The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-03-06
NORTHERN PACIFIC DEAL

sioux Fails Argus Leader lU mas
not yet been denied, and it can not
be denied-for it is a fact OF record
that the first thing Coe [. Crawford
did in hts political career was to
make a solemn pledge to vote for the
repeal OF the gross earnings tax law,
that he was elected to Office on this
platform, that he went to the legis-
lature at Bismarck, that he broke the
pledge and voted with the railroads.,
thus giving thousands of dollars of
the peoples money to the Northern
Pacific road, ana that thereafter he
became a paid attorney Of the rail-
roads in reward for his perddy. The
story Is an interesting one. and every
word OF it can be proven by the
record.
In 1888, Coe. Crawford was nomin-
ated for the territorial council In the
Pierre district. He vas a young
nan who was just starting on his
political career. He was a man of
promise and a good talker then as
now. Several years before a gross
earnings tax law had been passed by
the territorial legislature. 1t was a
law which imposed a tax Of two per
cent on the gross earnings Of all
railroads In lieu of all other taxes.
The Law was passed on the insistence
Of the Northern Pacific road which
owned thousands of square miles Of
land In the northern part OF the
territory, and under this infamous
law the road escaped taxation en-
tirely on all this land. It II said
that IL company expended 100000
in than free and cay days to get
the Law passed.
The people soon began to realize
that the law was robbing them. and
began to clamor for its repeal.
Former Senator Psttigrew was one
Of those who fought for Its repeal
Ia the ~leigslature Of 1886. The repeal
bill passed one house, but was killed
in the other. "The road bought up
members like cabbaRes Ia open mar
ket," said MI. Pettigrew in speak
ing Of this fight.
By 1883, the people were desperate,
ana the fight was made on this issue.
The Farmers Alliance became
strong, and it vas a unit in demand
Ing the repeal Of this measure. In
Mr.. Crawford's district the senti-
ment was strong, and the convention
which nominated Mr.. Crawford
adopted this resolution
Resolved that all classes Of prop
erty in the territory should bear
equal share of taxation"
The convention was held at Harold,
Oct a, 1883. We have the complete
report Of the convention before us as
we write. Mr.. Crawford accepted
the nomination on this platform, and
pledged himself to vote for the
repeal of this 0 earnings tax law,
which was the only tax discrinin-
aLi0n then known.
Read on, friends, this story of
perfdy and dishonor, for 1t has to
do with the character Of the man
who has been q pledge breaker ever
since. the man who promised to
make good appointments aud who
made bad ones, the mar who
promised economy, gave waste, the
man who pledged South Dakota stone
for the capitol aud who is building
1T out OF foreign store, qnatried aud
trimmed by foreign labor, the man
who promised Il square deal aud
helped defeat the interest Till. the
man who talked against railroads as
a candidate and who has favored
them as governor, the man who
signed a patronage dea'. worked
under 1t, secured appointments
un0or r.. And whO nOw anudi.toe