The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-18
THE NEW U. 5. SENATOR.
Brlef Account of Hon. A. b. Kittredxe
and His Career.

and His Career.
Sioux Falls S. D., July 1.-THE
new United States senator, Alfred B.
KittBedge, is the Samson as well as the
Silent man. Of South Dakota politics.
For years, owing to his strong person
ality, he has been considered the lead
when his inclinatlons led him a year
or two ago to decline longer to partici-
pate actively in politics, it was to Exit"
-as he is familarly known-that the
leading republicans Went for advice
and counsel. His llnpretentious law Of
flee in this city has been the mecca for
republicans from all parts Of the state
who wanted advice or assistance in
realizing cherished ambitions.
There have been none to dispute the
Coundness Of his reasoning. and when
Kit gave a decision IN political mat
ters there was no appeal. Politically
preme courts for his party all in one.
While he was the active leader of his
party his decisions sometimes We're of
such a character as to cause murnlurs
Of disapproyal on the part of disap-
pointed aspirants for office, but none
questioned the wisdom of his action, or
limited that his decisions were based
upon any other grounds than the desire
to benefit his party and strengthen it's
tickets.
There have been those among his po-
litical opponents who have declared his
sway of the republican hosts autocrat-
ic and arbitrary in the extreme. Per-
haps these assertions had some basis
in fact, for the successful political
leader must to a certain extent make
use of these methods.
f Kittredge, While the active leader or
the republican party of South Dakota,
doubtless made a few such mistakes,
but on the whole his political career
has been a remarkably successful one,
and the men selected by him for Office,
have generally been satisfactory to the
rank and file of hts party in the state.
Political Hotbed.
Since the Indians were swept west
OF the Missouri river, this part of the
country has had more politics to the
square inch than any other state or
territory in the union. The young law
yer. upon arriving in Sioux Falls in
1885 heard political discussions at
breakfast time, dinner and supper, as
well as between times, SO perhaps 1t
was not strange that he soon became
actively identified with one OF the
great political parties. Always a stall
wart republican, he participated ac-
Kittredge, with his bulldog courage
and tenacity of purpose, was equal to
the occasion. He was always of an
sNnassuming nature, yet he could not
long conceal the admirable characteris-s
tics Of which he was possessed. One
6Of the first to be attracted by the silent
and shrewd young lawyer was r. r..
Ia
kota, who was then the unquestioned
leader of the republicans of the state.
Pettigrew needed just such a man, and
1T was not long until Kittreage became
sPettigrew's chief lieutenant In the
state. The duty of manipulating coun-
ty and state conventions for the pur-
pose Of seeing that the wishes of the
leader were carried out devolved upon
Kittredge. He has never haen an ,;f-
ficeseeker, but In 1889, in obefiience to
the wishes of the members OF his par
ty, he accepted the nomination for state
senator from this (Nfinneha ha county,
and at the election Of that year was
elected to the place, He was re,lonl-
mated AMI je-elacted In 1891
Z Kittredge and Pettigrew worked to-
8gether until the spring of 1896, when
the free silver question caused split
In the republican ranks. Pe.ttigrew.
was manipulating things In such i way
az to have the republicans 81 south
5L,akota ofiiciaily indorse free silver.
lKittredge aligned himself with the
gold wing Of the party. believ-
Approaching republican national con-
sem ION ~ st. Louis would declare for
the gold standard. and that the
Endorsement Of free silver by the re-
lsihlicans Of South Dakota would Be
snlcidai and place the state orEaniza.