The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-09-21
BODY BLOWS BY
COE |. CRAWFORD
South Dakota's Insurgent
Leader Lands Hard on the
kittredge Machine.
~44loH-HANoeo METHODS
He Reeltss the Manner in Which The
Railroad Organization Has
rrsmplsd The Rights Of the
People Under Foot.


Huron. g. d.. Sept. it.-coc I craw-
the state fair here today. He dealt
Some severe body blows 20 the Kit
tredge machine n pointed the way TO
cure the evil. He said In part:
wish 20 discuss some specific issues
that are before The people OF this state
and upon which they Will ere long have
an opportunity to take sides.
These questions are the W
l. shall South Dakota sustain President
Roosevelt I'm his demand that power shall
bs given 10 the Interstate Commerce
commission 20 nx a maximum freight rate
In specific cases where after a full invcsu-
CATION and hearing upon notice To a ran.
way company. the commission has found
that the rate charged 10 unreasonaoiy
high
4 constitutional petition Of the citizens OF
this state To have "A primary election law
submitted TO them at the next general
election for their approval. and the action
OF the machine ana the corporations In
causing that petition 10 be suppressed and
the constitution OF tho state TO be vio-
lated. be approved continuing them In
DS ! SHAH we no, %Aave'a legislature
elected In this state which will either
enact or submit TO the people for approval
under the constitution a primary election
a Shall we not sever the republican
party from machine and corporation con-
i wish TO discuss these propositions In
the order IN which I have stated them.
Stand by the President.
II ls tho duty OF progressive republicans
20 stand by the president and insist that
the next republican state convention shall
by a ringing resolution endorse his recon-
rnendation that congress give 20 the COM
mission power to nx maximum rates IN
cases where excessive rates have been
proven 10 exist. and that It's order become
effective at once and remain In force until
reversed upon appeal 10 the courts.
because 10 In evident that n shrewd game II
being played and In In process OF execu-
ton on the part OF the state railroad ma
OF sccurity by oft repeated declarations
that our delegation In ongrcs Is In favor
OF the presidents recommendation; that
ter Ind are unJustly accused OF being
against II. while NJ the same time and In
the columns OF the same machine papers
long editorials are published and press
convince tho public that the president is
wrong m the recommendation made BY
All the power OF the machine win be
used: vast sums OF money will be spent:
free transportation will be Issued without
stint. TO pack the caucuscs and conven-
A4ttr " thF&N a0tktkuhtN wiz VIII ElIlN =
Q specific resolution endorsing the position
OF the president upon this vital point.
OF course he will be endorsed In the high
est general terms: rebates, determinations
and private car lines viii be denounced:
general condemnation OF trusts will be
made In the strongest language: but his
position In favor OF regulating abuses In
Freight rates will not be endorsed. ~ the
machine controls.
Program Of the Railroads.
Indeed. IL II is strong enough TO do so. a
resolution condcmning the proposition to
allow the commission. TO correct such
abuses will be passed. Then our on
gressional delegation win do. what many
people now suspect IL IN In the plot 10 do
announce that the members were all In
favor OF the measure recommended by
the president: but that tho sentiment OF
the people OF the state (gI. as expressed
In the niachine made platform. Is against
IL. that they must stand on that platform
aud hence are compelled to vote against
the proposition Of the president.
Do YOU say that this statement Ia with
out foundation?
Let me ask why the Argus Leader.
which IL tho special advocate OF senator
kittredgc: the Pierre Free Press. the
Dcadwood Pioneer. the home organ OF
Congressman Martin: The Aberdeen
News: tho WATERFOWL Public Opinion, the
leading organs OF the railroads and the
state machine and the cuckoo press every
where. are filled daily with articles. cdi-
toriai n otherwise, for the purpose OF
influencing the public mind against the
position OF the pfesidentg
Machines Work last Winter.
Let me ask further why II was that the
machine representatives In the legislature
last. winter attempted. and all but sue
ceeded. In suppresEing the numerous rcso-
lutons offered endorsing the position taxi
en- by the president upon this very polnt1
A ndmbcr OF such resolutions were
offered but all found an obscure sleeping
place In the hands of the senate machine
committed on ruIen- until nnnllV nflCF "A
desperate fight, led by "a veteran OF the
people. Senator Dillon OF Yankton, during
the very last lays OF the session. one OF
these resolutions was forced out OF the
committee n passed.
tell you that the plot II on and was on
then TO defeat any expression by the re-
publican party In this state In favor OF
rate revising power.
Gagged the Convention.
Last year the machine and tho political
MANAGERS OF the railroads 30 completely
controlled the republican stats convention
that the resolutions In relation 90 taxation
OF railroad property could not be presented
10 the open convention because OF the gag
present any resolution in the open con-
v%entlon, or TO debate II there: you were
required 20 hand u Ia to the packed
committee which did not report or con-
Mark my word. Unless YOU are y1giIant
and look after this matter very closely In
s me anS anu county conventions next
themselves and bind them by Instructions,
next convention will treat the propo-
4 Hstion OF President Roosevelt tho Same
way as IL did these resolutions last year.
Initiative INC Referendum.
In South Dakota the people have voted
Into their conatitutiou a principle dcslg-
mated 10 protect them against the very
cncroachmcnts from which they are now
strtytng TO become free. IL Is a principle
az binding upon the legislature as any
other principle In that constitution.
refer TO the following.
section ]. article . OF the constitution
provides:
"Tha the people expressly reserve
10 themselves the right 60 propose
measures, which measures the l~erlSia-
tur~ shall enact and submit TO a vote
~ the electors OF the state, and also
the right 10 require thai any laws
which the legislature may have enacted
shall be submitted to a vote OF the
electors OF the state bcfor. going Into
cuect (exccpt such avs as may be
necessary for the immediate prcscrya-
ton or the public peace. or safety,
support OF the state government and It's
existing l~nstitutionsJ.
Provided that 10 moro than Ave per
centum OF the qualified electors OF tho