The Washington herald., 1908-03-14
POLITICS In SOUTH DAKOTA
Kittredge More Than Holding His
Own with Insurgents"
His Delegation 10 Chicago VIII BE
UnquaIifedIy for Taft-Sena-
tOriaI Primaries in June.

The Republican political situation in
South Dakota was yesterday summed up
for The Washington Herald in the fol-
lowing statement by a Republican Of
that State who is thoroughly familiar
with the progress Of the campaign:
Recent political events in South Dakota have
obscure rather than 70 illuminate real conditions
It Is surprising how industriously news that may
be construed 60 affect Senator Kittredge unfayor-
ably is disseminated in this city
No; Senator Kittredge hasn't been defeated for
re-eection. and. furthermore. nothing has happened
rrCently 10 forecast Snch an event at the June
primaries Last Tuesdays election was for the
purpose Of choosing delegates 20 county conven-
tiOnS. which viii convene March q to elect dele
gates 70 the State convention 70 be held April :.
when the contest for control Of the delegation to
the national convention viii be fought out II
Senator Kittredges friends elect the delegation,
it win be for Secretary Taft. II the insurgents
control the delegation, il viii be for Taft, II he
doesn't need il and against him If he does
Representation in the State convention Is APP
porti0ned on the basis II a total membership of
iS9 delegates. Prior TO last Tuesday total Of ap
proximately 20 delegates had been appointed under
a peculiar provision of the primary law. leav-
ing approximately go for election. OF the 80 dele
gates the Stalwarts have 2gIs beyond dispate and
the insurgents have E9i1. Both factions claim
ing three counties aggregating L delegates In
these counties the cuntest apparently is 50 close
that the Official count will be required 10 determine
the result. II the stalWarts win all of them they
viii have Gfz votes In the convention, or exactly
one-hah Of the number Of delegates At leas,
thirteen votes claimed by the insurgents. and
which not included in the stalWart poll. can
not be controlled primarily in the interest Of Gov.
Crawford or the insurgent cause. and twenty-five
delegates from four counties viii be contested on
account of hagrant disregard Of the law in theil
appointment.
Whatever may be the outcome Of the contest for
control of the April convention the Senatorial
contest VIII be pushed vigorously by both factions
| until the June primaries For thirty days past
Senator kittredge has been conducting a speaking
camraign for the frs, time n. his life. He be:
received great ovatious everywhere be has been and
this has brought Joy TO his friends and confusion
10 his enemies In the election last Tuesday tbs
stalWarts did not lose a county that carried
by them two years ago. while the other hand
they scored pronounced victories in many countie,
carried BY the insurgents IN the last election. and
in some Of them the opposition has wholly aban
doned the field.
/ do not believe the character Of the campaign
waged IN opposition TO Senator kittredgs IN South
Dakota is generally understood in Washington The
opposition Is popustic and altogether unrepublican
The only reason why CTaWfOrd's campaign ever be
came formidable because he cloaked 1t undcl
the name Republican His supporters are attack
ing a great majority Of the membership IN botl
branches Of Congress. The membership in the Sen
ate has been classified by them 80 as to includ
/ forty-nine Republican senators in what they hay
/ termed the ''railroad merger in the Senate ans
the present Congress IS contemporary referred q
/ by them a. the ''Aldricll-C Cannon Congress Thu
the night on senator Kittredge is not only agains
/ him. but against the Republican party. and i
Gov. Crawford should b. successful in reaching tn
| Senate he could hardly be expected to afhliat
/ with the present majority membership. wherein
according 70 his supporters, he could find less thai
a dozen cUngenial spirits.
/ With the Senatorial primaries three months away
I have little doubt that Senator Kittredge vii
win A decisive victory In his candidacy for re
/ election. The tide apparently Is with him an,
the results of the first test Of political sentimen
since 1906. furnish unmiStakable evidence Of a re
action from the violence and hysteria that hav
characterized politics in South Dakota during IA
past four years IL certainly would be a great mis-
| fortune 20 both the State and the country
/ Senator hittredge should fail to be returned an
| l believe pronounced majority Of his con
Stituents realize that fact and viii cast their vote
/ accordingly when the time for the crucial test az
/ rives.
The story published in a Washington evening raue
/ 70 the effect that Senator Kittredge organize,
/ things two years ago for the defeat of his col
league" is SANDER that has been oft repeated. /
Is absolutely without foundation IN fact