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BIOGRAPHY OF
SENATOR ALFRED BEARD KITTREDGE
HIS COMPLETE LIFE WORK

BY

0. W. COURSEY
AUTHOR OF
'The Woman With A Stone Heart"
"The Philippines and Filipinos"
"Biography of General Beadle"
"Who's Who in South Dakota"
"School Law Digest"

Tbcse books are all pablishcd and are for sale by
THE EDUCATOR SUPPLY COMPANY
Mitchell, South Dakota

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COPYRIGHTED 1915
BY O. W. COURSEY

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B. KITTREDGE

DEDICATION.
With intense pleasure and abiding good
will, the Author hereby dedicates this book to
a man whose friendship for Alfred Beard
Kittredge never wavered — ^the man who first
appointed him United States Senator — Hon-
oraole Charles N. Herreid, of Aberdeen, ex-
governor of South Dakota. — 0. W. COUESEY

PREFACE.
Those who have read in various news
papers and magazines during the past few
years some of the articles that have appeared
from my pen, as well as having read one or
more of my former books, must be impressed
with one Herculean fact, to- wit : that I prefer
to write of the Living rather than of the
Dead. However, in writing the Biography
of Senator Kittredge, I have written of one
who has crossed the Dark River; therefore,
I approached the task with mingled feelings
of sadness and reverence ; for, to me, he was
almost a father — a foster parent, so to speak :
I idolized him.
Mr. Abel, in his speech (See Chapter
VII.), says: "All the history of any state or
nation that is really worth while is the biog
raphy of its great men." This is true. The his
tory of every country is largely the history of
the leading men and women who have made
it. Natural causes such as volcanoes, earth-

quakes, tornadoes and floods, do their part;
the rest is the record of individual achieve
ments. Just so with A. B. Kittredge: his
biography and the history of our state for
twenty-five years, are one and inseparable.
Realizing full well, because I was writ
ing the life of an active politician, that I was
writing both political and civil history, and
that, therefore, this book, when done, would
have to run the newspaper gauntlet and stand
the acid test of public criticism, I struggled
hard to overcome my own political preju
dices, so as to be entirely fair with everyone ;
and, from an historical standpoint, to be ab
solutely accurate.
After completing the manuscript, I sub
mitted it for review to several substantial
men of the state, and I earnestly requested
each of them to be as cruel as possible in their
criticisms of it. The book has, therefore, in
its present form, successfully withstood the
"attacks" of several competent minds.
The preparation of this biography has
been a reverential duty — a pleasant task ; and
I now hand it over to the public in the hope
that it may be given a cordial reception.
—THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS

Chapter I.
ALFRED BEARD KITTREDGE:
Introductory 
Ancestry 
Early Years 
Education 
Chapter II.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER:
Lawyer 
Before the Circuit Court 
Before the Supreme Court...
As Opposing- Counsel 
Chapter III.
KITTREDGE, THE POLITICIAN
Political Leadership 
His Reticence 
Chairman of Committees 
Chapter IV.
UNITED STATES SENATOR:
Appointed Senator 
The Panama Canal 
Judiciary Committee 
Lumber Trust 
Other Achievements 
Decoration Day Speech 
Patronage Episode 

Chapter V.
UNDOING OF KITTREDGE:
His Defeat 
Re-enters Private Practice 
Chapter VI.
SUMMONED BEFORE HIGHER COURT
Death and Burial 
Eulogized 
Resolutions of Bar Association 
Chapter VII.
PERMANENTLY HONORED:
His Marble Bust 
Speech of E. L. Abel 
Memorial Comments 
Addresses of :
Dick Haney 
John T. Kean 
Chas. M. Day 
Bust Unveiled 
Oil Paintings 
Other Honors 
Chapter VIII.
ADDITIONAL TRIBUTES BY:
President Taft 
Senator Coe I. Crawford 
Hon. C. H. Lugg 
Dr. G. W. Nash 
Hon. M. M. Ramer 
Hon. Doane Robinson 
Gen. Geo. A. Silsby 
Judge Joe Parmley 
Colonel Lee Stover 
Dead Eulogizes the Dead 

CHAPTER I.
ALFRED BEARD KITTREDGE
INTRODUCTION. ANCESTRY. EARLY YEARS
EDUCATION.

Senator Alfred Beard Kittredge

SENATOR KITTREDGE 11

INTRODUCTORY.
God summoned him ; he responded :
Senator Alfred Beard Kittredge is dead! —
dead, but not forgotten — dead yet liveth ; died
only to begin life over again in a new realm
of existence. That tiny spark, the human
soul — an atom from the anvil of God's great
flaming Forge of Life, quite as indestructible
as the Master Smithy who gave it — was
seized from him by the Messenger of Death
in a hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on
May 4th, 1911, and carried to
"The undiscovered country, from whose bourne
No traveler returns."
His was not the accustomed "three score
years and ten ;" rather, his was but two score
years and ten : his was the natural lot of ab
normally-developed physical man. He had
a wonderful physique: his waist band was
over seventy inches ; his height, medium ; and
he weighed approximately three hundred

12 BIOGRAPHY OF
pounds. Nature set her seal of disapproval
upon this class of men as well as upon those
who are abnormally tall and lean, and fixed
their earthly existence at fifty-five years. Sel
dom does one of them surpass this limit,
while many of them never reach it ; in fact,
a large per cent of them die under forty-nine.
Senator Kittredge was fifty years, one
month and six days of age at the time of his
death. His demise was, therefore, the nat
ural lot of his type of mankind, and not the
result of disappointment over his defeat for
re-nomination by the republican party for,
election to the United States senate, as some
have been led to believe. Had he been re
turned to the senate, he would no doubt have
died sooner than he did, for official life at
Washington is strenuous at best; besides, as
a public official, he was a tremendous worker.
On the other hand, after returning to his
private law practice, he relaxed greatly and
took better care of himself, although his
practice was large and was worth to him, in
dollars and cents, twice what his senatorial

SENATOR KITTREDGE 13

position was. He never brooded for a mo
ment over his defeat, but invariably assured
his numerous friends that he was glad and
felt relieved to be retired to private life where
he could again take up his chosen profession.

14 BIOGRAPHY OF

ANCESTRY.
Senator Kittredge's greatest asset in life
was the fact that he was born well. His gen-
earchs, extending back through numerous
generations among the New England colo
nists, and on back into Old England itself as
far as 1590, constitute a family tree that is
rather remarkable, and they form the basis
for just such a man as A. B. Kittredge proved
to be. After much pleasant anxiety to myself
and varying trouble to others, I have been
enabled to trace his lineal ancestry, on his
mother's side, with unbroken accuracy, from
Nicholas Clapp, of England, who was born
in 1612, migrated to America and died at
Dorchester, Massachusetts, November 24,
1679, down to Laura Frances Holmes, his
own mother; and on his father's side, with
equal accuracy from Dr. John Kittredge, who
was born in England in 1620, and migrated to

SENATOR KITTREDGE 15
America in 1660, down through the succeed
ing generations to Russell Herbert Kittredge,
his own father who was born October 25,
1835, and who, at the date of this writing,
is still alive, although eighty years of age.
On the mother's side are many of the
most prominent families of New England, in
cluding the Livermores and the Shermans.
On the father's side is even a greater strain
of prominent blood. Indeed, this goes back
to Old England itself, where the Kittredges
of London, in 1593, for meritorious achieve
ment and high station in life, were granted
a Coat of Arms by the Crown. The legend
describing it calls for a Sable Shield with
a Lion d'or Rampant (a black shield with a
rearing gold lion in the center) . The crest is
a mural coronet over which rests a gold lion's
head in profile (facing the left). On the
streamer beneath the shield appears this Lat
in motto : "Ne Pars Sincera Trahetur"
A loose translation of it is : "Let naught that
is good be lost." This Coat of Arms is still

16 BIOGRAPHY OF

in the possession of the Kittredge family, and
it is prized very highly by them. (See repro
duction of it herewith).
One of the most prominent characters in
American Colonial history is the first one of
the Senator's ancestors who migrated to this
country, Dr. John Kittredge, of Billerica,
Massachusetts. He was born in England in
1620 ; came to America in 1660 and settled in
Massachusetts. He was married November
2, 1664 ; fought in King Philip's War in De
cember, 1675, and died October 18, 1676.
The old historic files of the famous
"Towne Meetings" that were held in the early
days in Massachusetts, show that when Bil
lerica was being expanded and a new town
ship was being formed, a small tract of land
was granted to this same "John Kittredge,
near Mr. Knowle's, south of Bare Hill ;" and
in December, 1665, when trouble arose be
tween the settlers on these small tracts with
regard to the boundary lines, etc., and a pub
lic town meeting was called and a committee
was appointed to investigate and report upon

KETERIDGE (London; granted 1593)
Sable a lion rampant or. Crest: out
of a mural coronet, a lion's head or.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 17
these family quarrels, that they, in their re
port, state: "John Kittredge has one-third
part of five acres, adjoining to the South side
of his house-lot, and he is content."
Again, one month later, in January, 1666,
the records show that "The great meadow
North-East of Prospect Hill" (near Cam
bridge) was divided into forty-two lots,
among as many different persons, and that
Lot No. 24 was drawn by John Kittredge.
It is indeed interesting to note in the old
"Towne Records" that a resolution passed at
a public meeting of the citizens on May 2,
1660, "accepts as inhabitants the brothers
* * * John Kittredge and Roger Toothaker."
(This must have been immediately after he
landed.) Equally interesting is another entry un
der date of December 27, 1664, which, shows
Will Sheldon, James Paterson, and John Kit
tredge, each fined two shillings for "defect in
trayninge" (meaning drainage) .
On June 13, 1675, when King Philip's
War was brewing, a sweeping set of resolu-

18 BIOGRAPHY OF
tions were passed "At a publick Towne Meet
ing in Billericey," pledging volunteers to de
fend the town. Two days later, "At a meet
ing of ye Selectmen and Committee of Mili
tia," houses were designated for garrison
posts etc. Soldiers were assigned to duty in
accordance with Resolution No. 2 as follows :
"For the South end of the towne Sergeant
Foster's house is appointed, and so to take to
it his son, Joseph Foster, James Frost, Joseph
French, Joseph Walker, Daniel Rogers, John
Kittredge, Thomas Richardson and two sol
diers." These miscellaneous accounts of Dr.
John Kittredge, although a trifle foreign to
the subject being treated, are given to show
that the first Kittredge to land on American
soil was an active fellow, strong blooded,
fearless, and a leader among the Massachu
setts colonists.
His son. Dr. John Kittredge, Jr., was
also prominent in the early wars of the col
onists. In the archives of Boston is an old
Militia Roll bearing this heading: "The

