The Dickinson press., 1908-08-08

gates to proceed to Washington and urge upon congress the importance and
delegation. The North Dakotans were defeated in their efforts at Washington
By a delegation of South Dakotans who feared that the division of thu terri
tory would delay statehood The men from North Dakota returned home
vowng that when South Dakota became a stateN NORTH Dakota would be her
twin sister. That vow was fulfilled when the statehood bill was approved
on Washingtons birthday, 1889 t~
direction Of twin born statehood. The removal of the territorial capital from
Yankton to Bismarck resulted in large measure from the disappointment Of
the North Dakota delegation at Washington and the determination Of its
members to make a new state, sine q new territory denied. To Alex
ander Mckenzie, the dominating force on the legislative commission appointed
to select a site for the new capital. was due the choice of Bismarck, which
naturally became the state capital Of North Dakota six years later,w when Prest
dent Harrison proclaimed the admission.
North Dakoas constitutional convention began at Bismarck N the Fourth
Of July, 1850. The president was B. B. Fsncher Of Jamestown. On the first
elected governor, Alfred Dickey lieutenant governor and John F1ftde secretary
d state. Henry {. Hansbrough Of Devils Lake va elected to congress. 4"
r The first state legislature convened at Bismarck Dec q. 1885. Gilbert A
Pierce, ex-governor Of Dakota territory. was elected one of the United States
senators and Lyman r. Casey the other. Senator Pierce drew the short term.
Other candidates for the senate who received votes in the legislature were N.
n, johnson, who came within. four votes Of election; Nehemiah q. Ordway,
Daniel w. Marrata, Harrison Allen, George H. Walsh, Porter ]. McCumber
and Judson Lannoure %. 't
!" In her eighteen years Of statehood North Dakota has made remarkable
uninhabited plain has become the worlds chief wheat producing section. The
future historian, to whom will fall the duty Of chronicnng the settlement
development and achievements of this splendid state will find his task q
peasant n There will be in the story plenty OF romance and thrill. There
WIN be tales Of adventure and daring, records Of endurance and moral courage
unsurpassed. The thriving cities, towns and villages which today dot the
nrdriesa all have their tales Of strenuous endeavor an crednabe achievement
The history Of North Dakota is the story II a people that have conquered
empire out Of emptiness, that have gathered in a vast untitled area and mad,
e blossom In a few years to agricultural greatness. Year by year the adva,
and paciacate were the wild aborgines and in some parts of the COM
monwealth the wild animals. Everywhere was the wild land, the unbroken
sod. which required only the industrious farmer to make 1t yield a golden
harvest. There have been failures, but there have been more successes than
failures. There ire pioneers still living who dwet heew when there was n
organized government The survivors Of the territorial days are numerous,
of course Tor the first child born after statehood is still under age Those who
the main Of that sturdy breed Of which the best Americans are made, whether
they come from abroad or from the other states 1t is in a commonwealth like
and North Dakota stands forth before the nation a a splendid example Of
wholesome citizenship ~