would never down until le-
gally submitted to the individual
NOUeIS lOI uudl Sclul6IuSlG. lie
question became an issue in the last
campaign with the result of submit
ting the proposed amendment by an
almost unanimous vote.
At the coming election the voters
of our state will have the privilege and
right to express their decision fear
lessly and with such force hal there
will be no doubt as to what their
opinion is in the mind of every one
| would like to say to every voter
that when yOu go into the booth to
mark your ballot, mark your choice
on this amendment the first thing
you do and you will have done your
duty upon this question and the re-
suit can not be else than just.
AS to the result in our county
feel confident it will be a substantial
verdict in favor of the amendment:
in fact such support as will justify.
in every detail, the action and the
statement of our committee when by
unanimous action and firm deter
mination they said "Resubmit the
capital question by all means.o