SENATOR KITTREDGE 19
Names of the Men that went the Rouns with
Mager Lane" (meaning "the rounds with
Major Lane") . This latter Kittredge's name
appears on this roll.
Reverend Henry Hazen, in his "History
of Billerica," (Page 140) says: "These names
of men who were ready to meet the hardships
and dangers of this Indian warfare, in de
fence of their imperilled homes, are as worthy
of honored remembrance from a grateful pos
terity as those which we carefully record and
tenderly cherish, in the wars of the Revolu
tion and the Rebellion."
Another ancestor, Jonathan Kittredge,
distinguished himself in the hard-fought In
dian Battle at Lovewell's Pond, Wakefield,
Massachusetts, April 15, 1725, in which he,
Captain Lovewell, Chaplain Frye and over a
third of their command were killed.
Into the life of James Kittredge, another
of the Massachusetts' pioneers, came one of
those heart-rending, deplorable incidents that
make life sad at best. An old issue of "The
New England Weekly Journal," published

20 BIOGRAPHY OF
October 13, 1729, (three years before George
Washington was born), contains the follow
ing account of the misfortune (Herein I use
the paper's own phraseology, punctuation
and spelling.) : "We have received the fol
lowing melancholy relation from Billerica.
That on the Lord's day, the fifth instant, a
house was burnt there, wherein were two
small children, who were both consumed in
the flames. It seems the heads of the family
were gone to publick worship, and left at
home, three children, the eldest a girl of
about twelve years old, who had the care of
the others ; but she, going a little ways from
the house, to drive some swine that had got
ten into the corn ; in the meantime the house
took fire and burnt so vehemently, that when
she came to it, she could not get into it, or do
anything to save the other poor children."
Once more, the Revolutionary War rec
ords reveal the names of the following Kit
tredges from Billerica, who took part in it:
Daniel 3, Jonathan 6, Nathaniel 3, and Ser
geant William Kittredge — all ancestors of the
late A. B. Kittredge.

His Father

SENATOR KITTREDGE 21

This brings us down to a brief discussion
of his immediate ancestors. His great-grand
father, Joshua Kittredge (son of Anne and
Thomas Kittredge) was born in Billerica,
Massachusetts, 1760-1. Before the Revolu
tion he migrated to Mt. Vernon, New Hamp
shire, the home of Solomon Kittredge who
was a distant cousin.
He joined the Revolutionary forces with
a company of volunteers mustered in at Lyn-
deborough, in 1777, although he was but a
lad seventeen years of age at the time. After
the war, he settled at Nelson, New Hamp
shire, where he married his cousin, Lydia
Kittredge. She died; and he then married
Beulah Baker, of Mt. Vernon, New Hamp
shire. He and she became the direct ances
tors of the present-day Kittredges. Joshua
died in 1833. He and his second wife, Beu
lah, lie buried side-by-side at Nelson.
Their son, Herbert (1800—1835), mar
ried Sarah Livermore, in 1828, and these two
people became the grand-parents of Senator
Kittredge, on his father's side. On his moth-

22 BIOGRAPHY OF
er's side, his grand-parents were Henry
Holmes and Laura Beard.
Russell Herbert Kittredge, a son of Her
bert Kittredge and Sarah Livermore, married
Laura Frances Holmes, a daughter of Henry
Holmes and Laura Beard ; and these two peo
ple became the father and mother of Alfred
Beard Kittredge, United States senator from
South Dakota.
These scattered facts, culled from re
cords that are mildewed with age, have been
introduced herein merely to give a substan
tial back-ground to the Life and Works of
our distinguished Senator, and to prove that
in his veins flowed blood that had been tried
and not found wanting. The Kittredges rep
resented all walks in life, but they seem to
have excelled in medicine. Dr. John Kit
tredge, the first one of the family to immi
grate to America, was an M. D. His son, John,
was a doctor; and his grandson, John, was
not only a doctor but he was the father of
eight sons — all of whom became physicians.
One of these sons, Benjamin, became the

His Mother

SENATOR KITTREDGE 23
father of Doctor Jacob Kittredge (1781) who
practiced medicine in Massachusetts during
Thomas Jefferson's and James Madison's ad
ministrations. In 1815, he removed to Galli-
polis, Ohio, where he continued his practice
until he died October 22, 1824. Alfred Beard
Kittredge, who migrated to Dakota in 1885
and took up the practice of law at Sioux Falls,
seems to have been the first Kittredge to
enter the legal profession. Since his death,
his large practice has been carried on by his
nephew, Russell D. Kittredge, son of H. W.
Kittredge, of Westfield, Massachusetts.

24 BIOGRAPHY OF

HIS EARLY YEARS.
Senator Kittredge was born March 28,
1861, in the village of Nelson, Cheshire coun
ty. New Hampshire. The account of the Sen
ator's early years was beautifully told by
Judge Dick Haney, of the South Dakota su
preme court, in his eulogy of him at the un
veiling of the Senator's marble bust in the
State Capitol, at Pierre, on January 15, 1913.
He said in part :
"The man whose memory we have met to
honor was born on a farm among the hills
of New Hampshire, when God was 'trampling
out the vintage where the grapes of wrath
are stored' ; when the hearts of the men and
women of New England were aglow with the
love of liberty ; when patriotism was the rul
ing passion in northern homes; when the
flower of American manhood was being pre
pared for that 'full measure of devotion' re
quired to preserve the Union; when gentle-

His Birth Place

SENATOR KITTREDGE 25

women, going down into the very shadows of
death, that future defenders of the flag might
exist, were imbuing their children with the
most exalted aspirations and impulses.
"Fourteen years, doubtless the most hap
py of Mr. Kittredge's life, were spent on a
farm in a typical New England home, free
alike from the privations of poverty and the
enervating influences of wealth, where he ac
quired the habits of industry and conceptions
of moral rectitude which characterized his
conduct throughout his entire career.
"During the years of his boyhood he
performed his part of the daily toil incident
to life on the farm ; engaged in the invigorat
ing sports of northern winters; enjoyed the
pleasures of glorious summers and splendid
autumns; learned to love the sound of rip
pling waters, the songs of birds, the infinite,
exquisite music of nature. During those
years he learned the teachings of the stars ;
learned to appreciate the beauty of moun
tains, rivers, forests and flowers ; learned the
precepts of his mother's religion ; learned the

26 BIOGRAPHY OF
lessons of life as they are taught in the farm
homes of good old New England — homes
whence have emanated in large degree the
intellectual and moral forces which have pre
served the better social and political institu
tions of our great republic — whence have
come the men, who, in large degree, have con
tributed to the marvelous, material progress
and prosperity of the entire country and
caused its flag to be respected 'in every land
and on every sea under the whole Heavens.'
"I know not what hopes, ambitions, as
pirations, dreams, stirred the heart and brain
of the reticent country lad as he followed the
plow, played by the brook or wandered in the
woods : I know not the language of his moth
er's prayers ; but I do know that the promise
of his youth was fulfilled in far larger meas
ure than is usual even in this land of oppor
tunities."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 27

EDUCATION
His early education was acquired in the
rural schools of his native state. A private
tutor then prepared him for Yale which he
entered successfully in June, 1878, and grad
uated from the Academic department with
the class of 1882. He then entered the law
office of Judge Veasey, at Rutland, Vermont,
and took up the study of law. At the end of
a year, he changed over to the law offices of
Bachelder and Faulkner, of Keene, New
Hampshire, and continued his studies with
them. Finally, in 1884, he entered the Law
department of Yale and finished his course
with the class of 1885.
Immediately thereafter, he was admitted
to the Connecticut bar, upon examination be
fore the supreme court of that state.

CHAPTER II.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
LAWYER. BEFORE THE CIRCUIT COURT. BEFORE
THE SUPREME COURT. AS OPPOSING COUNSEL.

At Twenty-Four

SENATOR KITTREDGE 29

LAWYER.
He was now twenty-four years of age.
Life with all its splendid possibilities and op
portunities lay before him. He had prepared
himself for a lawyer. "Where should he prac
tice?" This question was soon settled by the
dictates of his own judgment. He would "Go
West, young man, and grow up with the
country." And, why not? The opportuni
ties in the field of law for a young fellow just
out of Yale — particularly a quarter of a cen
tury ago — were not the best. True ; he might
have gotten in with some old law firm and
played "second fiddle" for ten or fifteen
years, waiting for some senior member of
the firm to die, so as to give him a chance;
but he was too independent and too aggres
sive for that.
There are only two classes of people in
the world any way, — ^those who lead and
those who are led — ^those who control their

30 BIOGRAPHY OF
circumstances and those who are controlled
by them. Young Kittredge belonged decid
edly to the former class. Nature had en
dowed him with an unusually strong intellect
housed in a rugged farm-boy body, and had
prepared him for leadership.
So he at once struck out for Sioux Falls,
Dakota Territory, which at that time, was
comparatively a small western village ; rent
ed a small office, put up his sign

A. B. KITTREDGE W

ATTORNEY AT LAW ;;
vmf*

and was ready for clients. They soon came
thick and fast. The first man told his friends
how carefully A. B. Kittredge had looked af
ter the details of his case ; how few had been
his words in court, yet how powerful had
been their results. This client's friends be
came also the clients of the young attorney
from Yale. Presently the old law sign blew
down; it was never replaced: litigants had

At Thirty

SENATOR KITTREDGE 31
found out where he was ; and in the language
of the philosopher : "If a man can write a bet
ter book, preach a better sermon or make
a better mouse-trap, than his neighbor, even
though he build his house in the wilderness,
the world will soon make a beaten path to his
door." They made a path-way to the door
of A. B. Kittredge. He could be found with
out a sign.
When he first arrived in Sioux Falls,
he took up work for a "side line" as corre
spondent for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. This
caused him to spend considerable time in the
office of the Sioux Falls Daily Press, which
was not only a news center, but the Press
was, at that time, the only leading republican
daily newspaper in the state.
Later, he formed a law partnership with
Atty. C. H. Winsor (deceased). They were
very prosperous. His law practice soon be
came so heavy that he gave up his newspaper
correspondence. This partnership lasted un
til Mr. Winsor moved to New York City, in
1895.

