The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-17
NELSON ON k11REoGE
Minnesota's Senator Expresses His
High Approval of the Atti-
tude of Senator Kittredge

dinavian voters of the state against
Senator kittredge because of his al
legged record lot being in sympathy
with the common people. To secure
an authoritative statement on the
attitude to the senator, John Refer
son, president of the Scandinavian
Republican League of Dawson coun
ty. directed a letter to Senator Knute
Nelson, of Minnesota, and presented
some questions bearing on Senator
kittredge's attitude on public ques-
lions that are of direct benefit to the
people, and asked him to answer them
for the benefit of the Scandinavian
voters of the state. Below we print
the letter of Mr.. Reierson, and fol-
lowing Senator Nelson's reply:
Mr.. Reierson's Letter
Mitchell, S. D., March %, 1908.
Hon Knute Nelson, Washington, DC.
Dear Strive have a campaign
on in our state for United States Sen
ator. l am a great admirer Of SEN
ator Kittredge and believe that the
parties opposing him are attempting
to mislead our people by saying that
he is not in harmony with our Pres
ident. 1 wish you would do me the
favor of answering these questions:
In your judgment, does Senator
Kittredge work for the interest of the
common people and the government
in general? Did he work and vote
for the rate bill and was his vote on
the rate bill in harmony with the
views of the President? Is he a
man who is considered worthy of the
respect and confidence of his brother
senators at Washington? Do you
think he commands the confidence of
President Roosevelt and our next
president, w. II. Taft?
l am asked the above questions by
my Scandinavian friends who have
been misled by the opposition on
these questions, hence 1 take the
liberty of asking you, knowing that
every Scandinavian in the state of
South Dakota has confidence in you
as a stateman and senator and will
be glad to get you views. Person
ally | feel that Hon. A. 3. Kittredge
is and has been a great credit to our
state and l would like to get the idea
of II who has worked side by side
with him for the past six or seven
years.
Thanking you in advance for the
courtesy, l am,
Yours truly,
John Reierson,
President Scandinavian Republican
League Dawson County. South
Dakota.
Senator Nelson's Answer.
Washington, d. c. April 2, 1908.
Hon. John Reierson, President Scan
dinavian Republican League,
Dawson County, Mitchell, S. D..
Dear Sir:-Your favor of March
2Sth asking my views as to the stand
ing, services, and qualifications of
Senator kittredge as a senator and as
to whether he has worked in harmo-
ny with the President, is at hand.
In reply | desire to say that so far
as | know he has supported all the
prominent measures recommended by
the Administration. He was particu-
larry active in helping to secure pas
sage Of the railway rate bill, and on
that subject was entirely in harmo-
ny with the President. and so far as
| LnoW he has the fun confidence of
both the President and Secretary
Taft. may say that on all great
public questions he has always been
ON the side Of what | term reform
and on the side of the people. He
sits quite near me in the Senate
Chamber and usually ~confers with
me about public questions when they
come up for consideration, and |
hardly know of an instance where
he has not assumed the same attitude
and taken the same course on public
matters that L have. In fact, | have
always felt that | could rely upon
him for help to secure the passage of
cay measure that | deemed for the
best welfare of the people. Senator
.Kittredge is one of the most ener-
getic and industrious members of the
Senate. l have ser-ed with him for
several years on the Judiciary Com
Inittee, which deals with important
legal and constitutional questions,
and / have always found his judgment
clear and sound and have found him
ever ready to take a broad and lib
eral view of all questions that APP
pertain to the rights of the people.
His standing in the Senate is excel
lent; in fact, lone of the younger
senators are held in better repute or