Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-12-21
DEATH Of NORBECK|
MAY SEAT BERRY
G. o. P. Senator May Be
Succeeded by Retiring
Democratic Governor.

By the Associated Press.
REDFIELD, S. Oak, December 21.-
The death of United States Senator
Peter Norbeck, who rose from penni-
less well driller to become the first ma
tive-born Governor and Senator of his
State. intensified political complica-
tons in South Dakota today.
The Republican Senator, who was
sc years old, died at his home here
yesterday Of heart disease compli-
Gated by cancerous condition of the
tongue and jaw.
Berry May Be Successor.
Prominently mentioned as possible
successor was Gov. Thomas Berry.
Democrat, who will retire from Office in
two weeks.
Gov. Berry, asked whether he plan
ned to resign from office and have him.
self appointed to fill Senator Norbeck's
unexpired term, declined to comment.
He did, however, arrange conference
with Herbert E. Hitchcock, Democratic
State chairman.
". V.
crat, who would become Governor II
Berry resigned, was himself ready to
resign today. He was arrested Satur-
day on an ENLIGHTENMENT charge and
Federal Deposit Insurance officials
said there was $4,000 shortage in
the First National Bank Of Centerville,
OF which he was president. His attor-
ney said Peterson's resignation would
be handed to the State Legislature at
a special session today. Gov. Berry
said he would name a successor to
Peterson.
Leslie Jensen, Republican, who de-
feated Berry in November. will take
Office as Governor on January 5.
Son of Minister.
Senator Norbeck was born August
27, 1870. the sen of an immigrant
Norwegian Lutheran minister. He
went into business as well drlller
when Is years old and developed the
firm of Norbeck g. Co. into an I'M
portant concern.
His death ended political career
that began with his election to the
State Senate in 1908. He served SIX
years in that body, then was elected
Lieutenant Governor and became
Governor of the State in 1916. He
was the first native-born South Da-
kotan to become chief executive and
United States Senator of that State.
He was elected to the latter post IN
1890.
Terming himself a Theodore
Roosevelt. Republican" Senator Nor
beck frequently found himself in
disagreement with the leaders Of the
Republican party, and came to be re-
garded as leaning toward the In
surgent group that included Senators
Norris. Frazier, Shipstead and john
son.
It was through his drilling opera
tions that Norbeck became acquainted
with people in all parts of the State,
a factor that was later to become OF
considerable advantage when he en-
tered a political career.
Champion of Agriculture.
In the United States Senate the
South Dakotan was an outSpoken
champion of agricultural relief meas
ures. One of his bills, which failed Of
passage, would have reimbursed farm
ers for losses suffered as result OF
Government price fixing during the
World War.
Norbeck was chairman of the Sem
ate Banking Committee during the
last years of the Hoover administra-
ton and his committee handled the
first banking legislation developed by
the depression.
His committee also launched the
1882 stock market investigation and
the South Dakotan was instrumental
in employing Ferdinand Pecora as
committee counsel.
Illness frequently prevented his at
tendance at Senate sessions in recent
years and at one time he was absent
for more than month. He was UNI
able to be present at the close of last
session.
Never regarded as an orator, Nor
beck spoke infrequently from the
floor. but at times his remarks were
animated. He spoke with a pro-
bounced Norwegian accent.
Norbeck was credited with obtaining
establishment of Custer State Park in
the Black Hills of South Dakota,
where he had Summer home.
Funeral services will be held to-
morrow. The body will lie in state
In a funeral chapel at Redf1eld from
! to 3 pm, with services at Our
6aviour's Lutheran Church at $3.50