32 BIOGRAPHY OF

As a lawyer Senator Kittredge stood in
the very front ranks. It is doubtful if any
lawyer in the state ever won so large a per
centage of the cases he tried. His power in
court came largely from his extreme reti
cence rather than through verbosity and pet
tifogging. With him words were jeweled in
struments for the conveyance of thought. He
used them sparingly, but with telling effect.
Says Mr. Kean: "His English was like a
stream of pure water, clear and limpid." He
never spoke in court unless it was absolutely
necessary. Then everybody craned to listen.
He had a compact mind and a compact mode
of expression. Then, too, his a:dditional assets in court
were his inherent honesty, his high regard
for competing attorneys, his faultless cour
tesy to the Bench, his exceptionally wide
range of knowledge of all phases of law, his
retentive memory, and, above all, his over
powering personality. He had a magnificent
physique. His physical manhood aroused the
admiration of all who knew him. His clear

SENATOR KITTREDGE 33
resonant voice appealed to his hearers. While
it was intensely masculine, yet it was sooth
ing, in fact, it was so inviting that after one
had heard him speak, quite naturally he de
sired promptly to engage him in conversa
tion. His silence was the basis of his general
ship in court. He watched the fine legal
points in the trial of a case with the eye of an
X-ray machine. He pitied a young practition
er, with long hair and excited nerves, as he
listened to him attempt to orate and watched
him gesticulate before the court. If other
lawyers tried cases as he did, how short and
simple would be the process ; how terse would
be the transcriptions required of the report
er ; how easy it would be for the higher courts
to review the cases appealed to them : in fact,
how greatly improved would be the whole
system of trial procedure.
Judge E. G. Smith, formerly of the first
judicial circuit, but now a member of the state
supreme court, in discussing "model trials"
with some of his friends, not long since, said :

34 BIOGRAPHY OF
"During my experience as a trial judge, there
was one case tried before me at Vermillion,
by Judge Garland on one side and Senator
Kittredge on the other, that I have always
looked upon as a model. There wasn't an
unnecessary word spoken; not an objection
interposed that did not reach the merits of
the case. Each attorney knew the law of
his case thoroughly and adhered to it rigidly.
They were both men of dignity. It really
was a pleasure to sit in the case."
His knowledge of law and his retentive
memory of legal phraseology were surpass
ingly wonderful. He could quote whole par
agraphs ver batim. While other attorneys
would be leafing — leafing — leafing through
musty volumes to find some particular case
to cite as a pi-ecedent, Senator Kittredge
would quietly state it to the court.
Again, his reasoning power was abnor
mal. John T. Kean, in his eulogy of him, says :
"He reasoned with crystal clearness." This
is true. He had one of the clearest minds
that I, personally, have ever encountered.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 35
The last time I saw him alive, I was visiting
with him in his private law office at Sioux
Falls. While we were engaged in conversa
tion, the telephone rang ; he answered it. The
call was a long-distance one from some at
torneys who were trying a corporation case
at EUendale, North Dakota. They were seek
ing Senator Kittredge's advice as to the best
course to pursue to get out of a political
tangle. "State the facts !" said he to them.
After listening to the recital, he said,
"Do this !" and he gave them the corporation
law and its application to such cases, with a
clearness that was simply astounding. I have
since investigated the matter and found that
the attorneys won their case by following
his advice. Less than a half hour later, the tele
phone rang again. This time, a law firm
trying a case at Madison, South Dakota, had
gotten "swamped." They sought his advice.
Again, he calmly said, "State the facts."
They did so. Without a moment's hesitation.

BIOGRAPHY OF

and entirely from memory, he quoted a sec
tion of a statute covering the case.
"Where can this statute be found?"
queried his interrogators. Its exact location
in the session laws was reeled off to them
with a spontaneousness and a precision that
staggered my mind. Yet I presume that
such incidents were duplicated many times
yearly in his practice, and that to him they
were very commonplace.
Neither time, after the interview, did he,
in his conversation with me, make any allu
sion to the advice he had given : he was too
big for that. But, the second time, as he
was leaving the wall where the telephone
hung, he said, "I am proud of that," pointing
at the Certificate admitting him to practice
law before the United States supreme court,
which was hanging on the wall, near the
'phone. Then he related to me, at my own
request, the incidents of his introduction to,
and his admission to practice before, that
august bo^y.
His heart was just as clear as his brain.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 37
"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."
A. .B. Kittredge thought right in his heart. No
man ever heard him suggest a low scheme, or
give his approval to one suggested by
another, in order to win a case, nor, indeed,
to win a political battle. His fights in court
and in politics were all wide open, manly,
courageous, and respectful.

38 BIOGRAPHY OF

BEFORE THE CIRCUIT COURT.
(By Judge Levi McGee, of the Seventh
Judicial Circuit; Rapid City, S. D.)
"In looking back over the many events
which have notched the years, and the public
men who have been before the foot lights in
the great political drama in South Dakota
during the past quarter of a century, the
character of the Big Silent Man who repre
sented us so long in the United States Senate,
stands out in the background of our history,
like some lone snow-capped peak in a far off
mountain range. Senator Kittredge's polit
ical views were the very antipodes from that
of my own ; he being a radical republican and
I a democratic democrat, nevertheless, I al
ways admired his firm positive manner and
his absolute sincerity in all that he did in
public life. It is examples such as these
which bring home to us the truth that all of

SENATOR KITTREDGE 39
US, regardless of party, are without doubt
seeking the same goal for the nation, but
traveling different routes.
"During the many years of my acquaint
ance with Senator A. B. Kittredge, he has
appeared before me, as attorney, in many
important Court proceedings, in all of which
he impressed me with his extraordinary
ability. He was what might be considered
the ideal attorney for his client. He always
went straight to the practical effect of all he
did and avoided useless and dilatory tactics,
but sought to attain results with the least ef
fort and annoyance to the Court and its offi
cers ; a thing of great value to a lawyer, but
unfortunately so few seem to understand. To
display his legal ability as against opposing
counsel or the Court, was never indulged in
unless there was something to be gained for
his client. Another and notable character
istic of his was to at all times be courteous to
opposing counsel, to officers and to the Court :
one of the most distinguishing marks of a
great and successful lawyer. It is said that

40 BIOGRAPHY OF
'the shallows murmur and make a noise, but
the great deep is dumb.' He was a forcible
example of this rule and as I now remember
him, in Court he maintained his life long
reputation for short speeches, terse sentences
and silence. "To my mind the late Senator was a
wholesome example of the ideal lawyer, who
sought results for his clients, rather than to
chase legal phantoms at the expense of such
results. I do not mean by this that he was
not acquainted with all of the best principles
of the law, for he had few equals in this re
gard, but he always sought to make such
knowledge practical. He will be treated by
future historians as one of the great lawyers
of the northwest. Very truly yours,
Levi McGee."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 41

KITTREDGE BEFORE THE STATE
SUPREME COURT.
(By Judge Dighton Corson, the only
surviving member of the Court before
whom Mr. Kittredge began his
practice.)
"Pierre, S. Dak., October 1, 1914.
"O. W. Coursey,
Mitchell, S. Dak.
Dear Sir: —
"It is with great pleasure that I comply
with your request to make a brief statement
as to the standing of Hon. A. B. Kittredge as
a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of
this State.
"During the twenty-three years I had
the honor to be a member of that Court, he
argued many important cases before it, all
of which were presented to the Court, both by
briefs and orally, with marked learning and
ability and the arguments of no member of
the Bar were listened to with greater interest

42 BIOGRAPHY OF
or received more consideration than those of
Mr. Kittredge.
"It may be stated further that all the
members of the Supreme Court regarded him
as one of the leaders of the Bar and one of its
ablest members.
"It may be added also that while Mr.
Kittredge presented his cases to the Court
with great earnestness and zeal, he carefully
observed his duty to the Court as counsel and
always treated the Court and its members
with great respect and courtesy.
Yours truly,
Dighton Corson."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 43

KITTREDGE AS OPPOSING COUNSEL.
(By John E. Garland, United States Circuit
Judge.)
"Washington, October 20, 1914.
"0. W. Coursey,
Mitchell, S. D.
My dear Sir: —
"I have received your letter of October
10th, and note what you say in regard to the
Biography of the late Senator Kittredge now
being prepared by you.
"I have not the time to prepare an ex
tended article upon Mr. Kittredge as 'Oppos
ing Counsel'. I will gladly say, however,
that I was opposed to Mr. Kittredge in some
of the most important litigation in which he
was engaged as counsel, and for many years
presided as Judge at trials in which he was
counsel on one side or the other. From such
experiences I always found him intensely
loyal to his clients and a tireless worker at all

44 BIOGRAPHY OF
times to win success by all honorable means.
He had the quality at all times, regardless of
provocation, of conducting himself in the
trial of a cause with the utmost courtesy,
never allowing himself to descend to bitter
personalities towards opposing counsel.
Very respectfully,
John E. Garland."

CHAPTER III.
KITTREDGE, THE POLITICIAN
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. HIS RETICENCE
CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 47

POLITICAL LEADERSHIP.
That A. B. Kittredge should have become
interested in politics, is but a natural conse
quence. His disposition and his magnetic
personality, plus his brain power aind his ret
icence, combined to give him leadership. He
never sought it, — leadership was Invariably
thrust upon him. His great poise and his ex
ceptional judgment made him a man to whom
other men would naturally look for guidance.

