The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-05-01
CRAWFORD'S DUPLICIIY
Some Of the Things Which Crawford
Has Done, but Which He Blames
Senator 4. B. kit,redqe For


double damage liability bill in the
last territorial council and Kittredge
voted for it in the first state legts-
lature. Yet Crawford says that Kilt
redge is responsible for the states
failure to have such a law prior to
1907.
Mr.. Crawford himself fixed the
valuation of railroad property from
1898 to 1897. inclusive. and for years
thereafter he used his personal and
political influence in e~ndeavoring to
keep down railroad assessments. Yet
Crawford blames Kittredge for rail
road valuations during all these
years.
During the six years preceding the
election Of Crawford to the governor
ship. the state wiped out a bonded
debt of over $500, 900 besides making
up a deficit caused by the Taylor de
fa'cation, and reduced the net debt
of the state to less than a quarter OF
a million dollars. During n hrss
year OF Mr.. Crawford's administra-
ton, taxes have been abnormally
high and the net debt has been in
creased by over $500, 900. Yet Craw-
ford contends that he is responsible
for economy in administrative affairs
and that the former "klttredge ad-
ministrations were unduly eXtrava-
CANT.
Mr.. Crawford voted against the
antitrust bill in 1889 and again in
1890. kittredge voted for 1t in 1890
and it became a law. Yet Crawford
says in his speeches hat he has
always been against trusts and COM
binations and that kittredge has
always been for them.
John Holman, Senator CANDLES
law partner, led the fight In 1909
against the submission OF the primary
petition and Gamble himself wrote
many letters urging his friends to
oppose the same. Yet Crawford was
mainly instrumental in rejoicing
Gamble in 1907 and is now trying to
hold Kittredge wholly responsible Tor
the failure of the legislature to sub
NIT the question.
Among those who stood out against
the submission of the primary pro-
position in 1905 was Senator Wagner
of Hanson county; yet Wagner re-
ceived the endorsement OF n CraW-
ford element for the federal attorney
ship as a reward for his influence to
be exerted in behalf Of Crawfords
senatorial ambition. Crawford now
denounces Kittredge for what Wag-
ner did.
In the legislative session of 1890.
Mr.. Crawford moved the adoption of
a committees report with regard to
memoraliZing congress to elect n
ed States senators by a direct vote
report was equivalent to an indefinite
reinforcement of the bill. as the SEN
ate journal indicates. Yet Crawford
in his speeches tries to make it
appear that he has invariably
been in favor of electing senators by
popular vote and that Kittredge has
always been opposed to it.
Senator Gamble a charged with
a species of petty grating at Wash
ington and a legislative committee.
chosen by Mr.. Crawford's friends, ad.
mitted the truth Of the charge and
Mr.. Crawford endorsed the white
washing thus administered. Yet
Crawford charges Kittredge with a
desire to screen grafters.
Mr.. Crawford was charged by the
land department with attempted
land-grabbing and the department OF
| justice of the Roosevelt administra-
ton, after a thorough investigation,
| declared in an official report that MI.
Crawford was palably engaged In an
| effort to defraud. Yet in CRAWFORD
interest it is attempted to create the
IMPRESSION that Kittredge has sought
| t, protect land-grabbers.
The assessment of farm lands was
increased by Mr.. Crawford's state
board of assessment in 1907, over
the valuations of the previous year,
by more than twenty-six million dol
lars, or five millions more than tho
| fetal valuation Of all the railroad pro-
perty in the state for the same year.
Yet Crawford goes about the state
denouncing Kittredge for high farm
taxes and low railroad valuations.