Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-04-30
SENATOR KlTTREDGE
GREAT WORKER

is invariably found without coat.
vest open, collar and tie discarded.
He is a genial host and is no respect
er of persons. He receives the high
and the low with the same deferentiaf
courtesy, and none is SO humble as to
be denied respectful attention while
he relates the object of his call.
Kittredge's father, now in his sew
enty-third year, has been stalwart
republican all his life, and has been
repeatedly elected member of the
New Hampshire legislature. Perhaps
the son inherited the fathers inclina-
ton to dabble in politics, for he had
not been in South Dakota long until
his penchant in that direction became
manifest. He was elected to the first
state legislature in 1889, and was re-
elected to the second. He was South
Dakota's member of the republican
national committee from 1892 to 1900.
He became closely associated with
Mark Hanna and William Mckinley
in the campaign OF 1896, and was
thereafter on terms OF closest friend
ship with both of these men SO long
as they lived. When Mark Hanna lay
i'll at the Arlington hotel in 1904,
Ktitredge spent much time with him.
and during the last few days of Han
mas life, Kittredge scarcely left him.
denying himself both sleep and rest
HIS great ndu pdSStu away
and the service Of love and friendship
was no longer needed.
II was almost by chance that Kilt
redge came to the senate. After the
campaign of 1900 he decided to re-
tire from politics and announced his
intention to devote himself solely to
his profession of the law. but the
that. When Kyle died Gov. Herlied,
responding both to his own inclina-
tions and to the demands of republic
ans from all parts OF the state, ten
dered Mr.. Kittredge the appointment
to fill the vacancy. Kittredge did not
decide quickly to accept the appoint
ment, but finally yielded to the de-
In the senate December 2, 1901. In
1903 he was elected to succeed him.
self, receiving every republican vote
in the legislature and majority OK
about one hundred over his democrat
ic opponent.
Senator Kittredge probably knows
other resident of the state, yet there
are few, even Of his friends. in South
Dakota who know the kind of man ne
really is, for he Is not given to ex-
plotting his good deeds Mindful OF
his own early struggles, he Is always
on the lookout for ambitious boys,
anu is ever Teduy W Hcip the ucSclv-
ing A few years ago one of his init
mate friends died, leaving ward
without means of continuing his edu-
cation. The senator enlisted the CO.
operation of mutual friend and to-
gether they furnished the funds ne
cessary to carry him through To rad
uation from the Boston institute OF
technology.
AS a senator he has very little pat
ronage at his disposal, and such as he
has he has not turned to his own po-
litical advantage. Ever since he came
to washington he has had with him AS
helpers. at least two young men who
were thus given a chance to study
and mt themselves for some profes-
sion. Two lawyers and one doctor
already have graduated from George
Washington university through oppor-
tuniIles Afforded -em by employment
in his committee room. and he has
now with him two more boys who
are studying law by night. Politics
has had nothing to do with their Sc
lection. They were chosen because
they were ambitious to fit themselves
for their professions and could find
opportunities in Washington which
they did not have at their homes In
South Dakota.
The pages in the senate all look
upon Senator Kittredge as their best
one of them. and has kind word for
them all. Occasionally he turns his
committee room over to them Tor
sports, and every little while he gets
a group of them together and gives
them fatherly talk. He never for
gets the face or the name of a boy
who has once been a page.
There are eight South Dakota boys
in the naval academy at Annapolis.
Most Of them are farmers sons. One
of them is the commander OF the nav
al brigade, picked out from 500 other
midshipmen as the most proficient in
his class. Senator Kittredge goes
over to Annapolis once every winter
and gives these bows dinner at Car
vel Hall, the village inn. He has
done this ever since he has been
senator. and the boys have learned
to look forward to his coming as their
chief relief from the monotony OF
academy life. For weeks before his
arrival they are on their good behav.
not interfere with their leave on the
eventful day. and for one afternoon,
first classmen and plebs mingle on
footing with the senator while they
talk over South Dakota. relate their
experiences, and think of home.
One who watches Senator Kilt
redge In his public career or private
with his greatness of intellect. his
kindness OF heart. his force of char
acter, his profound sense of duty, his
great industry. and his absolute SIM
cerity of purpose. His word needs
no bond. He is absolutely free from
cupidity, and his adherence of graft
In any form, big or petty, is manifest
in his every act. His temperament Is
phlegmatic in appearance only; he Is
highly sensitive, appreciative. con-
siderate, and possesses the finest sem
sibilities. Petty meanness and tricks
OF deception are foreign to his nature.
He has none of the arts of the small
politician or petty demagogue, and Is
incapable of the betrayal of a trust,
deceiving those who place their conf
dence In him. or willfully inficting
undeserved punishment on those who
despitefully use .4im. These are traits
of great character which tell In
the life of public man. and they ac-
count for the wonderful influence
which senator Kittredge already
yields In congress, and make it safe
to predict that at the close OF anoth-
er term OF service in the senate he
will have few peers in that body.
hA Net L.