Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-04-30
RECORD OF CRAWFORD
THE FACTS REVEALED

Glaspell, a friend of the people, NOV
ed that the council adjourn and the
motion was carried. Council Journal
p. 1881
The next morning. March 5, Mr..
Hughes called up Council Bill lao.
The house held that 1t could not be-
considered until the order for un-
finished business was reached
Council Journal p. 1900. This &C
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
der consideration. The motion was
lost by the vote of to IL. 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 732-33). 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
Mr.. Hughes then demanded divis-
ion of the question; the call Of the
house was also demanded: Il men,
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
dicated that he was again in wav-
ering condition Council Journal PIP.
739-34). Mr.. Crawford then offered
another amendment which was adj
opted by vote of Is TO l Council
Journal p. 734). Mr.. Erickson then
moved a recess until 2 p. m; and his II
still with the people, moved an ad-
journment, which was lost. Mr.
Hughes moved the previous question
which carried by vote OF IL to 3,
Mr. Crawford voting with Mr.
Hughes. The call Of the house was
demanded; all the members were
pr esent. Mr.. Erickson again moved
that the council take recess until
D. M, which was lost. The ques-
ton was then put, "Sball the bill
pass?" and it was lost by vote OF
8 to 10, Mr.. Crawford voting against
the bill Council Journal PIP. 1876 :.
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 4,
II vote against this bill on the
around that 1t includes all lands
4ntn ..
cessary to their use for right OF way
and depot grounds. ] cannot vote to
exempt such lands from taxation"
Council Journal p. 1867 This asser-
tion on the part of Mr.. Crawford
satisfied and overjoyed his friends
and he received numerous congratu-
| iations 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
Mr.. Crawford moved: THAT the
vote by which council bill lao was
lost be reconsidered.' The call of
the house was demanded Council
Journal D. 1922; the call was raised
Council Journal p. 1851; Mr.. Glas-
pell then moved to lay the motion to
reconsider council bill No. lao on the
table. If this motion had been car
ried it would have settled the matter.
The vote, however, was 8 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.
voting with inrifu
Mr.. Mcdonald had joined him in his
cnange OF base. Mr.. Erickson then
undertook to have the matter post
poned until the next morning but his
motion was lost Council Journal D.
1857. 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
8 d. m. Mr.. Hughes moved to table
the motion which was carried by the
same vote of IL to 8, so the matter
was made a special order for pm.
| Council Journal p 1863
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 it's final passage and car
ried by a vote of IL to s, and then it
was that Mr.. Crawford again ex-
planned his vote by saying:
al now vote for this bill on the
around 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 exemptlng Of
all the lands Of any railroad COM
pany, paying under the gross earn
| inas system, from taxation Is 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
uron him in a very short period ON
| time. This record needs no embel-
| lisEing. A thousand tongues aided
| by countless pens could not so WV
idly picture a characteristic that UNI
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 corroborated by the rec
ord made up largely by Governor
| Crawford himself. This record con-
| stitutes a part of the history of tho
1 Territory of Dakota and produces a
| lIfe-like portrait of the men and ev-
| ents of those days. II there Is false
word In the foregoing quotation and
| citations the governor has AZ hand
tho necessary material to prove It,
i invite his denial and crave Efg ex-