48 BIOGRAPHY OF

HIS RETICENCE.
In politics as in law — only perhaps, more
so, — much of his strength lay in his reticence.
It would be hard to imagine a man more
guarded in his conversation than A. B. Kit
tredge always was. It was a physical im
possibility for a newspaper reporter to get an
interview out of him. This was admirably
illustrated during the campaign of 1900,
when Senator Kittredge, then but a private
citizen, was accompanying the celebrated
Marcus M. Hanna, of Ohio, on his great
speech-making trip through South Dakota.
A red-hot fight was on in the state be
tween Senator Pettigrew and Mr. Kittredge
to control the state legislature which would
be called upon to elect a United States sena
tor to succeed Mr. Pettigrew. For this rea
son, reporters thought it would be easy to get
an interview out of Mr. Kittredge who was
conducting the campaign against his old po-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 49
litical master. Several of them tried it; all
failed. Then an old experienced eastern re
porter tried it. Mr. Kittredge stood like
the Sphynx on the Sahara as the fellow
hurled forth questions at him ; yet, withal, he
was not discourteous (he never was to any
body), for he answered the fellow's ques
tions with "Yes" or "No." Finally, the be
wildered reporter, not wishing to be outdone,
thought best to change his tactics; so he
asked, "What is the largest city in your state,
Mr. Kittredge?" "Sioux Falls," came the ready reply.
The reporter gave it up and returned to
his comrades. ¦ He said : "I have been trying
to get that South Dakota mummy to talk, but
after adding two words — 'Sioux Falls' — ^to
his vocabulary, I quit."
His extreme reticence was characteristic
of the man. When President Roosevelt, dur
ing his administration, visited Sioux Falls,
and made a speech at that place, it was but
natural that the citizens' committee should

50 BIOGRAPHY OF
have engaged Senator Kittredge to introduce
him. At a time like that, when a great crowd
had assembled and had stood waiting for a
long while to see and to hear the nation's
chief executive, how inappropriate would
have been a "long-winded" introductory
speech. No man could have acquitted him
self better than did Senator Kittredge ; none
other in the state could have been so brief and
yet have said so much. Think of it! Only
two words.
Pointing at President Roosevelt, he said,
"The President!" (Perhaps the down-east
reporter, had he heard him, might have said
that he had added "two" more words to his
vocabulary). The crowd were astonished;
they applauded vociferously. It was suffi
cient. Why have said more? Many another
man had been "a" president of the United
States; but just then, Theodore Roosevelt
was the most conspicuous figure in the entire
habitable world. He was "The President!"
That is, he was running the office, not the of-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 51
I— ¦¦*— ¦-.¦-1^- ¦ . ¦¦¦ii.. Ja^rti,^ ¦ — .. II .1 , ,¦  .11,.
fice running him. To the whole American
people, he was the one man "THE PRESI
DENT." Senator Kittredge had chosen his
language well.

52 BIOGRAPHY OF

CHAIRMAN OF POLITICAL
COMMITTEES.
He had only been in South Dakota two
years when he was made chairman of the
Minnehaha County Republican committee. At
that time he was but twenty-six years of age
— a mere boy; yet old political heads began
looking to him for leadership. Modestly he
yielded to their demands. He never thought
of political preferment for himself, — it was
always the good of his party that he had in
mind, and the prestige he could bring to bear
for his friends. He was, strangely enough, a
man wholly without political ambitions. In
his appointment to the United States senate
by Governor Herreid on July 11, 1901, he
merely had "greatness thrust upon him."
With him at the helm, Minnehaha county
soon became overwhelmingly republican. The
young political organizer was "getting in his
work." It soon found reward. He was sent

SENATOR KITTREDGE 53

as senator from that county to our first state
legislature in 1889, and returned again in
1891. His work in the state senate is with
out a flaw. His political enemies dug it up
word for word during the memorable fight of
1908 ; but they gave it up, there was nothing
in it to condemn him or that needed explana
tion. He had been a true servant of his con
stituents and of the state at large. Smilingly,
and yet with characteristic modesty, did he
say, "I shall be glad to stand on my record."
Well did ex-Lieutenant-Governor John
T. Kean say in his eulogy of him : "Let us in
dulge in the hope that so long as cold marble
shall retain its enduring form, that the
memory of his industry, ^ his honesty, his
fidelity to his friends, his state and the nation,
his great mind and his heart of gold, shall
ever prove a noble and lasting inspiration to
the youth of this great commonwealth."
And well did Charles M. Day say : "Of
what he had done during the past twenty-five
years ; of how he had grown from a briefless
attorney to one whose counsel and advice

54 BIOGRAPHY OF
were sought through the west ; of how, from
an unknown youth, he had developed into a
leader, with the largest and most devoted per
sonal following ever known in South Dakota ;
of how, with no backing but that of good
health and lofty purpose, he had won his way
to the front — these are the things I should
like to speak about today."
His quiet, effective work in the legisla
tures of 1889 and 1891 commanded state-wide
attention ; so that, in 1892, he was elected re
publican national committeeman for South
Dakota. The republican party throughout
the nation was wavering. South Dakota re
publicanism threatened to do likewise. Grover
Cleveland, a democrat, had that year been
elected president to succeed Benjamin Har
rison, a republican. The national organiza
tion wanted a strong man to look after its af
fairs in South Dakota. All eyes turned to A.
B. Kittredge. He continued as national committeeman
for four years ; then he resigned. Yet, dur
ing this period, he had, unconsciously, by se-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 55
curing the appointment of at least five hun
dred men to office, built up an organization
that proved to be a powerful factor in his fu
ture political battles.

CHAPTER IV.
UNITED STATES SENATOR
APPOINTED SENATOR. THE PANAMA CANAL
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. LUMBER TRUST.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS. DECORATION
DAY SPEECH. PATRONAGE
EPISODE.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 57

APPOINTED SENATOR
When Senator Kyle, of South Dakota,
died in 1901, it left a vacancy in the congres
sional delegation from this state. Under the
United States Constitution, "If vacancies (in
the senate) happen by resignation or other
wise during the recess of the legislature of
any state, the executive thereof may make
temporary appointment until the next meet
ing of the legislature." At that time, Charles
N. Herreid, a republican, was governor of
South Dakota. It became his official duty to
fill the vacancy by appointment. The very
moment that he received the telegram an
nouncing the death of Senator Kyle, he decid
ed in his own mind to appoint A. B. Kit
tredge. Although applications, letters and
telegrams poured in upon him, and numerous
delegations called to see him, and he gave
to each respectful consideration, yet he never
swerved from his original conviction.

58 BIOGRAPHY OF
There has been so much said and written
about the appointment, in times gone by, that
was mere guess work — products of fertile
imaginations, told as truth, but never denied
either by Governor Herreid or Senator Kit
tredge "that I decided to give Governor Her
reid an opportunity to break the full truth,
for the first time, to the people of the state,
through this volume, and tell why he ap
pointed Mr. Kittredge to the senate, if he so
desired. Therefore, I wrote him as follows :

"Mitchell, South Dakota, September 21, 1914.
"Governor C. N. Herreid,
Aberdeen, South Dakota.
My dear Sir: —
"Inasmuch as I have undertaken to write
a complete biography of Senator Alfred B.
Kittredge, I will thank you to answer the fol
lowing questions in full, and give to me the
privilege of publishing your reply in its en
tirety :
(1) What was your estimate of Sen
ator Kittredge as a man?

SENATOR KITTREDGE 59
(2) How did you rate him as a lawyer ?
(3) What were the conditions that led
up to, and your reasons for, appointing him
to the United States senatorship?
"At your early convenience, I shall thank
you for a definite reply. Awaiting receipts
of the same, I am. Yours truly,
O. W. Coursey."

"Aberdeen, S. D., September 22,1914.
"0. W. Coursey,
Mitchell, So. Dak.,
Dear friend : —
"Answering your three interrogatories,
will say : Although I had been well acquaint
ed with Mr. Kittredge for many years, I did
not know him intimately prior to the great
campaign of 1898.
"At the urgent request of the Republi
can nominees I became Chairman of the Re
publican State Committee with headquarters
at Sioux Falls. Mr. Kittredge was the Re
publican National Committeeman for South

60 BIOGRAPHY OF

Dakota. For ten long weeks I devoted all
my time and best efforts to the election of the
Republican State ticket. It was a memor
able contest, resulting in the election of
Messrs. Gamble and Burke for Congress and
the entire state ticket, excepting Mr. Kirk G.
Phillips for Governor, who was defeated by
Gov. Lee by three hundred twenty-five votes.
"I could relate some thrilling episodes
during this exciting campaign. For ten
weeks I was on the most intimate terms with
the future senator and we learned to know
each other as it would have been impossible
under ordinary circumstances. This inti
mate acquaintance ripened into a mutual and
lasting confidence and respect.
"Every day, when the rush of work and
worry was over, usually towards midnight,
or later, we would, alone, sit down and for
an hour or two try to forget the arduous lab
ors of the day. Mr. Kittredge seemed to de
light in stating complicated legal problems,
and my questions and comments seemed to
interest and please him, and these private

SENATOR KITTREDGE 61

excursions into law, literature, history and
philosophy were restful, helpful and delight
ful to both of us.
"Before leaving Sioux Falls, Mr. Kit
tredge informed me that he was through with
personal, practical politics forever, and
henceforth should devote all his energies to
the practice of law. I well remember my
surprise when he handed me his proxy as Na
tional Committeeman, and insisted that I
accept it. Reluctantly I yielded. He knew
that I too had decided to return home to
practice law, fully intending never again to
assume a political position.
"Two years later, against my own incli
nations, I accepted a nomination by acclama
tion for Governor, and was elected. When
by the death of Senator Kyle, it became my
duty to appoint a U. S. Senator for our state,
my own estimate of Mr. Kittredge as a great
jurist and a man, convinced me that he was
the man for the place, and if I appointed him
that he would soon develop into a great
statesman. Fearing he might not care for

62 BIOGRAPHY OF

the appointment, I quietly and privately met
him and spent a day with him alone, in ear
nest deliberation. He concluded to accept the
appointment; to abandon his legal career;
and to devote all his time to the interests of
our state. "In reply to my message informing him
of his appointment, he sent the following
characteristic telegram :
"Sioux Falls, S. D., July 11, 1901,
4:50 P. M.
'Hon. Charles N. Herreid,
Pierre, S. D.
'Thank you. I will do my best to bring credit
to the state, party, yourself and our friends.
A. B. Kittredge.'
"And he did ! Subsequent events are mat
ters of history. He very soon took his place
among the great men in the Senate and be
came known on two continents, as one of
the leading Statesmen of our Country.
"The legislature had enacted a law t,Ch
134 L 1901) the significance of which no one
realized until after the proceedings had been
begun by our Attorney General for th'5 col-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 63
lection of a gift to the State of certain North
Carolina bonds amounting to about $27,400.
00, (See Gov. Message, 1905 P. 41). In 1904,
the State, through the then Attorney General
Hon. Philo Hall of Brookings, was tendered
as a donation to the agricultural College at
Brookings, North Carolina bonds to the
amount of $75,000.00. As the collection of
a 'gift' by proceedings in court did not seem
to me to be a dignified proceeding, I courte
ously, but firmly, declined this donation. At
this time it was quite popular for our Rocke
fellers and Carnegies to bestow gifts, for
educational, charitable and benevolent pur
poses, both private and public, even munici
pal corporations greedily seeking such dona
tions. As the statute in question as inter
preted by Attorney General Pyle and others,
was mandatory, the Governor being 'directed
to accept the same,' my refusal was censured,
particularly and naturally by friends of this
institution. Smarting under such criticism
I laid the matter before Senator Kittredge
and his approval was very gratifying. He

