Devils Lake Inter Ocean

STATEHOOD PROSPECTS.

Judge Gifford and Mr. Cox Mean Business

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.—In regard to the prospect for Dakota Judge Gifford said today: "You will save me a great deal of letter writing if you will say to the thousands who are sending me letters that Dakota is sure to be admitted this session. There is nothing in the way now. All the appropriation bills are being pushed through in good order, and everybody is at last willing to give Dakota a chance. The situation has crystallized into such a good shape that I expect pretty nearly every prominent Dakotan here next week—Judge Moody, Kanouse, Edgerton and all the old standbys of admission. The committee bill is sure to be tangled up with several preposterous propositions. One is to provide for a vote on the question of admission and if a majority of the voters of either North or South Dakota should be against division then the territory is to come in as a whole. That the senate would not listen to an instant, nor will the admission of New Mexico be listened to. Yet after all the hindrances the bill is sure to pass this session."
Sunset Cox has blood in his eye and is after Springer's scalp. He said: "As to Dakota, I am receiving letters from all parts of the territory and am advised by the officers of her conventions. I shall feel authorized to speak for Dakota on this side of the chamber, and shall spare no effort to get a vote and a law this session. I will vote for the committee's omnibus bill or for single bills, I think the senate will not assent for a moment to the admission of New Mexico, and the bill will come back to us with the request for a conference. If the conferees fail to agree I shall insist on a second conference of new men if necessary. It is proposed to give South Dakota but one congressman, but I shall move to amend and give her two. It is no more than decent treatment and fair play to give her people two members. South Dakota had 375,000 people at her last census and now has probably 400,000. With that population she will soon be entitled to three members; she should surely have two now. The idea of allowing a vote on division is ridiculous. You couldn't find with a search warrant anybody out there who is against division. I don't know what Mr. Springer will do when the bill comes up on the 11th, but if he don't call it up some one else will. Anybody can do it. I am satisfied that the Southern Democrats are now ready to vote for the admission of all our Northwestern territories. They believe our people up there are entitled to relief and riddance of carpet-baggers. I have canvassed the members from Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Georgia. They are ready to vote with me. The Minnesota Democrats and Mr. McShane, of Nebraska, all agree that we must admit those Northwestern people this winter. In short, we are tired of Mr. Springer's beautiful blossoms of promises. We want fruits now—a bill passed. It is fair play, decency, and good party tactics."
AN EXTRA SESSION SURE.

WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 8.—The Tribune (Minneapolis) correspondent is able to speak positively on the point that there is certain to be an extra session of congress should the Democrats not do justice to Dakota and consent to grant her statehood. Gen. Harrison has made a promise to this effect, I am assured by the best authority. His record shows that he is the staunch friend of Dakota, and when he was a candidate before the Chicago convention his followers were the foremost advocates for granting to the territory the full representation she asked. Now it is well known that in a few weeks the house is certain to pass the omnibus bill admitting the two Dakotas, Mexico and Montana. The Republican senate will not consent to the admission of the "Greaser" territory on the same terms as Dakota, if for no other reason than to protect itself, as the chances of allowing additional Democratic senators are too great to take with such a slender Republican majority. So the omnibus bill will be hung up Harris will call her and Dakota will come in.

MOODY DESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.—Senator Moody of Dakota was at the capitol today trying to find out how he can help the admission bill, but found the house so energetically engaged in wasting time that a cold, gray despair began to settle over him as he listened to roll calls and calls of the house that are daily delaying appropriation bills and necessary legislation, in the interest of the Oklahoma bill. Senator Moody got so far into the spirit of the situation today that he said to-night: "The leaders of the Democrats in the house are too far apart on the subject. They cannot agree. If they could come to an understanding as to Dakota's terms for statehood there would be a renewal of the old trouble on the question of division. Of course it is possible that this congress may do something for us, but it seems to me to be rather impossible just now." He thinks there will be an extra session.