The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1908-05-22
CRAwrORD's LAND GRABBING
SCHEME.

A case that has attracted muTh motor
icty involves sno less a person han the
present governor of South Dakota. Mr.,
Crawford. The facts in his ease are
fully set forth in n speech by Con
gresham Mann OF Illinois. published
in the Congressional Record of March
Is. 1907.
On July 1, 1907. Mr.. Crawford took
the following oath:
II. Cce l. Crawford. Of Huron. = D..
do soIemnfy swear that my
homestead application IL honestly
and in xssA faith made for the rsrves~
- aessal settIe1ess and cultivation
and not for the benefit Of any other
person. persons or corporation. and
that will faithfully and honestly en-
deavor TO comply with all the require
ments of law as to settlement. resi-
Aence and cultivation necessary TO ac-
Quire title to the land applied for.
that l am not acting as agent for any
making such entry. nor In collision
with any person. corporation or syn
Sica'e 20 civ them The osnsns o. the
the purpos Of sp<~ssassca. but in good
+ have not directly or indirectly
made. and will not make. any agree
ment or contract in any way or nan
ySsFuMasstsoever by which the
~ esr.rs nssss ! aesF6sseAiL: from .ns
81 o. any person Except rny-eYS.
WIN any one believe that Mr.. craw-
ford vel intended to remove from
Huron to the land entered a. q home
stead In Walworth county,
At that time Mr.. Crawford was the
salaried attorney and lobbvisi Of the
Northwestern railroad in this state. He
was living with his family in Huron.
To comply with the requirements ut
law. honestly and in good faith as
to settlement and residence he hal
to move upon this land within six
months AMI with his family live there
on out among those whom he after
wards called undesirable neighbors, =
Voters Of South Dakota. when he,
with uplifted hand. soiemnlv swore be
fore God that he would 10 this. did he
intend 10 do 20? Was he honest, or
did he. with perjury in his heart. in
tend to lefrauJ the government
BUT WORSE YET.
Bnt. eliminating this phase If the
question and leaving Il entirely with
Mr.. Crawford and his conscience. the
worst feature of Mr.. Crawford s whole
land transaction in this ease lies in
the fact that he deliberately induced
certain young men tone OF whom was
. minor) to violate the spirit Of the
homestead laws in order that he might
acquire title to adjacent lands. Mr..
Crawford knew the contents Of a home
steader's oath in fling on government
lanI. He had lived in South Dakota
many wears. had himself taken the
oath. and was well aware Of the pro
visions Of the land laws TO prevent
fraud. He hired these Young men 20
6ie on these lands. and each hal 10 nj
lege, upon oath. that he took the anne.
not for the benefit OF Mr.. Crawford
or anv one else. but for actual settle
ment.
Read the following afkdavits Of two
Of these Young men frem~mhe, that
they were friends OF Mr.. Crawford.
lived as Huron. AMI. despite Mr. Craw
ford's pleading with them when the
Crawford ease was under investigation. |
~ shown bv the report M Special
Agent MeEnirv. thew refused to com
NIT further perjury TO save Mr. crAw
ford from disgrace). and then say who
IL guilty OF q Miserable Plot:
THOMAS n. rHoMPsON's Aft
DAvIT.