The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-05-22
Plea OF GUILTY BY
ATTORNEY Ericsson
Regent Erickson Virtually Pleads
Guilty to Indictment
Against Crawford
To the

To the Argus-Leader:-
In this mornings Press, Mr.. Err.
1cson pleads guilty to the charges
contained in the indictment against
GGsernor 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
saving, that others did the same.
The others who did the same are
care Of their cases when they come
before it. He does not cite a single
instance where one Of ne others had
pledged himself as did his silicon
1essed client.
Mr.. Ericsson is a good man. He
is a regent under the present aGmin-
to mistakes the same as other e
He avs Frank A. Morris, late sur
veyor general" changed his vote and
cites page 931 of the House journal
as authority This is the record: Alb
sent and not voting: Messrs. Ben
nett. Lillibridge. Morris While l
do mo- think this misstatement was
Intentional it is strange that MIR. Err
icson should have said just before
his charge against General Morris:
"Ot the two members from Craw-
iord's district Lillibridge. of Sully did
not vote, being excused
Morris absence is noted in the
of General Morris during both ses-
sions of 1887 and 1889 and l know
him and | know that he would have
had his right hand cut of before, he
would have voted to exempt the land
of the Northern Pacific from taxa
tion.
Mr.. Crawford's explanation for
rI.GnpjnU hiS veto for u in" cfI-
t%utional, unfair, nefaricus, because
the board of trade Of Pierre asked it
is no excuse, because, first: 1t was
against his express instructions con-
tanned in the Harold platform on
which he was elected: second, it was
few of his district men, and thirds
because he gave a false reason when
he said that it was the only express
sion | have from my district on the
subject"
The board of trade of Pierre, A
great source upon which to justify a
vote against ones judgment. espe-
cially when that vote conferred up
on the most gigantic of corporations
a privilege that was unlawfgul.
Mr.. Ericsson complains OF mud
singing Who ~inangurated it? Who
started in to build Upon possible ru-
ms caused by indiscrim.nate and in
SIhll SSS. IL lhS Slai-
wart wing or was it the man who has
never had recorded to change
it, but one vote on the side of the
people and against corporations?
Who has said that one man (and he
his %opponent) has controlled for the
corporations all the state legislatures
from 1897 to 1907? Anyone but
Crawford? Who has entered a plea
of guilty and asked for reward upon
his hare statement of Sanctification
but Crawford? Who has said that
when others did what he has done
70" ears it was against the masses
but that his doing it was blameless?
pocrisy?
! challenge an instance where SEN
alto" kittredge has used mud to CO.
n.ent his case. His addresses have
been uniformly courteous n digni-
fed. He has employed none of the
His friends have simply un-
masked the %slanderer who has posed
as a 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
lie confession. Will the public re-
tire a good man to make room for
one whose e~xtenuation for guilt is
that Others were likewise guilty?"
The same plea was doubtless antici-
na.ei in the "1and gran case But
the governor escaped that although
a clergyman without a political pull
tense. The issue is hypocrisy against
trustworthiness. The verdict Will
be rendered une 8. 1908,
"A Legislator of 80.