The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-22
ADMITTED TO STATE
HOOD IS YEARS
AGO
On Feb. %, 1889, President
Cleveland Signed Bills Ad-
hitting Dakotas.
BISMARCK CONVENTION
Many Prominent Grand Fork
ers Figured in Constitu-
tional Convention.
BISMARCK CONVENTION


among the ranks of the old timers
will think of today, Feb. %, 1907,
rs the anniversary date Of the adj
nl,::a:ce Of tie Dakota, % statehood,
but such is the case. Eighteen years
ago today, Feb. %, 1859 Grover
Cleveland, then president of the Unit
ed States, signed the famous omnibus
bill which read as follows: AN act
to provide for the division Of Dakota
into two states and to enable the
people of North Dakota, South Da-
kota, Montana and Washington to
form constitutions and state govern
ments, and to be admitted into the
union ON equal footing with the ori-
ginal states, to make donations of
public lands to such states
The signing of the omnibus bill fol-
lowed efforts of several years on the
part of the people both Of North and
South Dakota for division of the ter
ritory. On Sept. 4, 1888, consti-
tutional convention, having for its
purpose the drafting of a constitution
for South Dakota, was held at Sioux
Falls. The convention was in session
for fourteen days and although the
vote was unanimously in favor of
statehood the people waited in vain
for the necessary congressional au-
thority which never came.
For North Dakota.
In the meantime j. R. Raymond, the
delegate in congress for Dakota, Dec.
IL, 1888, presented a bill before con-
gress establishing the territory of
North Dakota This was referred to
the committee on territory where it
persisted like other measures present
ed before.
Other constitutional conventions
were held in South Dakota at later
dates and at one time the people had
A. C.. Mellette elected governor and
all ready to step in the chair, If con-
gress gave the word, but it didn't.
Pressure brought to bear at length
resulted in the passage of a bill by
both houses of congress in the winter
of 1883 1889 which as stated above
was signed by President Cleveland on
Feb. %, 1889.
Convention at Bismarck.
Immediately upon the passage of
the above bill steps were taken to
consummate the measure. Delegates
to convention to form a state con-
stitution in conformity with the act
were chosen. These met in conven-
ton at Bismarck, July 4, 1889.
The following Grand Forks mel
were represented on the roll call of
membership: Richard Bennett. Will
lam Bulge, Charles Carothers, Alex
ander Griggs, Arne P. Haugen, Mar
tin v. Linwell, ]. H. Matthews.
The following were made. officers
of the association: F. B. Fancher,
president; ]. G. Hamilton (major),
chief clerk; G. c. Bowsfield, enroll
ing and engrossing clerk; Fred Falley,
sergeant at arms; J. 8. Weiser, watch
man; E. w. knight, messenger; Geo.
Kline, chaplain and r. M. futile, Off
cial stendgrapher.
The convention was in session for
six weeks and the election of officers
took place Oct. 1, 1889.
~ First State Officials.
John Miller was elected governor;
Alfred Dickey, lieutenant governor;
John Flittie, secretary of state; John
P. Bray, state auditor, L. E. Booker,
state treasurer; George F. Goodwin,
attorney general; VIM. Mitchell, sup
erintendent public instruction; H. T.
Helgeson, commissioner of agriculture
and labor, and A. L. Cary, commits
sioner of insurance.
Guy G. H. Corliss of Grand Forks,
Alfred Wallin and Joseph M. Bartho-
lemew were chosen judges for the
supreme court.
Charles F. Tempieton was chosen
district judge of the First district.