The Washington herald., 1908-04-05
KITTREDGE'S CAREER
SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA ONE
OF THE HARD. D.WORKING MEMBERS.

to accept the appointment, but finally
yielded 20 the demands Of his party and
took his seat in the Senate December 2,
1901. Ia 1903 he was elected TO succeed
/ himself, receiving every Republican vote
in the legislature and a majority Of about
one hundred over his Democratic opponent.
Senator Kittredge probably knows more
men In South Dakota than any other resi-
dent of the State. yet there are few even
OF his friends in South Dakota who know
the KIND Of man he really Is, for ne Is
not given 10 exploiting his good deeds.
Mindful Of his own early struggles, he Is
always on the lookout for ambitious boys,
and Is ever ready TO help the deserving.
4 few years ago one Of his intimate
friends died leaving a ward syithout
means OF continuing his education The
Senator enlisted the cooperation OF
mutual friend and together they furnished
the young man with the funds necessary
to carry him through to graduation from
the Boston Institute Of Technology.
As a Senator he has very little patron
age at his disposal, and such as he has
he has not turned 10 his own political ad-
vantage Ever since he came 10 Wash
ngton he has had with him as helpers at
least two young men who were thus
given a chance 20 study and fit themselves
for some profession Two lawyers and
one doctor already have graduated from
George Washington University through
opportunities afforded them by employ
ment in his committee r0Om and he has
now with him two more boys who are
studying law by night Politics has had
nothing to do with their selection. They
al Il,
TO fit themselves for their professions
and could find opportunities in WASH
ingt0n which they did not have al their
homes in South Dakota
The pages In the Senate all look upoD
Senator Kittredge as their best friend.
lie knows the name of every one of
them. and has a kind word for them all.
Occasionally he turns his committee room
over TO them for their sports, and every
little while he gets a group OF them to-
eether eand gives them "A fatherly talk
he never forgets the face or the name Of
boy who has once been 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 naval brigade. !
picked out from SEQ other midshipmen as
the most proficient in his class. Senator /
kittredge goes over 10 Annapolis once /
every winter and gives these boys a din |
ner at Carvel Hall. the village inn. He /
has done this ever since he las been a /
Senator, and The boys have learned to 4
look forward 20 his coming as their chief /
relief from the monotony of Academy 1
life. For weeks before his arrival they
are on their good behavior. so that Acad- 1
envy discipline will not interfere with
their leave on the eYentful day. and for
one afternoon, first classmen ana piebs
miHgle on a footing with the Senator
while they talk over South Dakota. relate
their experiences. and think Of home.
One who watches Senator Kittredge IN |
MS public career er private life cannot /
lelp but be impressed with his great tness
1f intellect. his kindness of heart. his
force Of character. his profound sense OF
duty, his great industry. and his abso-
ute sincerity of purpose. His word
needs no bond. He is absolutely free
from eupidity, and his adherence Of
graft in any form. big or petty. is mani-
fest in his every act. His temperament
IS phlegmatic in appearance only. he is
ighiy sensitive, appreciative, considerate,
and possesses the finest sensibilities.
Petty meanness and tricks of deception
are foreign to his nature. He has none
Jf the arts of the small politician or
petty demagogue. and is incapable Of the
betrayal Of trust, deceiving those who
place their confidence in him, or wilfully
nHictlng undeserved punishment on those ;
Who despitefully use him. These are
rats of a great character which tell in
The life Of a public man. and they ac- !
,ount for the wonderful influence which \
Senator kittredge already wields in Con- /
5ress. and make it safe 10 predict that at ,
he close Of another term of service in
he Senate he will have few peers in that
)ody. HECTOR FULLER.