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THE FIGHT FOR STATEHOOD
169

the convention, composed of Bartlett Tripp, Hugh J. Campbell, Gideon C. Moody, and Arthur C. Mellette, carried this constitution to Congress and asked that it be accepted, and that South Dakota be admitted to the Union; but without avail.

The next legislature, by law, provided for a new constitutional convention to be held in Sioux Falls in September, 1885. Meanwhile
Bartlett Tripp
General Beadle had carried on his agitation for ten-dollar school land, and the principle was adopted by the new constitutional convention. The constitution framed by this convention was duly ratified by the people at the November election, and a complete set of state officers were elected, together with members of Congress and a legislature. Arthur C. Mellette was elected governor. Huron was chosen for the temporary capital. The new (state) legislature met at Huron on December 15 and elected Gideon C. Moody and Alonso J. Edgerton as United States senators. Oscar S. Gifford and Theodore D. Kanouse had been elected members of the lower house of Congress.

These gentlemen and the governor carried the new con-