Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-04-30
RECORD Of Crawford
THE FACTS REVEALED

p. 1889
The next morning, March s, Mr..
Hughes called up Council Bill 140.
The house held that 1t could not be-
considered until the order for UNI
finished. business was reached
ton ON the part Of the counsel for the
Northern Pacific shows how anxious
the railroad company was to force
the measure.
The next move with regard to the
bill was on the question of the
amendment offered by Major Dollard
substituting his measure for that I'M
den consideration. The motion was
lost by the vote of s to II. Mr.. craw-
This is the first time that Crawford
really indicated that he had left the
people and arrayed himself with the
railroad company. What had tran
spired the night before to bring
about this change of base his friends
at Bismarck could not understand.
Mr.. Crawford then offered an amend
nal PIP. 732-3O. Mr.. Glaspell then Of
fered the following in behalf of the
people. to-wit: provided that moth
ing herein contained shall be con.
strued to exempt. from taxation the
lands of any railroad company and
not within the right Of way Of such
company nor used in its ordinary
business, Council Journal p. 1887.
Mr.. Hughes then demanded a divis-
ion of the question; the call of the
house was also demanded: 81 MEM
bers responded; the call was raised.
Upon the amendment offered by Mr..
Glaspell the vote was 10 to 10 and 1t
was consequently lost, Mr.. Crawford
voting for the amendment which in
Dictated that he was again in wav-
ering condition Council Journal PIP;
733-34). Mr.. Crawford then offered
another amendment which was ad-
opted by a vote of 10 to / Council
Journal p. 734). Mr.. Erickson then
moved a recess until 2 p. m, and his
motion was lost. Mr.. Mcdonald,
still with the people, moved an ad-
journment, which was lost Mr..
Hughes moved the previous question
M. Crawford voting with Mr..
Hughes. The call of the house was
demanded; all the members were
pI esent. Mr.. Erickson again moved
that the council take recess until
p. M, which was lost. The ques-
ton was then put. Shall the bill
pass?" and it was lost by a vote of
the bill Council Journal PIP. 1866.
1t seemed to Mr. Crawford neces-
sary that upon every decisive vote
regarding this measure he should ex-
plain why he voted as he did and on
this occasion. true to his constitu-
ency, true to those who had framed
his platform at Harold October A..
1885, he said:
81 vote against this bill on the
ground that it includes all lands
owned by railway companies not me-
cessary to their use for right OF way
and depot grounds. ! cannot vote to
exempt such lands from taxation"
Council Journal p. 1860. This asser.
ton on the part of Mr.. Crawford
satisfied and overjoyed his friends
and he received numerous congratu-
lations for the manly stand he had
taken. Particularly was there reason
for rejoicing because in some in
stances as hereinbefore related he
seemed to be wavering and it was
feared that he would prove recreant
to his trust and his pledge.
The cause for rejoicing was short
lived. Later on. and the same day
vote by which council bill 140 was
lost be reconsidered The call of
the house was demanded Council
Journal p. 1922; the call was raised
Council Journal p. 1851; Mr.. Glas-
pell then moved to lay the motion to
reconsider council bill No. 140 on the
table. If this motion had been car
risd it would have settled the matter
The vote, however, was 9 in favor
and IL against the motion and Mr.
Crawford, of course voting with the
majority Council Journal p. 754.) Mr.
Hughes then moved the previous
question which shut off debate and it
was carried by vote of IL to 8, Mr.
Crawford voting with the majority
Mr.. Mcdonald had Joined him in his
change of base. Mr.. Erickson then
poned until the next morning but his
motion was lost Council Journal D.
1861. Mr.. Hughes then moved to have
the matter made special order for
6 D. m Mr.. Erickson moved to table
Mr.. Hughes motion which motion
was lost. Mr.. Erickson then moved
that it be made special order for
s d. m Mr.. Hughes moved to table
the motion which was carried by the
same vote of IL to 9, SO the matter
was made special order for 6 pm.
Council Journal p. 1861
The hour having arrived a call of
the house was demanded and all
members were present but two; the
call was raised The bill was then
put upon its final passage and car
was that Mr.. Crawford again ex-
planned his vote by saying:
~ now vote for this bill on the
ground that since voting before
have received communication from
people on my district requesting that
! vote for this bill. That feature Of
the bill relating to the exempting Of
all the lands OF any railroad COM
pany, paying under the gross earn
ings system, from taxation Ia against
my Judgment, but ! do not desire to
set up my Judgment against the only
expression have from my district
on this subject"
Thus it will be seen and under
stood by every intelligent voter that
Mr. Crawford was induced to leave
the people by some influence which
was potent and which was exercised
uEon him in very short period Oh
time. This record needs no embel-
fishing. A thousand tongues aided
by countless pens could not SO WV
idly picture a characteristic that un-
fits a person for public trust as do
these truthful annals OF his relation
ship to this measure.
The foregoing recital is based ON
facts, cold indisputable facts, secured
from and corr0borated by the rec
ord made up largely by Governor
Crawford himself This record con-
stitutes part OF the history of thd
Territory of Dakota and produces q
life-like portrait 81 the men and ev-
ents Of those days. II there is false
word in the foregoing quotation and
citations the governor has at hand
tic necessary material to prove 1t.