The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-06-05
YEa, LET IT ool

W1Ok400ut l66uCu 06dlk0S N1ks
The facts set forth in the Indictment
were 30 forcible as to cause the cham
pions Of Crawford to pause. 1t re-
CURED some time for them to ecOver
their breath, but when they finally
about %admonishing the people to for
get what occurred so long in the past:
That, In effect, was the burden OF
Regent Ericson's virtual plea OF guilty
md prayer for mercy. That was
twenty years ago when Crawford turn
they said In substance. Why not let
matters as stale 81 that remain
Wen, suppose we do! suppose that
We admit, for arguments sake, that
maj may reform in twenty years.
What then? Have we q right to ex-
acct that when q man makes that sort
o plea We shall find his acts subse-
luents to those complained Of to be in
accordance with thesrules OF honorable
transactions! Assuredly We have the
right to assume such to be the case.
So let 9 Spass on down! the pathway
reformer's later life. What do we
md? Why, simply that from the year
1893 to the beginning Of 1897 he was
Uslna his official position-a position
70 which he was elected by the people
to prevent m increase OF railroad
valuations for the purpose Of taxation
And to this arraignment the re
former himself pleads that times
were 40 very hard that the railroads
met with great dificdlty in meeting
their operating expenses n that ! n
Justice e them agg Their ya As,s ion should aifsnt
% the only "%explanation" that RE
former Crawford has eve offered for
his Ofiicial conduct in extending spe-
~cialsfavufS to the railr0ads.ee 49,
+ is true that the farmers Q South
Dakota were also experiencing tfotb.
preston that ovartook the country IN
1893. It Is true, too, thatsthe farmers
were fre4alentlysunable to meet, their
expenaes.sis It + is likewise true that
they often had to let their taxes run
until threatened with the sale Of their
R BosgkE nost d | .a asaR M. Sr.vf @a
manifested any inclination to reduce
farm valuations during that period
when he was pleading for reduced
railroad aAsesepents.i
But.lee us pass. Q littie further. along
hold Nj. Crawford drawing a princeiy
salhry f4qmsA Observation-Disclosures
and we bhhOld him anDearing time and
again before the state board of assess
msnt, using his political and social
ana personal influence to keep down.
railroad valuations for the purpose Of
He admits the truth Of this charge,
but pleads that he was in the employ
Of the railroad corporation and was
but doing its bidding. Let the past,
bury sitaSdead, he says, in effect. why
censure him for doing what he was
paidsto dot
Senator Kittredge for an occasional
appearance In cOurt-be 1t remember
ed that Kittredge was never on the
regular pay rolls Of any corporation
company. twas right and proper orG for
Crawfordst0 draw q salary from rail
roads AZ q lobbyist. but It was. an evis
denre q. wfckedness for kittredgeato
touch aWdollar OF railroad money for
trying lawsuits!
s. let us pass down to 1901, when a
StateassenRteshy the death of Senator
yet become cold when Mr.. Crawford
began organizing A@campaign to sue
eeed him. He used his position as the
state attorney Q the Northwestern
telekraIhs land communications be-
eeeching theRgoveTnorftoF appoint him.
Every lawyer in the state represent
tmS the Northwestern was urged to
Eee.sct4oonsFs.Qu ick astton: Every shefs
lord, W. sssked to rush letters a,1 an Gtt tel.
egra!ppa. md Petitions to- the governor.
peayink q ACrawfofd'sf appointment.
An thu force. sli the power, all the OPP
DoCtuRltieB offered through railroad
co0nectlonAaavere brought into play
g, Ssnosts.GrasNford into the senate.
railroad he Was good enough for q
sss..os.steh ssst IS: sthat va seven
But st M proceed further along
aMay 9p e Walworth county. What?
Whax1E thf1 INIT We behold as late %
= 1905! Wiz, hits iSsi ss NOTHING inisI to si be.
come excited about! We merely ind
l9f.ACr1MtoIda who. since we last saw
HIM has . genuine 'reformer''
tryingstoSbeat Uncle Sam out Of I'VE
QuastersssOf.sland nsing young men
for the purpose. Il isn't much-oniy
such little matters q Ythe subornine
Q1 peIjuryi But inasmuch Is Mr.
Crawford has really and truly ire
formed" we suppose we shouldn't
min mind = !. little ne.t thing IN Ike keI that!
state 81 South Dakota. We behold
0r.aCr1wfOrds who has attained to the
poeition OF reform" governor. us
ms his personal and political infiu-
ence TO rehabilitateaa petty CRATER
appOintmentso Q committee to do q
Qff1et job ssofaSWhitewashing In order
8EhaA&the AfcreSAidg s~rafter may MAKE
g pre9ent4ble saMneArance uponshia re-
nlaatcaW1shingtoa.. + was 2 big job
sMcscessfui. so Tar 8 IL Vent. But this this
MAD more than agar ago. But let
Il n proceed flrther.sLet us come down