Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-05-21
CRAWFORD'S LAND GRABBING
SCHEME.

A case that has attracted much motor
iety involves no less a person than the
present governor of South Dakota, Mr..
Crawford. The facts in his case are
fully set forth in speech by Con-
gresham Mann of Illinois, published
in the Congressional Record of March
Is, 1907.
On July /, 1901, Mr.. Crawford took
the following oath:
IT. Coe I; Crawford. Of Huron. s D..
(homestead) application is honestly
and in good faith made for the purpose
or actual settlement and cultivation
and not for the benefit of any other
person, persons or corporation; and
that I will faithfully and honestly en-
deavor to comply with all the require
ments of law as to settlement, resi-
dence and cultivation necessary to &C
quire title to the land applied for;
that am not acting as agent for any
making such entry. nor In collision
with any person, corporation or syn
dictate to give them the benefit OF the
I do not apply TO enter the same Tor
the purpose OF speculation. but In good
that I have not directly or Indirectly
made, and will not make, any agree
ment or contract in any way or man
ner, with any person, corporation or
syndicate whatsoever by. which the
title which / might acquire from the
government of the United States. will
fnure. in whole or in part. to the bene-
At of any person except myself.
will any one believe that Mr.. Craw-
ford ever intended to remove from
Huron to the land entered as home
stead in Walworth county?
At that time Mr.. Crawford was the
salaried attorney and lobbyist of the
Northwestern railroad in this state tie
was living with his family in Huron:
To comply with the requirements OF
law. "honestly and in good faith as
TO settlement and residence he had
TO move upon this land within six
months ana with his family live there
on cut among those whom he after
wards called undesirable neighbors.
Voters of South Dakota, when he,
with uplifted hand, solemnly swore be-
fore God that he would 10 this, did he
intend to do so? Was he honest, or
did he. with perjury in his heart in
tend TO iefraud the governmentf
BUT WORSE YET.
But. eliminating this phase of the
question and leaving it entirely with
Mr.. Crawford and his conscience, the
worst feature of Mr.. Crawford s whole
land transaction in this case hes in
the fact that he deliberately induced
certain young men Zone of whom was
n 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 home
steaier's oath in filing on government
land. He had lived in South Dakota
many wears, had himself taken the
oath. and was we'll aware of the pro
visions of the land laws 20 prevent
fraud. He hired these young men to
file on these lands, and each hal to al
leoe. upon oath. that he took the same.
not for the benefit Of Mr.. Crawford
or any one else, but for actual settle
ment.
Read the following affdavits of two
of these young men (remember that
they were friends OF Mr.. Crawford
lived at Huron. and. despite Mr.. Craw-
ford's pleading with them when the
Crawford case was under investigation.
as shown by the report of Special
Agent McEniry, they refused to com
init further perjury to save Mr.. Craw-
ford from disgrace), and then say VINO
Is guilty of Miserable Plot:
THOMAS H. THoMPsoN's AFT
DAVIT.
County OF Beadie. State OF South Da-
Thomas II. Thompson. being FIRST
auiv sworn. on his oath deposes and
saws. am 23 years OF age. having
been born June 81. 1882; am clerking
4 mems clothing store In this city
In the fan OF 1903 Julian Blount, who
a a stenographer for Crawford & Tay-
ior LAWYERS. in Huron. s. D.. came 20
me and asked me II I did not wish 70
rs with him and take up claim