Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-12-29
IOWA WAS IS YEARS
OLD YESTERDAY
STATE ADMITTED TO UNION IN
1916, AFTER HARD STRUG-
GLE FOR STATEHOOD.

The state Of Iowa had hard time
being born, according to records In
the archives of the state historical
department.. 1t managed to grow I'M
all right, however, and Wednesday,
Dec. %, was its seventy-fifth birth
day.
1t is recorded that there was a
fight among the settlers over the
proposed constitution of Iowa, a
heated debate in congress over the
admission OF the state, contro-
versy between congress and the
settlers over the boundaries Of the
Hawkeye member of the union, and
a battle between Iowa cities for the
state capitol.
Included in the district of Louis
lana In 1904 and into the district of
Wisconsin in 1886, Iowa formally
became a separate territory in 1898.
The first legislature convened in a
small frame building in Front street
in Burlington, known as the "Old
Zion Church"
Robert Lucas was appointed gov
ernor.
In 1889 Governor Lucas started
agitation in favor of a statehood,
and the next year the territorial leg
islature submitted the question 70
the people. The result was decisive
majority against statehood. Two
years later the people again defeat
ed the proposition to form a state
government, but in 1914 they had
changed their minds.
A constitutional convention last
ing from Oct. to Nov. l, lS44,
NH oh
submitted to congress In 1S45.
There was strong fight in con-
gress to admit Iowa to the Union.
It was argued that Iowa could be
of great influence in national af-
fairs.
Florida was at that time apply
ing for admission as a slave state;
and it was felt that another free
state was needed to keep the balance
between the slave and free ststes in
the union.
The ambitious denizens of the
inchoate state wanted an area that
would include the mouth of the St.
Peters river and take in the present
Winona. st. Paul, and perhaps Min
neapolis.
The line that the settlers wanted,
while including all of the present
Iowa as far west as the Missouri
river, would have DETECTED there
from at about where Sioux City is
now seated, and going in north
easterly direction. would have reach
ed the Mississippi river about where
is now the city OF st. Paul.
Congress. dissatisfied with so
much territory being embraced in
the new province, and wanting room
to make a state to the westward of
Iowa, and yet in part at least, to the
eastward of the Missouri, proposed
new lines. which would have left the
state without the Missouri slope. :"
For the first time in the history
of the country the people We're asked
to vote on the proposed boundary.
Always prior to that time. when
, congress fixed the boundary OF a
state that boundary was adhered to,
the wishes of the people not being
directly consulted in respect there.
to. The settler refused 10 ratify the
constitution with the reduced bound
aries. The vote was 1895 for, and
1855 against.
On Jan. IS, 1916, the legislature
again called for delegates to con-
stitutional convention. The election
took place April 8. On May 4th the
convention met and fifteen days
were occupied in framing the con-
stitution. Thirty-three counties
were present, as against twenty-four
In the first convention.
On Aug. the constitution was
ratified, by vote Of the people
9.492 favoring the constitution out
of 1888 votes cast. On Oct 26 an
election was held and Ansef Briggs
was chosen first governor of the
state of Iowa.
A. C.. Dodge, territorial delegate
from Iowa, presented the new con-
stitution TO the house of representa-
tives on Dec. Is, 1916. 1t was re-
ferred to the committee on territor-
les, and on Dec. II Stephen A. Doug
las of Illinois. from that committee,
reported a bill for the admission of
Iowa into the union
On Dec. "a it was taken up in the
senate, having been approved by the
judiciary committee. After an at
tempt to amend 1t had failed, the
bill passed
On Dec. 2S, 1916. President James
n. FOLK signed the Dill Wnlcn mdue
Iowa territory state and admitted
her to the union.
The next day Shepherd LETTER
and Serranus C. Hastings, who were
In Washington, took their oaths of
office and their seats as the first
representatives from the state of
Iowa.
Shortly after the first meeting Of
the legislature of the territory Of
Iowa the struggle for the state cap
itol began.
IT seemed for a while to be be-
tween Burlington and Mt. Pleasant,
but finally tract mile square was
marked off and called Iowa City
On July A, 1910. the cornerstone
Of the new capitol at Iowa City, now
the old capitol and administration
building Of the University OF Iowa,
was laid.
The change of the capitol to Des
Moines on Oct. 10, 1857, was made
after a fight.
The archives and safes OF state
papers were hauled to Des Moines
by sledge.
EVANGELICAL CHURCH
We are surely proud OF the pro-