Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-04-02
Biggest Political Demonstration
Ever Held in Webster, 1000
People Participate in the
Four Big Meetings.
the CITY WAS IN GALA DAY ATTIRE!
Senator Kittredge, Congressman
Burke and Governor Browne
Made Able Addresses-A
Few Spicy Snap Shots.

tory of the state, record being estab.
lished which will be difficult to beat by
any city or county in the present cam.
paign. The outDouring of people of the
county testified to the esteem in which
the Junior U. S. Senator is held by the
voters of Day county and was tribute
of which he may well feel proud. In
decorations, enthusiasm, attendance
and results, the day far exceeded those
of the Saturday previous when the
insurge" is had their innings. The
sales of tickets from every station even
Waubay-was far In excess of the sales
of Crawford day and the total attend
ance OF voters was forty per cent
greater. Every township and precinct
in the county was represented and we'll
represented at that Special trains were
run from Langford, Lily and Summit,
the first train arriving from the north
about ii m. The train from the
south came in about p IN. and from
the east about p. m. The city was
lavishly decorated, both factions join
ing in this respect. From ii to 1890
a reception in honor of the senator was
held at the Commercial club rooms at
which between 400 and 500 visitors
embraced the opportunity to pay their
respects to the distinguished guest.
Ex-Congressman @. III. Burke and
Hon J L. Browne, of Brown county,
participated in the reception, all three
being the invited guests of the Roose.
velt-Taft- Kittredge republican club
which was in charge of the days cere-
monies and the grand success of the
event was due entirely to the individ-
ual efforts of the members of the club.
1t was the 47th birthday of Senator
floral tributes from the local Elks and
personal friends. The first address was
set for the Opera house at 2 p. m. and
long before that hour the edifice was
| filled to overlooking and it became nec-
essary to turn hundreds away. The
committee decided that an overflow
meeting was necessary which was held
in the court house and the services of
Speaker Browne and Congressman
Burke were enlisted to address this
meeting until the arrival of Senator
Kittredge. Mr.. Browne spoke briefly
and Mr.. Burke delivered an eloquent
and forceful speech treating mainly on
state issues. At the conclusion of the
opera house address, Senator Kittredge
went to the court house and talked
until after 6 p. m. The opera house
was again filled to the limit before the
hour set for the evening speech, every
seat in the body of the house as we'll as
on the stage being occupied. The
speaker was introduced by Hon. Frank
Sears in very clever manner. In open
ing, the senator expressed very feelingly
his appreciation of the reception ten
dered him in this county throughout
his visit He then proceeded to outline
his position on the questions of the day,
paying particular attention to the
charges made against him by the oppo.
sition. He stated that up to the time of
the March primaries, he had devoted
his energies to securing an instructed
delegation for Secretary Taft and for q
contin uance of the policies of President
Roosevelt. In view of the manner in
which he had been assailed by his polit-
ical enemies, the time had come for him
TO go before his constituents in defence
of his record as a public servant and
and state his position on public affairs.
He eulogized President Roosevelt and
declared that in view of the Importance
to the country of carrying out the poll
cies inaugurated by him, he was JUST.
fled in having a voice as to his successor
and that he had made it clear to the
people that his legitimate successor was
Secretary Taft whom the speaker
declared to be the foremost American
of the day. Taking up the Panama
canal question, he disposed of the charge
of his being in favor Of sea level canal
to favor the railroads, showing by stat
istics that sea level canal could be con-
structed in less time and with less
expense than could lock canal and
that if the railroads were interested in
delay, it would be more to their inter-
ests to favor a lock canal and further
stated that three of the engineers in
charge of the work who recommended
the lock canal were or had been con-
nected with the great railroad systems
Of the country. AS to the charge Of
his being railroad attorney, he made
the following direct denial: II have
never been, nor am now now, salaried
railroad attorney. I never accepted a
retaining fee from any railroad or other
corporation. / have conducted lawsuits
for railroads on the same basis and on
the same terms AZ conducted lawsuits
for individuals. giving them my best
efforts, presented my bill and the trans.