64 BIOGRAPHY OF
said 'You are legally wrong,' but morally
right.' The next yea,r the same course was
followed by Governor Elrod.
"During the consideration of all public
matters the question he invariably asked was,
'What is the right thing to do ?'
"Senator Kittredge was not a politician
in the ordinary accepted sense of the term.
He was never a political 'Boss'. But he was a
Jurist and a Statesman. Respectfully yours,
Charles N. Herreid"
Governor Herreid's selection of a man
to succeed Mr. Kyle in the United States sen
ate was clearly vindicated by the state at
large ; for, in 1903, when the legislature met
in executive session to elect a man to the po
sition, they chose, by a unanimous vote. Gov
ernor Herreid's appointee — Alfred Beard
Kittredge. It is due Governor Herreid to make it a
part of our state history that the majority of
his party leaders wanted him to resign the
governorship ; cause the lieutenant-governor,

U. S. Senator— At Forty

SENATOR KITTREDGE 65
Hon. George Snow, of Springfield, to become
governor and let him appoint Governor Her
reid to the senate. This he refused to do, but
sacrificed himself for the man of his own
selection. It is the young men of the world that
have made its history. Alexander The Great
was but twenty-one when he mastered the
Balkans, and but twenty-five when he crossed
the Himalayas with his powerful army and
conquered India. Martin Luther was a
Bachelor of Arts at nineteen, a Master at
twenty-two, broke with the church of Rome
at twenty-seven, and sat in the Diet of Worms
at thirty-four. Bryant wrote the greatest
poem in the English tongue, "Thanatopsis,"
at the tender age of eighteen, while his con
temporary, Longfellow, who was at this same
age when he graduated from Bowdoin, was
already well launched on his literary career.
Theodore Roosevelt, at the age of twenty-
four, wrote our standard history of the war
of 1812 with Great Britain ; at forty led the
bloody charge at San Juan, and at forty-three

66 BIOGRAPHY OF
became president of the nation. Just so with
A. B. Kittredge. He was but three months
past his fortieth birthday when Governor
Herreid appointed him to the senate. Much
was expected of him ; much received. Using
his own words : "Without recognition of the
force of youth in business and civic affairs
* * * the best energy of the nation is lost."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 67

THE PANAMA CANAL.
As previously set forth, Mr. Kittredge,
when regularly elected to the United States
senate, in 1903, had already served one and a
half years in that body, by appointment.
During this brief period, he had made a
phenomenal record. He had been assigned to
duty on two of the most vital committees
in the senate — ^the committee on Inter-Ocean
ic Canals and the Judiciary committee. It
was the first time that South Dakota had
ever been given conspicuous recognition in
the upper branch of our national legislature.
The untimely death of Senator Marcus
M. Hanna, of Ohio, caused Senator Kittredge
to succeed to the chairmanship of the Canal
committee. Here, he at once became a power
ful factor in national and international af
fairs. His habits of study, his great physical
strength and his trained legal mind enabled
him to go to the bottom of that great perplex-

68 BIOGRAPHY OF
ing problem — the title to the Panama route
for the canal.
His *report on the Title was approved by
the president of the United States ; sanctioned
by the department of Justice, and adopted
unanimously, without the alteration of a
word or syllable, by the United States
senate. His report on the type of canal —
whether it was to be a sea-level or a lock
canal — was even a greater effort than his
first. It is one of the best scientific treatises
on canal construction ever published. The
writer is absolutely convihced that the ver
dict of civilization will be that Senator Kit
tredge was right and that the "ideal canal"
(a sea-level one) for which he pleaded so ably
and so eloquently on the floor of the senate,
will yet have to be dug ; in fact, the younger
element of the present generation will, in all
probability, live to see it done.
*His report consists of fifteen printed pages. It
constitutes "Senate Report 783, Part 2, 57th Con
gress, 1st Session. Isthmian Canal — Views of the
Minority." The report may be had for the asking.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 69

One of the great events of Senator
Kittredge's official career, was his trip to
Panama, as chairman of the canal committee
that had in charge its construction, accom
panied by Mr. Taft, who was at that time
Secretary of War, and a number of able
engineers, on a tour of inspection. He in
vited Governor Herreid to accompany him
on this trip, as his guest, but the Governor
could not get away at the time.

70 BIOGRAPHY OF

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
It is an unusual thing for a young sena
tor to be honored by being given recognition
on the Judiciary Committee. This commit
tee wrestles with problems of constitutional
law. It's membership is reserved for "older
heads" — ^the brainiest legal talent in the
senate. Senator Kittredge's early appoint
ment on this important committee shows
with what suddenness his great legal talent
was not only detected but recognized in the
national law-making body. Conjunctively,
his chairmanship of the canal committee de
manded a well balanced legal mind. His
positions on both committees were compli
ments to his legal training. And these
committee assignments, in turn, reflected
great credit upon the young state of the West
that had sent him to the senate.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 71

LUMBER TRUST.
Another perplexing national problem
had arisen with regard to the so-called lum
ber trust. Senator Kittredge tackled it with
his accustomed zeal. For two years he quiet
ly gathered the evidence against its illegal
operations. Then, suddenly, without "ad
vance announcement," he quietly arose in
the United States senate and offered a resolu
tion for its investigation. Everything be
came solemnly quiet. Not a sound was heard
except the accents of his own voice. Nobody
stirred. A great personality was overpower
ing them ; a master of argument had arisen
to speak. His speech on that occasion was charac
teristic of the man. There isn't a superflu
ous word' in it. Every sentence is measured
with the mind of a master builder. In array
of facts it is neat and terse ; in presentation
it is logical ; in argument it is faultless.

72 BIOGRAPHY OF

The original resolution calling for an
investigation of the lumber trust was offered
in the senate by Mr. Kittredge on December
6, 1906. It follows :
"Resolved, That the Secretary of Commerce and
Labor be, and he is hereby, authorized and instructed
immediately to inquire, investigate, and report to
Congress, or to the President when Congress is not
in session, from time to time as the investigation
proceeds, as to the lumber trade or business of the
United States which is the subject of interstate oi
foreign commerce and make full inquiry into the
cause or causes of the high prices of lumber in its
various stages of manufacture from the log; and the
said investigation and inquiry shall be conducted with
the particular object of ascertaining whether or not
there exists among any corporations, companies, or
persons, engaged in the manufacture or sale of
lumber any combination, conspiracy, trust, agree
ment, or contract intended to operate in restraint of
lawful trade or commerce in lumber or to Increase
the market price of lumber in any part of the United
States. "To carry out and give effect to the provisions
of this resolution the Secretary shall have power to
issue subpoenas, administer oaths, examine wit
nesses, require the production of books and papers.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 73
and receive depositions taken before any proper
officer in any State in the United States.
"That the Secretary of Commerce and Labor
be required to make the said investigation at his
earliest possible convenience and to furnish the in
formation above required from time to time and as
soon as it can be done consistent with the perform
ance of his public duties."
Six weeks later, on January 18, 1907,
Mr. Kittredge arose in the senate and asked
to have the preceding resolution modified by
striking out the second paragraph. The mod
ification was agreed to. (Congressional Re
cord—Senate, 1907, page 1331, Column I). It
was during the discussion of the proposed
change in the original resolution that Sena
tor Kittredge made his memorable speech.
Only a few general extracts from it are here
in embodied. "Mr. President: There are few articles
of commerce that bear more important
relation to the welfare of the people of all
classes, and particularly to those of small
means in farming communities, than lumber
in its manufactured form. It is an absolute

74 BIOGRAPHY OF
necessity to the development of those por
tions of the country adapted exclusively to
agriculture, as much so as food, clothing,
and all other articles necessary to human
comfort and even existence. The prices of
such an article affect in the most vital man
ner the prosperity of every community in
the land, both rural and urban.
"For more than twenty years I have
lived in a section of the country requiring
the importation of all lumber that has entered
into the home building of a fertile but tree
less prairie. The State which I have the
honor in part to represent has occupied its
position in the sisterhood of States less than
twenty years, but in that brief period her
population has grown until it now exceeds
half a million people.
"I have watched the development of that
country by the unremitting toil of a sturdy
yeomanry, schooled by habits of industry and
frugality, paying tribute to what I believe to
be the most gigantic, exacting, and soulless
of the trusts that oppress our people.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 75
"The lumber trust is the king of com
binations in restraint of trade. In its far-
reaching effects there is none to compare with
it. It is remorseless in its grasp on the
people, and the only change which it contem
plates is to increase the price of its products
at stated and frequent intervals without re
gard to cost. The consumer not only bears
the burden of its aggressive policy of advanc
ing prices, but also of the profits of interven
ing agencies. For him there is no escape
from the avarice of this monopoly. To him
the lumber trust is a tangible, living reality.
When he sees these advancing prices without
reference to increased cost of production, he
needs no argument to convince him that the
Government to which he contributes his sup
port and renders true allegiance is derelict
in its duty, unless it employs all the resources
at its command to relieve him of these op
pressions. The people demand this as a right
and not as a favor. The trust has become
so bold in its operations within the last year
or two that it has eliminated in many locali-

76 BIOGRAHPY OF

ties all semblance of competition and from a
central point controls both the wholesale and
retail trade and fixes the price to consumer.

