Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-04-30
NO "PRINcIPLE" AT STAKE.

DILLON, of Yankton. who was one
of the insurgent spokesman on the
floor of the state convention, stated
emphatically in speech that there
was no issue, whatever, involved In
the senatorial fight-that the question
was simply whether Crawford or
Kittredge should go TO the senate"
Mr.. billions frankness has been a
source of worriment on the part OF
the Crawford managers. 1t panied
the loyal and genuinely sincere men
within the Crawford camp to hear
Mr.. Dillon's almost brutally frank re-
mark, which is indirectly quoted in
the foregoing excerpt from the col
umns of the Iroouois Chief, and II
caused no small degree of consterna-
ton in the breasts of those who knew
that the Yankton man was but telling
the truth, so far as Mr.. Crawford and
his managers are concerned.
The whole senatorial contest In
South Dakota is based solely upon
Mr.. Crawford's ambition. After serv-
ing as a member of the territorial and
state legislatures, during all of which
time his votes upon the principal
measures affecting corporate matters
was on the side of the corporations;
and after serving four years as a
member of the state board of assess
ment, during which time he appeared
to be especially solicitous in endeav-
oring to keep down railroad valua-
tions; and after nearly eight years
further service as the paid attorney
of the railroad company, during which
time he used his personal and polite
al influence to discriminate In favor
of railroads, Mr.. Crawford became
candidate for the United States SEN
ate to succeed the late senator Kyle.
Mr.. Crawford failed to land the covet-
ed prize, the then governor choosing
to appoint Mr.. Kittredge. Mr.. Craw-
ford, while serving as the salaried
attorney and lobbyist for the railroad
company, became a candidate for the
Office in opposition to Kittredge at
the succeeding election, but, realiz-
ing that his case was hopeless, with
drew. and in public speech paid
a high tribute to the character. worth,
ability and integrity Of Senator Kilt
redge.
But while still smarting under this
forced retirement from the field he
resolved to defeat Kittredge six years
later, and in order to promote his can
didacy he announced that on a GER
tain date he would resign his position
as the salaried attorney for the rail-
road company and become candi-
date for the governorship. which he
sought to utilize as stepping stone
I'd IuG ScIdlS.
In other words. Mr.. Crawford, al
though he had been in public life for
ten years, and although he had been
in the employ of the railroad company
for about eight years as its attorney
and lobbyist. making In all about
eighteen years OF public and semi
public service. utterly failed to dis
cover the corrupting influence Of cor
porations and was wholly neglectful
of the interests of the people until
he preceived he must don the mask
of a genuine "reformer" If he would
win further pohucal distinction.
Mr.. Dillon was one of the acknowl-
edged spokesman OF the Crawford
machine at the state convention, as is
evidenced by his election as a dele
gate to the national convention. He
Knew he was but expressing the truth
as applied to Crawford. and he knew
that Mr.. Crawford knew 1t to be the
truth--and that's why his observation
panied sincere men within the sound
Of his voice and created consterna-
ton In the minds of mere stool-pig-
cons and camp-followers.