The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-06-21
AS ONE STEPPING STONE.

AS ONE STEPPING STONE.
The Sioux Falls Argus-Leader
finds that it is its duty at the present
time to call the attention OF Govern
Or Crawford to the stone question OF
the capitol building at Pierre, mas
much as the stone issue was the
main feature in the election in Min
nehaha county last year, wherein the
Angus-Leader claims that Minnehaha
county followed the insurgent lead
on the s%upposition that Sioux Falls
stone would have the right of way
over any other material. 1t will be re-
membered hat when the state con-
Fention was held in the Minnehaha
county delegates We're of the insur-
gent kind, but later in the season
the stalwarts carried the county. Had
the stone question not been made
yention vas held the Minnehaha
is no question but what the county
would have remained stalwart and
in that condition the state convention
would have been dominated by the
stalwarts, for other counties follow
ed the lead of Minnehaha in going
over to the insurgents. The Argus
Leader in commenting on the pledges
of Governor Crawford on the stone
question, has the foaowing to say:
Voters of Minnehaha county who a
year ago were induced to support
the insurgent movement under the
promise that If successful South Da-
kota material would be used in the
construction of the new capitol will
now be somewhat surprised to learn
that Mr.. Crawford's apologists now
coolly deny that any pledge was ever
made. They point out that there was
nothing in the platform about the
matter, and they declare that they
can not be held responsible for any
thing which their strikers may have
promised to the people of Minnehaha
county.
As a matter of fact Governor Craw-
ford himself made a speech in Sioux
Falls, when he vas looking for votes, |
In which he said that the use of Bed
ford stone in the new capitol would
be "a crime" That came pretty dan
gerly near being a pledge that Bed
ford stone would not be used. In that
same speech, MI. Crawford praised
highly the Sioux Falls stone as al
building material, and he was loudly |
applauded for his remarks on this
branch of the case. If Mr.. Crawford
did not pledge to the people of this
county that South Dakota materials
would be used, they certainly mis-
understood him.
In the primaries held in May al
year ago, workers for Crawford were
armed with pieces of nicely polished !
Sioux Falls stone and with a rough
looking piece c. limestone which was
declared to be Bedford stone. Scores
upon scores of voters were shown
these two samples, and were asked
which one they wanted used in the
capitol. Answering in favor of the
Sioux Falls stone, they were then
urgedato vote for insurgent delegates,
and were promised, that If elected,
Mr.. Crawford would see to it that
Sioux Fallsestonefwas used. Wascnot
that pretty closet to a pledge?
OF course the capitol can be built
mor cheaply out of Bedford stone.
Everybody admits this. But it could
also be built more cheaply out of
lumber, or brick. If a cheap building
is what is wanted why moi get the
cheapest thing to be had? For the
present, however, the Argus-Leader
Is not arguing this so much as it is
calling attention to the bad faith
of Mr.. Crawford in securing his nom
ination on a promise which he has
broken within six months. of the time
that he took the oath of office. Let it
be understood that the people of this
county have not forgotten, and that
they will not have forgotten it when
another year shall have rolled
around.