The methods by which this trust has ob
tained control of the lumber business of this
country are no longer necessarily a secret. It
not only arbitrarily advances the prices of
lumber at stated intervals, but by various
means attempts to discourage independent
dealers from entering its field. Failing in
that, it resorts to drastic and unscrupulous
methods to crush them and ruin their busi
ness. "Much of the information which I have
obtained concerning this subject is of a con
fidential nature. For obvious reasons, dealers,
unwillingly in the grasp of the monopoly, are
reluctant to divulge information relating to
their dealings with it. All such informa
tion, however, will be easily accessible to the
Department of Commerce and Labor opera
ting under the authority and direction of con-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 77
gress. The evidence already developed con
clusively shows that the whole country is
subdivided into territories, each of which is
dominated by an association maintaining a
mere shadow of independence and in com
plete control of such territory, subject to the
direction of the trust. The retail dealers
within these respective subdivisions are not
permitted to compete with each other either
in the same town or within the alloted ter
ritory, and the minimum price which the re
tailer may charge is fixed by the association.
If such retailer violates any of the directions
of the association he is first subjected to a
system of heavy fines and penalties, if such
violations are repeated the offender is then
blacklisted and finally eliminated from doing
business. Such is the discipline to which all
retail dealers are subjected by the association
to maintain the supremacy of the trust.
"Oftentimes the retail dealers in a local
ity are united in an association, or combina-
ation, to maintain prices higher than the
minimum fixed by the trust and they are al-

78 BIOGRAPHY OF
ways restricted to the territory prescribed by
the dominant trust. As notice to the trade,
the trust issues from time to time a 'Direc
tory of Regular Retail Lumber Dealers'
authorized to engage in business within a
prescribed territory.
"But the retail dealers are not alone in
the clutches of the trust. The wholesaler is
subject to its domination as well. If he sells
to an unauthorized dealer he Is subject to
boycott and other penalties.
"The mill men are also subject to like
domination and like discipline, although they
have an association of their own subject to
the parent association, which fixes prices,
prescribes territory within which each mem
ber may operate and beyond which none can
ship or solicit business, and are subject to
penalties for violations of their agreements.
Prior to this organization there was competi
tion. Since it became effective there is none.
4: 4: if! 4i *
"Where authorized local dealers have an

SENATOR KITTREDGE 79
organization, a bill of lumber is never sold
by a member without first advising all the
other members. In such cases the local deal
ers are permitted to charge any price above
the minimum fixed by the trust. It is notice
able that no objection is ever made by the
trust to an advance of prices. The offense
consists in a reduction only. The customer
is required to wait until all the members of
the association can be advised and the dealer
who by arrangement is to receive the busi
ness is assisted by his sham competitors
quoting higher prices. In this way the busi
ness is distributed and 'equalized.'
^ •I' T •!• •!*
"Mr. President: When I first began to
make inquiry into the conditions of the lum
ber trade in the Northwest, I found it difficult
to obtain evidence respecting the operations
of the trust. Since offering this resolution
I have received a great mass of correspon
dence relating to the subject from all
sections of the country. Many of the writers
have related in detail their experience, both

80 BIOGRAPHY OF
as dealers in and consumers of lumber. I
have not the slightest doubt of the ability of
the executive department to establish, by an
abundance of competent evidence, the fact
of the existence of a conspiracy, in contra
vention of law, affecting the lumber business.
"Within the past five years the prices of
lumber and timber products have been arbi
trarily advanced from 100 to 500 per cent.
Prices of dimension stuff have advanced 50
per cent in the last four years. Ordinary
flooring was advanced 33 1-3 per cent during
the past twelve months, and the price of oak
flooring has been forced at intervals during
the past two years from $40 to $100 per
thousand feet, an advance of 150 per cent
from a price which was already high. Of this
latter price $50, or upwards of 80 per cent of
the net advance, is nothing better than rob
bery and is, in fact, the plunder of a com
mercial outlaw. »{: H: ^ :H iH
"The results of my investigation during
1905 were laid before the proper Executive

SENATOR KITTREDGE 81
Department in that year. I was convinced
at that time that the lumber trade in the
Northwest was under the control, more or
less absolute, of an illegal and oppressive
combination, but I did not know then, as I
believe that I have now demonstrated beyond
a reasonable doubt, that the combination
which holds the Northwest in its grasp is a
gigantic conspiracy to exact tribute from
American people, regardless of their geo
graphical distribution. I did not know then
as I now do know that the Northwestern
Lumbermen's Association had its counter
part in every section of the country, each op
erating in territory with well defined and
carefully prescribed metes and bounds, and
each a counterpart of a monstrous monopoly
which owns billions of acres of forest lands
in fee simple, controls mills and factories,
distributes their outputs, and fixes prices
therefor without regard to the law of supply
and demand, the cost of production, the wel
fare of communities or the rights of persons,
and operates in flagrant defiance of the laws
of Congress.

82 BIOGRAPHY OF
"This criminal combination is a menace
to the whole country on which it preys. Of
all the trusts perhaps this is the only one of
which it may be truthfully said that it is lit
erally with us from the cradle to the grave.
The Federal Gk)vernment alone has the legal
authority and judicial power to punish and
dissolve it."
Four years, four months and one day
after Senator Kittredge delivered his re
markable speech in the senate against the
lumber trust, the Associated Press had this
to say: "New York, May 19, 1911.— Sweeping
charges of a gigantic conspiracy to maintain
high prices, to blacklist concerns not regard
ed as proper in the trade, and to violate
generally the Sherman anti-trust law, were
made in a government suit filed by Attorney-
General Wickersham in the United States
court here today against the so-called lumber
trust. The trade organization, and more
than one hundred fifty individuals, are
named as defendants in the suit."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 83
Thus, as will be seen by a comparison
of dates. Senator Kittredge had been laid
in his grave but eleven days when the crash
came, — when the actual results of his great
speech became fully manifest to an aston
ished nation. It is regrettable that he could
not have lived to have witnessed these re
sults.

84 BIOGRAPHY OF

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS.
While in the senate he also wrote, had
introduced, and followed through to its en
actment, a new copyright law. Under its
provisions, both authors and artists can pro
tect their works. Two of his South Dakota
constituents were among the very first au
thors to take advantage of the new law.
South Dakota was settled to quite an
extent by Civil War veterans, some thirty or
more years ago. These men are now old.
Many of them are not self-supporting.
They need large pensions, and they are enti
tled to them. Senator Kittredge was wonder
fully successful in assisting in this pension
work. Although the Senator was by choice a
bachelor, yet no man held the American home
in higher regard than he. When the ques
tion of allowing Reed Smoot, of Utah, to
retain his seat in the senate, was under de-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 85
bate in that body. Senator Kittredge said :
"Our fathers, in framing the provisions
of our constitution, had in mind the Chris
tian religion, and not an alleged religion
whose fundamental tenet is based upon im
morality prohibited by law. For, from the
very beginning, the Mormon people — no mat
ter what their creed may be — have been
taught from the cradle to the grave, pollution
in the home. It has not been my good for
tune to have a home of my own, but as long
as I remain in the senate, my voice shall be
raised and my vote shall be given in favor of
the purity of the American home."

86 BIOGRAPHY OF

DECORATION DAY SPEECH.
Another great speech which Mr. Kit
tredge made while in the senate, although not
delivered in that body, was his Memorial Ad
dress delivered at Woonsocket, this state, on
Decoration Day, 1907. As a philosophic
speech on the fundamental principles of good
citizenship, it is a classic. In the copious
extracts from it which follow, that part per
taining largely to the old veterans has been
intentionally omitted, thereby laying accent
on the civic part of it. He said :
"When, in November, 1863, Abraham
Lincoln went to the battlefield of Gettysburg
and delivered that short but impressive ora
tion over the graves of the heroes who there
'gave their lives that the nation might live,'
he set an example for a grateful people to
emulate for all time. By the use of less than
three hundred words, and in a period not ex
ceeding three minutes in duration, he pro-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 87
nounced a masterpiece of oratory as immor
tal as the deeds of the heroes to whose
memory he was paying the loving tribute of
a nation. ^ ^ ^ ^ -^
"That was forty-four years ago, and the
great soul that prayed that the nation might
have 'a new birth of freedom' was called to
his reward by an assassin's bullet before the
consummation of his hopes were fully real
ized. "The great work on the battle fields was
performed largely by young men. The ranks
of both armies were filled largely with mere
boys. 'Old men for counsel, young men for
war,' is an old adage, yet its adaptation is not
confined to the mere military features of a
nation's life. The boy of today is the man
of tomorrow, and without recognition of the
force of youth in business and civic affairs,
as well as in war, the best energy of the na
tion is ignored. Upon the young men of to
day I wish to impress the importance of

88 BIOGRAPHY OF
solving the problems of this generation as
faithfully and practically as their fathers
met and solved the problems that confronted
them from '61 to '65.
"A living nation's work is never done.
The unfinished tasks of one generation are
the inheritance of the next. You may not
have to take part in a great war. (It is both
probable and greatly to be hoped that you
will not) , but you have tasks not less impor
tant because they are different. If 'peace
hath its victories no less renowned than war,'
it likewise has civic problems that recur with
surprising monotony from generation to
generation. i'fi ^ :J: ^ ^i ,
"We are surprised and shocked at the
revelations of corruption in civic affairs by
men in public positions, and we hang our
heads in shame for the offenses of men in
private life; yet the cause of it all is the
weakness of human nature — the want of vir
tue and integrity in the individual.
"The man who is dishonest in his per
sonal dealings wants only the opportunity of

SENATOR KITTREDGE 89
public position to become, in the parlance of
the day, a public instead of a private 'graft
er.' We sometimes hear it said of a public
oflficial who has disgraced his station, that he
is 'personally honest; personally, a good
fellow, etc' Let us remember that one can
not be personally honest and officially dishon
est. There is no such thing as impersonal
dishonesty. Let us remember that the corner
stone of our governmental structure is
intelligent personal integrity. Upon it de
pends the endurance of the republic.
"The state was made for man, not man
for the state. Government is ordained for
man's benefit, and it must not be used as a
means to exploit either the community or the
individual ; nor, on the other hand, should it
be exploited by the individual or used as a
shield to protect him who undertakes to ex
ploit it. The grafter in private life, though
less conspicuous than his kinsman in public
station, is equally an 'undesirable citizen ;' in
fact, in some respects, he is more dangerous
to the public welfare, because of the less like
lihood of detection.

