The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-09-22
BODY BLOWS BY
CO[| !. CRAWFORD
South Dakota's Insurgent
Leader Lands Hard on the
kittredge Machine.
~HlGH-HANDED METHODS
He Recites the Manner in Which tho
Railroad Organization Has
Trampled the Rights of the
People Under Foot.

Huron, S. D.. Sept. 14.-Coe I. Craw-
ford addressed an immense audience at
the state fair here today. He dealt
some severe body blows to the Kit
tredge machine and pointed the way to
cure the evil. He said in part:
1 wish to discuss some specific issues
that are before the people OF this state
aud upon which they will ere long have
an opportunity to take sides;
i. Shall South Dakota sustain President
Roosevelt in his demand hat power shall
be given to the Interstate Commerce
In specific cases where after a full invests
CATION and hearing upon notice to a rail-
way company, the commission has found
that the rate charged Is unreasonably
high?
2. Shall the men who voted to ignore
q 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 and the corporations in
causing that petition to be suppressed and
the constitution of the state to be yio-
lated, be approved continuing them In
power?
8. Shall we not have a legislature
enact or submit to the people for approval
under the constitution a primary election
law; also a law abolishing the free pass
system?
a. Shall we not sever the republican
party from machine and corporation con-
troll?
l wish to discuss these propositions in
the order in which I have stated them.
Stand by the President.
1t Is the duty of progressive republicans
to stand by the president and insist that
the next republican state convention shall
by a ringing resolution endorse his recon-
mendation that congress give to the COM
mission power to fix maximum rates in
cases where excessive rates have been
roVen to exist. and that its order become
effective at once and remain in force until
reversed upon appeal to the courts.
l desire to sound a note of warning here
because it is evident that a shrewd game is
being played and is in process of execu-
ton on the part of the state railroad ma
chine to entrap the people into a feeling
Of security by oft repeated declarations
hat our delegation in congress is in favor
OF the presidents recommendation; that
our house members voted for 1t last win
ter and are unjustly accused of being
against 1t, while at the same time and in
long editorials are published and press
bureau articles printed which attempt to
convince the public that the president is
wrong IN the recommendation made by
HIM.
. All the power of the machine will be
free transportation will be issued without
stint, to pack the caucuses and conven-
tons to elect delegates who will suppress
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 will he 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, If the
machine controls.
acne II At. o.:I..-l .E"