The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-02-04
Want CONTROL
OF The STATE
Express and Railroad Com
panies Start Campaign
of Conquest.
kI1TREDGE 10 ACTIVELY ASSIST IN The Work

kI1TREDGE TO ACTIVELY ASSIST IN The WORK
Corporations Object to Lowering of
Rates-.Mant to Get Control and
Have Favorable Legislature.
Sioux Falls Press: The political sit
uation in South Dakota has assumed
peculiar aspect which cannot be ac-
counted for by any mere antagonism
between the insurgent and stalwart
factions in the state. But short
time ago there was strong talk among
the stalwarts and in stalwart news
papers of getting the party together,
it being pointed out that the excellent
record made by the Wesley admins
tration and the fact that he had been
liberal and considerate in his treat
ment of stalwart newspapers gave
good opportunity for burying the
Ratchet this year and uniting on the
proposition that Wesley is entitled to
second term. The further fact that
former Senator Kittredge, who has
been the storm center of factionalism
within the party for many years. had
declared himself to be out of politics.
encouraged the republicans who were
working for party hermony.
Recently it became apparent that
some powerful but unseen force is at
work to stir up a fight against the
Vessey administration and late devel-
opments point to number of special
interests as the instigators of the new
movement. Under the progressive
administration, the old lobby of these
interests at Pierre has been broken up.
Formerly the committees of the legis-
lative body were practically named by
the special interests which were di-
rectly concerned in their action. Dur
ing the progressive administration
they have found their occupation gone
or of little effect.
With these active Hobbies deprived
of their power, the progressive legis-
lators got down to business. They
passed two-cent passenger rate law
which is now being fought out in the
courts; they reduced express rates in
the state and gave the railroad com,
mission authority to put complete
schedule into effect. The express
companies have enjoined the railroad
commissioners and that matter is also
being fought in the courts; the legis.
lature passed bill, which was strongly
fought by the long-distance telephone
lobby, giving the railroad commission
power to regulate the telephone com.
panies; considerable legislation affect.
ing insurance companies was put
through without the o. X. of the in.
surance lobby.
Republican representatives at Pierre
recall the threats made by these
various lobbyists when they were
turned down cold in the enactment Of
these various laws. They boldly as
serted that they would be heard from
again and that they would be doing
business when the progressive legisla
tors were put out Of the way politically
The advent of at least one, and posi-
bly, two independent republican can
didates for governor this year is
judged by these representatives of the
express companies, railroad companie:
and other special interests to present
an adventurous opportunity for start
ing their fight to regain control of thu
legislature of South Dakota. Th,
campaign was begun and it is signiti
can't that it opened in the office O
: former Senator A. B. Kittredge O
Sioux Falls.
Senator Kittredge was formerly en-
: gagged as counsel In cases for the Mil
waukee railroad; the young man WIN
issued the call for the recent anti
Wesley conference at Watertown wa
, one of Senator Kittredge's local fol
D lowers who had very little acquaint
ance drought the state. The sponso
e and warm defender of the anti-V esse
: movement is the Sioux Falls Argus
Leader in which Senator Kittredge i
j, interested; the secretary of the Water
q town conference is the state agent c
J. The Equitable Life Insurance Co.
j. Governor Wesley has the reputatio
8 of being an anti-saloon man. Th
= suspicion that the big brewing intel
{ ests of the country are also behind til
movement of the corporate interest
to get control of the state, gains cree
ence from the fact that Mr.. Kittredg
recently made visit to St. Louis, til
: home of the Anheuser- Busch Interests
The states agent of one of the big il
: surance companies, which recent
. passed into the control of j. Pierpor
70 Morgan, has recently been going abor
4 the state drumming up a crowd ft
e the Huron conference, the successt
?. to the Watertown meeting
II There is ample evidence that til
le' socalled stalwart movement was NJ
'e born within the counsels of the sta
- :. wart faction of the republican part
- of South Dakota. When the call f,
4, the WATERFOWL conference was fir