90 BIOGRAPHY OF
"The success or failure of our national
life depends upon our young men and young
women. There should be inculcated in the
youth the simple rules of right living, the
sacredness of obligation ; the fact that sobrie
ty, industry, frugality and square dealing
are indispensable elements in the formation
of high character and that the Ten Com
mandments contain living principles which it
is wise — even from the commercial point of
view — to hold in high regard.
"The life of the community reflects the
varied characters of its component parts.
The state is a federation of communities, and
the nation is a federation of all. The energy
of our young people insures their material
success. Whether we may speak with equal
confidence concerning our social and political
institutions depends upon the generation in
whose keeping for the time being is the heri
tage which the Union soldier has handed
down to us. His sword struck the shackles
from the slaves, and his blood cemented the

SENATOR KITTREDGE 91
Union and made it 'one and inseparable.' We
can rear no shaft that will add lustre to his
glory. No memorial in tablet of stone is re
quired to perpetuate his deeds of heroism.
The nation's debt of gratitude to him can
never be paid.
"Let us then resolve to hold sacred the
heritage he bequeathed to us, to carry for
ward the work he has left us to do, and al
ways to bear in mind that the crowning glory
of his work in the keeping of this and of each
succeeding generation will be, in the lan
guage of Lincoln, that 'government of the
people, by the people, and for the people, shall
not perish from the earth.' "

92 BIOGRAPHY OP

PATRONAGE EPISODE.
The distribution of political patronage
in South Dakota by President Roosevelt, and
Senator Kittredge's good luck in the lottery
scheme, almost constitute a separate chapter
in the Senator's life. The following account
of it is taken from "The Washington Herald"
of November 26, 1907, and is authentic:
"The newest and most unique method of
dispensing Federal patronage was exempli
fied by President Roosevelt yesterday. It
marks a departure in the usual procedure
governing the selection of Presidential ap
pointees. There is nothing complex or in
tricate in the process, which consists in the
simple expedient of drawing lots or tossing
a coin. "The demonstration was given for the
benefit of two United States Senators who
were unable to harmonize their views as to
the distribution of Federal offices in their

SENATOR KITTREDGE 93
State. The President came to the conclu
sion that something must be done, and he
worked out the problem to his own satisfac
tion. "In making Federal appointments in
South Dakota, the President seemed to favor
the preferences of Senator Gamble. When
the names of Gamble's friends were sent to
the Senate, Kittredge, who stands high
among the leaders, succeeded in having them
pigeon-holed. The result has been that there
has been a deadlock in the President's at
tempts to make Federal appointments in the
State represented by Senators Kittredge and
Gamble. "At 10 o'clock yesterday morning
Senator Gamble and Senator Kittredge met
in the President's office. Neither knew that
the other was to be there. That was part of
Mr. Roosevelt's little scheme. He had writ
ten a letter to each Senator asking him to be
at the White House at the hour named, and
both Senators had hurried to Washington —
Senator Gamble from his home in Yankton

94 BIOGRAPHY OF
and Senator Kittredge from his home in
Sioux Falls.
"Mr. Roosevelt enjoyed the joke when
the two political enemies met face to face.
The Senators, however, greeted each other
politely, for they have never permitted their
differences to pass beyond the bounds of
courtesy. The only other person present at
the meeting was Francis E. Leupp, Commis
sioner of Indian Affairs and biographer of
the President. " 'Now, gentlemen,' said Mr. Roosevelt,
when the greetings were over, 'I trust you
have left your guns at home. If you have
not, please deposit them on my desk.'
"The president said other things. He
regretted sincerely to see such good men at
odds and would be delighted to have them
bury their differences. While he talked he
was doing something with his hands just
beneath the top of his desk. Senator Kit
tredge, who occupied a position of vantage,
never took his eyes from those busy hands.
" 'Gentlemen,' he said, 'I have deter-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 95
mined upon a simple method of settling your
differences. In one hand I hold a long piece
of paper ; in the other I hold a short piece of
paper. Whoever draws the long piece shall
have the first choice in the appointment of
public land officers in South Dakota. There
are eleven of these officers to be appointed.
The one who draws the long piece of paper
shall name six and the other Senator may
name five.'
"If the two Senators were amazed they
didn't have time to show it. The President
waved his closed fists in the air.
" 'I will give you first choice. Senator
Kittredge,' he said.
" 'Left hand,' responded Kittredge.
"The President slowly opened the hand
indicated. A strip of white paper lay upon
his palm. Then he opened his right hand.
The slip of paper that lay upon the right
palm was shorter than the other slip.
" 'You win. Senator Kittredge,' he said.
"Senator Kittredge smiled. Senator
Gamble smiled, too, but it was not a merry
smile.

96 BIOGRAPHY OF
" 'The next number on the programme,'
resumed the President, 'is the selection of
two Indian agents.'
"His hands were busy, as before, beneath
the shelter of his desk. Commissioner Leupp
drew nearer. He was interested in the out
come of this phase of lot-drawing. Senator
Kittredge watched the Presidential digits out
of the corner of his eye.
" 'You guess again, Kittredge,' said Mr.
Roosevelt, as he brought his closed fists into
view. " 'Left,' came from Kittredge.
" 'No ; it is Senator Gamble who is left,'
cried the President, as he opened his fingers.
Kittredge had won again. Commissioner
Leupp's face grew grave. Perhaps as a fore
most exponent of civil service reform he did
not like this method of determining upon the
fitness of candidates for office. Perhaps —
some say probably — he had a candidate of
his own. The President saw the change in
his biographer's usually pleasant expression.
" 'This is rather looping the Leupp, gen-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 97

tlemen,' he is reported to have said. Whereat
even Senator Gamble laughed.
" 'Now, let us see what we have next' be
gan Mr. Roosevelt. 'Oh, yes; there is that
auditor for the Interior Department. We'll
find out if he is to stay.'
"The auditor of the Interior is Hon.
Robert S. Person, of South Dakota. He was
appointed on the recommendation of Senator
Kittredge, and is an intense Kittredge parti
san. The anti-Kittredge wing of the Repub
lican party in South Dakota has been trying
to oust him.
"While the President was talking, his
hands were busy again. The eagle eye of
Kittredge watched their every move. When
the closed fists came above the desk the
President exclaimed:
" 'You shall have the first turn again.
Senator Kittredge.'
" 'Right hand,' said Kittredge. As the
fingers of the President were straightened
out, Kittredge was almost enthusiastic.
" 'Bob Person stays,' he mumbled, and.

BIOGRAPHY OF

picking the large bit of paper from the Presi
dent's hands, placed it in his waistcoat
pocket. "President Roosevelt was growing sus
picious of Kittredge. Gamble hadn't won a
thing, and many of Gamble's friends in South
Dakota were enthusiastic Roosevelt men. The
President rapped his desk three times in a
careless, nonchalant way. Senator Gamble
crossed his fingers.
"The next draw in the great South Da
kota lottery had the district attorneyship
for a prize.
" 'Guess,' said the President, with his
fists in front of Kittredge. Kittredge
guessed 'left' and guessed wrong. It was
Gamble's win. Gamble smiled and crossed
his fingers. " 'In this gamble you get the kitty for
once,' said a still small voice. Even Senator
Kittredge laughed.
"The South Dakota internal revenue col-
lectorship was disposed of in the same man
ner. Senator Kittredge guessed as before

SENATOR KITTREDGE 99
and drew the short slip. Senator Gamble
began to look happy.
"The two South Dakota statesmen had
been anxious throughout the contest, but
their anxiety was increased tenfold when the
President turned to them again.
"There was only one office left, and it
was better than any of those that had gone
before. This was the national bank examin-
ership, the choicest plum on the South Da
kota political tree.
" 'I think I shall change my method,'
said the President. 'I think I shall toss a
coin to decide the bank examinership.'
"Mr. Roosevelt placed his right hand in
the trouser pocket on that side and pulled out
a bunch of keys. A search of his left-hand
trousers pocket revealed nothing more than
something that looked like a Carnegie hero
medal. The President began to look em-
barassed. Careful rummaging of his waist
coat pockets produced nothing more than an
elk's tooth and a lock of Emperor William's

100 BIOGRAPHY OF
hair. Mr. Roosevelt smiled one of his quiz
zical smiles.
" 'I haven't a cent,' he confessed, blush-
ingly. 'Leupp, lend me some money,' said
he, turning to the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs. "It was Commissioner Leupp's turn to
be embarrassed. 'I have only one coin,' he
remarked shyly, as he handed it over to the
President. "The two Senators were breathing heav
ily. They watched the President with in
tense interest. Each wanted that bank ex
aminership and wanted it badly.
" 'Now, Senator Kittredge,' briskly
spoke Mr. Roosevelt, 'I am going to give you
a chance to guess again. When I toss this
coin you name the side that falls uppermost,
and if you're right you select the bank exam
iner. If you guess wrong. Senator Gamble
get's him.'
" 'Hold a minute, Mr. President,' inter
jected Senator Kittredge. The President low
ered his poised hand. 'I just want to know

SENATOR KITTREDGE 101
if that's a new $10 gold piece,' said Kittredge.
" 'No, it's only a quarter,' was the Presi
dent's answer. 'Here goes,' and he tossed
the money into the air.
" 'In God we trust,' cried Kittredge fer
vently. 'I choose heads."
" 'Heads she is,' said Mr. Roosevelt. 'You
win. Senator Kittredge.' "

CHAPTER V.
UNDOING OF KITTREDGE.
HIS DEFEAT. RE-ENTERS PRIVATE PRACTICE.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 103

HIS DEFEAT.
Many things conspired to bring about
Senator Kittredge's defeat for re-nomination
to the senate in 1908. They cannot all be
discussed or even touched upon herein. A
spirit of unrest within the republican party,
which had its origin in the four campaigns
made by Mr. LaFoUette for the governorship
of Wisconsin, was manifest throughout the
west. South Dakota caught it up. The re
publican party divided into two factions. In
the state campaign of 1904, there was a
strong showing made by the "insurgent"
wing of the party, headed by Mr. Crawford.
The latter was defeated for the republican
nomination for governor by Mr. Elrod. The
defeated faction came back in 1906 and
wrestled the state government away from
their opponents, — Mr. Crawford defeating
Mr. Elrod for re-nomination for governor.
This was where A. B. Kittredge lost his

104 BIOGRAPHY OF
first prestige ; and it is due him to publish, as
a part of his life record, the fact that he lost
it against his own judgment. The contest be
tween the two factions was so close that one
ward in Sioux Falls held the balance of pow
er. A change of six votes in that ward would
have saved the state to Senator Kittredge's
faction which was in power. He felt that
his presence in the fight was an Indispensable
necessity and he wanted to come home and
enter it ; but, unfortunately, ten of his friends
— including the then Chairman of the state
central committee — signed a telegram and
sent it to him advising him to remain away —
at his post in Washington. He objected, but
he acted on their advice instead of in har
mony with the dictates of his own judgment.
Had he returned to Sioux Falls in time, the
lost ward would easily have been saved, his
faction of the party would have remained in
power. Congressman Martin who was a can
didate for the U. S. Senate would have been
nominated, Mr. Burke would have been re
turned to Congress, Milton M. Ramer who

