Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-05-22
Governor Crawford
Champion.
Peoples


On the 9th of next month the re-
publicans of this state will express
their preference fN candidate for
the United States senate between
Governor Crawford and Senator Kilt
redge.
One of these two men will be Sc
lected to represent young and pro-
gressive commonwealth for the next
six years in the upper house Of con-
gress, hence the people at large are
interested in whom will best repre-
sent their interests in the coming
struggle with plutocracy, and no one
need doubt but mighty struggle is
before us. President Roosevelt with
the nation almost solid at his back Is
unable to force plutocratic, railroad
body Of senators to pass laws in the
interest of the masses, and nothing
but the wedding out of these corpora
tion senators will bring relief to the
people, and every man who keeps in
touch with events at Washington
knows this statement to be only too
true.
What then is the duty of the people
of South Dakota in the coming con-
test? Only those allied with the cor
porations can have desire to return
a man to the senate who has openly
and secretly opposed all reform mea-
sures proposed by President Roose-
velt, who has secretly and openly
stood for every measure in the inter-
est of the trusts, the corporations and
the land thieves of the west, man
who was lobbyist and a corporation
agent at Pierre and a railroad politi-
cal boss in the state, and in the face
of the official record denies all. Can
such man be trusted to represent
the people? Would farmer be will
ing to trust such man in land
deal; can anyone for moment be-
lieve that Senator KiUtredge would
be true to the people under a thou
sand pledges. This mans public re-
cord must be the answer.
At no time during the history of
this country has there been greater
need for fearless, able, progressive
senators at Washington than now,
because the battle between plutocra-
cy and the people must drive out the
corporation senators before any relief
will come, and every fair minded man
knows this to be true. Look at the
magnificent contest President Roose-
velt is making for the people, and we
all know the corporation senate is
fighting him at every turn. This is
not political gossip. 1t is the naked
truth. The people are with the pres
ident but they are powerless to help
him while the railroads own the SEN
ators elected by them. Kittredge is
a railroad senator and it is not diff
cult to guess where he will stand in
the battle between the people and the
plutocracy if he is sent back to the
senate. The railroads made him SEN
ator and the railroads will control
his vote as long as he is in the SEN
ate. The people by large majority
do not want any such man in the
senate If they hope for commercial
and political freedom.
It seems unnecessary to discuss this
subject with the people of this state.
They know Kittredge and they know
his record and they know who is be-
hind him in the present struggle. II
our people want the progressive pol
icies of President Roosevelt to sue
ceed they will never send Kittredge
back to the senate. He is opposed to
President Roosevelt and is opposed to
his policies, and a Thousand denials
should fool no one who is Roosevelt
man at heart.
just why any man who loves his
state and her material progress, who
loves fair play and is opposed to cor
poration masters, can vote for Kitt-
redge, Is mystery.
Those who favor Kittredge want
boss rule and corporation masters,
railroad dictators and railroad law
makers, railroad management of
state affairs and passenger and freight
rates to suit the railroads. These are
conditions the railroads will impose
on our people If given a chance, and
a vote for Kittredge is a vote for the
railroads, and an evidence that the
voter is opposed to Roosevelt and his
policies.
On the other hand a vote for Craw-
ford is in favor of Roosevelt and his
policies. Governor Crawford is fight
ing the same glorious battle for the
people of this state that President
Roosevelt is fighting for the people Of
the nation. In 1908 Governor Craw-
ford saw the coming struggle between
plutocracy and the people and boldly
and courageously took his stand with
the people. In 1904 he lead a glorious
contest wherein the people demanded
relief from political bosses and rail-
road domination. He was defeated
by the treachery of Martin. but he
knew the cause was just and the peo-
pie determined to throw off the cor
poration yoke. The people trusted
him and found In him magnificent
champion. He lead In the glorious
struggle of 1906 when the corporation
crowd was driven from place and
roxyar ua load tho cnntast in March