Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-04-10
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.

pTOVeu JO De one OF the largest aGJ6nO-
ed and most enthusiastic convention
ever held in the state. The primary
object of this convention was to select
eight delegates to the national re-
publican Convention to be held in
Chicago in June. However, it has
long been settled that the South Da-
kota delegation to the national CON
vention would be instructed for Taft
and the interest in this convention
was principally due to the probable
effect its deliberation would have up
on the contest between the progres.
sive and stalwart factions for control
of the June primaries. There were
4S9 delegates in this convention. The
first test of strength came on the cleo
tion of temporary chairman, On roll
call the progressive candidate, Frank
McNulty, of Roberts county, receiv-
ed 1864 votes, while Samuel H. Ell
rod, the stalwart candidate, received
222I, giving the progressives a clear
majority in the convention of A.
The most notable work of the con
vention, aside from the election of
delegates to the national convention
was the consideration of the report
of the committee on resolutions. The
committe on resolutions, in its report
embodied strong endorsement of re
publican policies as advocated by
President Roosevelt. 1t endorsed Taft
as worthy representative of these
principles and instructed the delegates
to Chicago to vote for and use its
influence in his behalf. The resolu
tions declared in favor of immediate
revision of the tariff, for removal of
all duties from articles, the product
or manufacture of which is controlled
by trust, and demand the removal
of the tariff on lumber, coal and iron
The administration of Governor Craw-
ford was strongly endorsed and the
last Legislature commended for its
adoption of measures fulfilling all
the platform pledges made by the
last state convention. The Crawford
administration was especially com
mended for having raised the assess.
ed valuation of railroad property in
the state over 33B per cent and for its
reduction, in 1907, of state taxes more
than 100000 as compared with prior
legislative years. The resolutions
also declared for physical valuation
of railroads and the property of other
public service corporations, for a uni
form system of accounts, and that
the accounts of such corporations
should by law be made subject to the
inspection of government boards to
aid them in fixing reasonable rates,
and also declared for reduced freight
rates and two cent passenger rate.
All of the above resolutions were
adopted by the convention by accli-
nation on motion of stalwart mem
ber of the convention. The hearty
endorsement thus given by the stall
wart members to the Crawford admin
lstration came most unexpectedly and
indicates the insincerity of the bitter
campaign which has been waged by
the stalwarts in this state, The stall
warts are now committed to the re-
form measures adopted by the last
state legislature and it would seem
that the bitter opposition which has
been waged against these measures
by the old Kittredge machine, is prac-
tically at an end.
1t was notable victory for Cover
nor Crawford, and the political reforms
which he has so ably advocated. 1t
will be interesting to see what posi-.
ton Senator Kittredge will now take
in his campaign for reelection. He
has strongly opposed all laws provid-
ing for the physical valuation of rail
roads, which it is now concede must
precede any permanent relief from ex
cessive freight and passenger charges.
He has never advocated any one of
the laws passed by the last legisla
ture regulating corporations, which
among other things have increased
railroad taxes in the state more than
one,third He is now forced by the
primary election law, which he and
his supporters taught until after it
was passed in spite of their opposi-
tion, to submit this record to the vot
ers at the June primaries. Even his
friends have repudiated this record
by their Endorsement of these measures
which he has opposed. 1t will now
No in ordar for Capatcr K;ttredcro N,