Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-12-07
FOR PRESIDENT 1908
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
BY will Of The People.
Committeeman Thorson Speaks.

farewell address and we DeIieNe
proves to the satisfaction Of any IN
biased mind that Senator kittredge
made another blunder in trying to
convince the people of this state that
truth is a lie, because anyone familiar
with the inside history of h last
legislature knows that the kittredge
men defeated the primary petition on
orders sent by him from Washington.
The Press reviews the matter modest
" and truthfully as follows:
ssThere is general discussion in
South Dakota and in the contiguous
states of the prepared statement put
forth by Senator Kittredge coincident
with his departure for Washington
and published simultaneously In The
local machine organ and Minneapolis,
st. Paul and Sioux City papers.
IL is a statement calculated 10
evoke discussion, containing as 1t
does a belated r~ecantation of some of
the sophistries Of the senator's politi-
cal past.
In this, the first declaration of his
position Oh certain important issues
that he has designed TO bestow upon
the public. Mr.. Kittredge expresses
the opinion that the people Will be
slow to believe that he or his friends
contemplate opposition TO his party's
plans relating to legislation during
the coming winter. He says there is
no truth in such a superstition and no
foundation for 1t.
Upon this feature Of the case the
evidence is against him. There is a
foundation broad and long for n
superstition in the course pursued by
the active members Of the kittredge
faction during the campaign Leading
up to the June convention and the
campaign leading up to the Novem-
Der election.
Upon the subject Of this evidence,
Tom Thorson, of Canton, a former
secretary OF state and now member
OF the republican state central COM
mittee, speaks in a Thanksgiving
interview In the Sioux City Tribune,
saying:
ssKittredge never showed his head
In the republican state headquarters
during the last campaign, although
they were located In his home town.
He had a compaign OF his oWn to
conduct, and we have absolute proof
that he went into deals with stall
warts and democrats TO beat inSur-
gent candidates for the legislature,
hoping even after the walloping he
got at the state convention to defeat
the will Of the people and his party.
Mr.. Thorson speaks as a member Of
the republican committee, entrusted
with the conduct Of the campaign,
when he says 1--WE have absolute
proof that he went into deals with
stalwarts and democrats to beat In
surgent candidates for the legisla-
ture."
That was the information gathered
at republican headquarters in Sioux
Falls during the progress of the cam
paign and upon the authority OF
headquarters it "a used by the few
newspapers of the state that espoused
the cause of the republican commit
tee, acting as the representative OF
the party.
Mr.. ThOrson, member OF the repub-
iican committee, declared in the
Sioux City interview that "Kittredge
cannot fool the people Of South Dako-
Ia any longer''-that The is making
this declaration because he knows
that he must step out of the party II
he does not make some show OF lining
up with the party platform" that
sshe will be retired to private life two
years hence, when his successor is
elected
These are the statements OF q mem
Der OF the republican organization
or the state central committee. 1t
will be conceded that the faith OF the
party in the party's senator is a
minus quantity when n Of its
authorized representatives takes so
strong ! position against the sincerity
81 the senator and against his con-
tinuance in the high office to which
he was once chosen in the name of
the party.
MI. Thorson declines to accept Mr..
Kittredge's statement that he took
no part In the conspiracy that result
"a la the overthrow OF the petition
for : primary election law. He says:
This will be amusing to those who
were at Pierre and knew OF the delay
while q telegram was sent to Kilt
redge at Washington asking for adj
vice. The floor leaders OF the senate
secured this delay, saying it might be
arranged to put through the house
bill. But word came back TO stand
pat and the eaSur was killed.
Everybody knew 1t was the dictum of
Kittredge."
In touching upon this phase Of the
question. MI. Thorson reflects the
common belief and the common be-
lief Is well sustained. The Minneha-
hA county delegation in the last legis-
lature was at first in favor Of the sub
mission of the primary bill to a vote.
The delegation, visa the exception
Of one member. afterwards came out
III opposition to the submission OF the
bill and when IL was stated IN q meet
Ing Of the delegation that the people
had petitf0ned for such submission,
ma ~ thu memberS Of The delegation