The Washington herald., 1908-03-14
POLITICS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Kittredge More Than Holding His
Own with Insurgents"
His Delegation TO Chicago viii BE
UnquaIifedly for Taft-Sena-
tOrial 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
been reported in Washington in a manner so
obscure rather than 20 illuminate real conditions
Il is surprising how industriousiy news that may
be construed 20 affect Senator KittTedge unfavor-
ably is disseminated in this city
No; Senator Kittredge hasn't been defeated for
reelection. and. furthermore. nothing has happened
recently to forecast Mch an event at the juno
primaries. Last Tuesdays election was for the
purpose of choosing delegates 10 county cunyen-
gates 20 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 Kittredgo's friends elect the delegation
II will be for Secretary Taft. II the Insurgents
control he delegation. II VIII be for Taft he
doesn't need II and against him if he does.
Representation in the State convention is ap-
portioned on the basis q a total Membership Of
ise delegates. Prior to last Tuesday total OF ap-
prCNim9tely 20 delegates had been appointed under
a peculiar provision Il the primary law. leav-
ing approximately 269 for election. OF the fSs dele
gates the Stalwarts have g2Siz beyond dispute and
the insurgents have 29l1. Both factions are claim
ing three counties aggregating II delegates. In
I
that the cficial cUant will be required to determine
the result. II the stalwarts win all Of them they
viii have Afz votes in the convention, or exactly
Cne-hah Of the number q delegates At least
thirteen votes claimed by the insurgents. and
which are not included in the stalwart poll can
not be controlled primarily IN the interest Of Gov
CTaWfCrd or the insurgent cause. and twenty two
delegates from four counties viii be contested on
account Of fragrant disregard Of the law in their
appointment.
Whatever may be the outcome o< the contest for
| control of the April convention the Senatorial
contest viii he pushed vigorously by both factions
until the June primaries Fer thirty DAYS past
Senator kittredge has been conducting a speaking
campaign for the frst time in his life. He has
received great ovatons everywhere he has been and
this has brought Joy TO his friends and confusion
to his enemies. In the election last Tuesday the
stalWarts did not lose q county that was carried
by them two years ago. while the other hand
they scored pronounced victories IN many counties
earned 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 campaisn
waged in opposition 10 Senator Kittredge in South
Dakota Is generally understood in Wahington The
opposition is populistc and altogether unrepubcan
The only reason why Crawfofd's campaign ever be-
came formidable because he cloaked il under
/ the name Republican His supporters are attack
I ing n great majority Of the membership IN both
branches of Congress. The membership in the Sen
/ ate has been classified by them 50 10 include
/ fOrty-nine Republican Senators in what they have
termed the ''railroad merger in the Senate and
l the present Congress is contemptuosly referred 10
I by them the --Aldrich-C Cannon Congress Thus
| the fight Senator KittTedge is not only against
/ him. but against the Republican party and II
Gov. Crawford should be successful IN reaching the
/ Senate he could hardly be expected 10 affiliate
with the present majority membership wherein,
according to his suDpUrterS be could find less than
a dozen congenial spirits.
With the Senatorial primaries three months away.
! / have little doubt that Senator Kittredge viii
win decisive victory in his candidacy for re-
election The tide apparently Is with him and
the results Of the first test Of political sentiment
since 1906, furnish unmistakabe eTidouce Of a To-
action from the violence and hysteria that have
characterized politics in South Dakota during the
past four years- II certainly would be a great mis-
fortune 10 both the State and the country II
Senator Kittredge should fail 70 be returned and
believe pronounced majority Of his con-
Sttuents realize that fact and will cast their votes
accordingly when the time for the crucial test ar
rives.
The story published in Washington evening paper
70 the effect that Senator Kittredge Organized
things two years ago for the defeat Of his COL
league is slander that has been oft repeated 1t
is absolutely without foundation In fact.