The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-03-13
GOV. CRAwFoRD's SPEECH
The Governor Made His First Pol,t.
ical Speech of the Campaign
An Adroit Talker.

An Adroit Talker.
Governor Coe. I. Crawford was
greeted with a good audience at the
city hall Friday evening. notwith-
standing the weather of the day was
against much OF turn out. A special
train brought i'm l29 people IRON
Plankinton and Mt. Vernon. BY
the time The governor commenced
to speak there we're about 600 people
in the room.
T. j Spangler, a member of the
state republican GENITAL committee
for Dawson county, presided dulIng
the evening AMI introduced the
governor IN a speech in which he
referred to the success which has
come through the efforts of the in
surgent faction. He paid a fine
tribute to the governors ability aud
his sincerity.
In ooeping his speech the governor
said that he was glad the day bad
gone by when the people would listen
to vituperation aud abuse for argu-
ment and that lie would indulge In
nothing Of that kind, which is some-
thing of a change from the manner
in which started bis campaign for
the senate two years ago,.-.when
Gratis from the cellar" '.imps Of
HE'LL" etc.. were some of the choice
phrases which found their way into
his addresses. The governor at the
outset wanted the people to under
stand that he was going to tell the
truth in what he had to say; that
he would not stop at a half truth or
half statement, but would 20 to the
bottom of things. and that it vas
his intention to be absolutely fair.
The governor made frequent
charges against Senator Kittredge
and later on in his address, where
lie was attempting to explain his
conduct for being associated in
political matters much the same way
he completely nullifed all the evil
that he could bring against the
senator. The governor criticised
Senator Kittredge for teing the paid
attorney Of the Milwaukee railroad
company, that he was a lobbyist.
that he was at Pierre handing out
passes and frustrating legislation in
behalf of the railroad companies.
Later on jn his address the governor
had something to say about his con-
nection with the northumberland
railroad as al attorney. He admitted
that be was an attorney for the
Northwestern and that he received
a salary for the same; that he Was
at Pierre during the legislative
sessions; that he handed out the
passes With a free hand: that he
served his company honestly and
faithfully and tried to give to value
received Tor the money that was
paid him. But the governor wanted
the people to understand that lie was
honest in his connection with the
North Western railroad, aud that he
would not resort TO things with
which he charged other men. Can
the governor make himself absolutely
pure in the eyes OF the people and
disassocialc himself from all railroad
connection by trying to %huIuiliate
Senator kitlredge as an abiect and
servile tool of the railroads. Is not
the wood uf Senator Kittredge to be
respected witch the same weight as
that of Governor era Word?
The governor referred to the lack
Of railroad LEGISLATION in this state
from 1897 tn 1905, and de6ed my
body TO find one law that had been
passed b, the legislature that would
have TIM slightest effect against
public -erv,ce cooperation. This he
laii to toe allegei railroad Influence
that surrounded the legislature. II
Only took the governor a short time
to show what in all probability was
the real reason for the lack of rail.
road legislation when he attempted
to explain his connection with the
Northern Pacific land deal. Mr..
Crawford was dealing with pas
history in railroad matters, and ht
admitted that he first votes for thu
gross earnings tax law and then at
later period voted for It's repeal,
which gave to the Northern Pacific
thousands upon thousands Of dollars
He CHANGED his vote on the grount
that lie was requested by the Pierre
board Of trade, which was trying tt
bring new railroads into the mi
and not tnake it burdensome to tn,
roads. The governor was elected t,
the territorial legislature that yea,
on platform which sperificall
stated that all property. should bea
an equal share of taxation. but h
excused himself from his embarassin
position on tile ground that his con
%stituents wanted more railroads, an
the gross earnings tax law woul
prevent them from coming in. Th
same attitude Of tho 1eoisI.turoe n