Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-05-21
PLEA OF GUILTY BY
ATTORNEY ERICSSON
Regent Erickson Virtually Pleads
Guilty to Indictment
Against Crawford
To the Argus-Leader:-

10 the Argus-Leader:-
In this mornings Press, Mr.. Err
icson pleads guilty to the charges
Governor Crawford. He assumes the
role OF pleading for mercy for lis
chent when asked by the court (the
viters) Have YOU any legal cause to
snow why the judgment OF the court
should not be passed upon your" by
saying. that others did the same.
not on trial. The pubi.c will take
care OF their cases when they come
before It. He does not cite 4 single
instance where one Of ne others had
pledged himself as did his s.ifcon-
leased client.
Mr.. Ericsson is q good man. He
Is a regent under the present admin
isiration. Nevertheless he Is liable
TO mistakes the same as other men.
He says, Frank A. Morris, late sur
veyor general" changed his vote and
cites page 931 of the House Journal
as authority This Is the record: "Ab-
sent and d. not voting: Messrs; Ben.
do not think this misstatement was
Intentional 1t is strange that MIR. Err
icson should have said Just before
his charge against General Morris:
of the two members from Craw-
ford's district Lillibridge of Sully did
not vote, being excused"
.,m morr n.n. absence = noted e the
Of General Morris during both SEES
sions of 1887 and 1889 and I know
him and | know that he would have
had his right hand cut on before he
would have voted to exempt the land
Of the Northern Pacific from taxa
tion.
Mr.. Crawford's explanation for
changing his vote for law unconsti-
tntional, unfair, nefaricus. because
the board of trade of Pierre asked 1t
is NO excuse, because, first: 1t was
against his express instructions con-
tanned In the Harold platform on
which he was elected; second, II was
few of his district men, and thirds
because he gave false reason when
he said that 1t was "the only express
sion ] have from my district on the
The board of trade Of Pierre! A
great source upon which to justify q
vote against ones Judgment espe-
on the most gigantic of corporations
privilege that was unlawfgul.
MIR. Ericsson complains OF mud.
singing" Who inaugurated 1t? Who
started in to build upon possible ru-
ins caused by indiscriminate and in
wart wing or was it the man who has
never had recorded tsave to change
it, but one vote on the side of the
people and against corporations?
Who has said that one man tand he
his opponent) has controlled for the
corporations all the state legislatures
from 1897 to 1907? Anyone but
OF guilty and asked for reward upon
his hare statement OF sanctifcation
but Crawford? Who has said that
when others did what he has done
for years 1t was against the masses
but that his doing 1t was blameless?
No one but Crawford. Is this hy-
challenge an instance where Sem
atoT Kittredge has used mud to ce-
n:ent his case. His addresses have
been uniformly courteous and digni-
fed. He has employed none OF the
.muck-rake" tactics of the sanctified
one. His friends have simply un-
as perfect man. He is proven when
naked to be tatooed from head to
foo. and the voters realize this.
The stalwarts have reason to thank
Mr.. Ericsson for his plea of guilty.
Crawford's silence has been SO con-
stIped but now it Is an open and pub
lie confession. Will the public re-
one whose extenuation for guilt Is
that Others were likewise guilty?"
The same plea was doubtless antici-
pated in the s'land grab" case, But
the governor escaped that although
clergyman without political pull
tense The issue e sypo os aasn.
trustworthiness THE verdict win
be rendered June 8. 1905
A Legislator of so.