SENATOR KITTREDGE 105
had served less than a year by appointment
as Superintendent of Public Instruction,
would have succeeded himself in office. Gov
ernor Elrod would have been re-nominated,
and A. B. Kittredge, two years later, would
easily have been returned to the senate. But
he remained away, and the fight was lost.
If Mr. Crawford had not been nomina
ted and elected governor in 1906, he could not,
in all probability, have won the senatorship
fight in the republican primaries in the cam
paign two years later. He needed just the
opportunity that the governorship gave him^
a chance to build up a state-wide organiza
tion of his own. He builded it well, and in
the campaign of 1908, he used it with telling
effect. Although Senator Kittredge ran
ahead of his ticket 5,000 votes, as measured
by the accustomed standard — the vote for
governor — he was, nevertheless, defeated by
2,000 votes by Governor Crawford.
The campaign, aside from the one in
1896, was the hottest political fight in the
state's history ; and for bitter personalities, it

106 BIOGRAPHY OF
greatly surpassed the campaign of '96. With
all the harsh and painfully cruel things that
were said about Senator Kittredge during the
fight — things that he knew, and thousands of
others should have known, were premeditated
falsehoods, — not once did he wince under
fire or make a single reply. It was one of
the grandest examples of fortitude and manly
courage that has ever been exhibited by any
man in the state, or, indeed, within the na
tion. Right here a word is also due Governor
Crawford for the awful gruelling which he,
too, took during the campaign, without
flinching, or instituting a libel suit to clear
his record. The two principals refrained
from this nefarious business, but some of
their subordinates on the stump, as well as
certain newspapers whose utterances, they
could not control, took liberties that have
since been universally regretted.
One day in May, during the fight, Sen
ator Kittredge and I took the train at Elkton
for Watertown, over the Rock Island. He
bought a Minneapolis Journal from the

SENATOR KITTREDGE 107
newsboy and began to read it; I bought a
state daily paper. In it I saw where the edi
tor had published a most vicious and un
called-for attack on the Senator. After glanc
ing it over I handed it to him to read. He
looked at the article casually, and then, hand
ing the paper back to me, said: "Really, I
don't care what they say about me." And he
meant it! His great poise, his even temper
and his good nature were a sort of "shock-
absorber" for his friends during the whole
campaign. Intuitively, one could not help
but feel that the Senator had many things
in common with Abraham Lincoln. The lat
ter, during the awful national crisis of 1861-
65, when he was being maligned as no other
man has ever been, said:
"If I were to try to read, much less an
swer, all the attacks made on me, this shop
(oflice) might as well be closed for any other
business. I do the very best I know how —
the very best I can; and I mean to keep on
doing so until the end. If the end brings
me out all right, what is said against me

108 BIOGRAPHY OF
won't amount to anything. If the end brings
me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was
right would make no difference."
This viewpoint of Senator Kittredge's
self -containment is the view which the gen
eral public had of him. To them he was hard-
shelled and entirely oblivious to the personal
attacks made upon him. There are those,
however, who were very close to him, that
will challenge this point of view. Some
think he was actually supersensitive, and
that his apparent indifference was merely
the outward show of his wonderful self-pos
session. Senator Kittredge opened the campaign
at Mitchell, in February, in a speech that
lasted two hours. It was free from animos
ity and replete in political argument. Thou
sands heard it; they were pleased. It was
really a great speech. This started the fight.
But Governor Crawford, himself an orator
of national repute, took the firing line in per
son, as well as helping to manage the cam
paign, and poured forth volley after volley

SENATOR KITTREDGE 109
of relentless oratory that finally won him the
fight. The following extracts from the speech
as reported by the Mitchell Daily Republican
are of note :
"I have been charged with being insin
cere in my support of the policies of Presi
dent Roosevelt, and my motives have been
questioned by my opponents in South Dako
ta in relation to my support of Secretary
Taft. I cannot make my position stronger
or plainer when I say I am heartily in favor
of the policies of President Roosevelt and a
continuation of the same.
(Here he gave numerous reasons.)
"On the first Monday in December, six
years ago, I entered the Senate of the United
States, and in that time I have made my rec
ord, and it is one that I am not afraid of,
nor am I ashamed of it. Some mistakes have
been made no doubt, but there is one thing
the people of South Dakota can be absolutely
certain of, that in preparing for the battle
which is now approaching they need not

110 BIOGRAPHY OF
prepare the white-wash pot and brush for
any act of mine, nor need they procure a
man to apply it ! (Applause.)
"In past years it has been discussed
throughout the state by my opponents, and
it is being talked of today, that my alleged
position as attorney for the Milwaukee rail
road governed my actions as always being in
favor of the railroads and that I was subser
vient to their interests. I can say without
the least fear of successful contradiction that
in all of the twenty-three years I have prac
ticed law in South Dakota no railroad nor any
other corporation ever had the slightest hold
on my services as a salaried or retained at
torney. * * * I have never accepted a retain
er from this railroad corporation, and my ev
ery transaction with the company was a com
pleted one when the case was finished. That
company has paid me for my work just in
the same manner that an individual would
cancel an indebtedness to an attorney. At
the time I assumed my duties as a United

SENATOR KITTREDGE 111
States senator, I informed the company that
I would not accept any new cases from them,
and to this day that statement has not been
violated by me in the least.
H: :{: ^ :{: :ic
"I am heartily in favor of enacting a
law compelling the railroads to put into effect
a two cent flat passenger rate and to lower
freight rates. In the enactment of such a
law, I would insist that the emergency clause
be attached, so as to bring it to an issue at
once." The Senator closed his part of the speak
ing campaign in a public address delivered
at the auditorium in Sioux Falls on the even
ing of May 23, 1911. It was an occasion nev
er to be forgotten. Excursion trains had
come to Sioux Falls from all over the state.
Brass bands from numerous cities along the
way had accompanied the excursionists. In
the evening, a monster parade was held in
Sioux Falls. Ten thousand voters from out
side of the city joined it. Bands were play
ing all along the line of march. Finally, the

112 BIOGRAPHY OF
parade broke up, and the city's populace, aug
mented by their thousands of visitors, lined
up on both sides of Phillips avenue, from
the Milwaukee depot south for a mile to the
hill. Presently, about 8 :00 p. m., Senator Kit
tredge, accompanied by a few of his close
friends, was driven down the avenue, be
tween these two restless lines of humanity.
The enthusiasm knew no bounds. Men yelled
as though they were crazed. Women waved
their handkerchiefs and cried. Base drum
mers pounded their instruments until the tur
moil became deafening. The Senator bowed
his acknowledgments times without number.
It seemed as if the whole state had suddenly
assembled in Sioux Falls ; that such a popular
idol could not be defeated.
The coachman drove him to the audito
rium ; the crowd followed. Only a small por
tion of them could get inside of the hall.
Strangely, and yet naturally enough to those
who knew him best, this was the first public
speech that Senator Kittredge had ever de-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 113
livered in Sioux Falls. Everybody in the
city, as well as those from outside of it, want
ed to hear him.
It had often been said that he could not
make a good public speech. This illusion
was soon dispelled. Just after he had be
gun to speak, a woman stepped onto the plat
form and presented him with a magnificent
"bouquet in behalf of the ladies of Sioux
Falls." Stopping his regular speech, he turn
ed around and made a five-minute reply to
her that was a perfect gem of classic literary
beauty. It is too bad that this speech was
not stenographed and preserved.
Then he resumed his regular speech
which lasted for two hours and twenty min
utes. He spoke entirely without manuscript
or even notes. It was a great speech ; great
in conception, in range, in argument and in
presentation. His climaxes were punctured
again and again with ear-bursting applause.
During the address he did not mention his
opponent or even allude to him by insinua
tion. It was a lawyer's argument on the

114 BIOGRAPHY OF
great questions that were up for solution in
the United States senate, and of his attitude
toward them.
After the speech was over, the traveling
men of the state gave him a banquet at the
Cataract hotel. Ten brilliant toasts to the
Senator were delivered by members of their
organization. At the conclusion, he respond
ed for fifteen minutes. Here again his lan
guage was so chaste and so beautiful and
flowed with such ease that all present must
'. have marveled at the past silence of this most
reticent of men.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 115

RE-ENTERS PRIVATE PRACTICE.
He was defeated, nevertheless, on June
9, following, by Governor Crawford. Having
made a pre-campaign promise to abide by
the decision of his party at the primaries, he
did so religiously, and on the fourth of the
following March, in 1909, he returned to
Sioux Falls and took up again his chosen
profession. His private practice — particu
larly in corporation cases — soon became so
large that he could scarcely handle it.
At various times before he was sent to
the senate he had acted as chief counsel in
large cases for various railroad companies
for a stated fee, but never on a salary. It
was for this reason, during the memorable
campaign which caused his defeat, that his
opponents referred to him as a "corporation
hireling," forgetful, at the very time, that
those who were opposing him either were or
had been corporation employees. This was

116 BIOGRAPHY OF
no discredit to him, although it cost him a
great many votes ; for large corporations, like
railroad companies, with thousands of dollars
at stake, do not employ mediocre attorneys
to handle these big cases when they go into
court. They secure the best lawyers that
money can hire : this is why they employed A.
B. Kittredge. However, after his return to private
practice, individuals having large damage
suits against the railroad companies, em
ployed him more than did the companies
themselves. His natural inclination was to
ward the common people. One illustration
is given : In the case of Whaley et al v Vidal
et al (Northwestern Reporter 132, pps. 242-
248), the same being an action brought
against the Milwaukee Railway company for
damages for three orphan children whose
parents were both killed on a railway cross
ing within the city of Flandreau, this state.
Senator Kittredge appeared for the plaintiff.
He secured a verdict in favor of the orphans
of $11,500 for the death of their father and

SENATOR KITTREDGE 117
of $10,500 for the death of their mother;
total, $22,000. The railroad company made
application for a new trial. Senator Kit
tredge opposed it in the circuit court and he
won. They appealed the application to the
state supreme court. Senator Kittredge ap
peared before that body in a re-argument of
the case, and again he won.
(At the time of going to press I am told
that he refused to accept a fee for his serv
ices in this case. — The Author.)

CHAPTER VI.
SUMMONED BEFORE HIGHER COURT
DEATH AND BURIAL. EULOGIZED. RESOLU
TIONS OP BAR ASSOCIATION.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 119

DEATH AND BURIAL.
In October, 1910, a year and a half af
ter his retirement from the senate, while
returning to his office in Sioux Falls, after
trying a hard-fought case in the local court
at that place, during which he had become
very greatly heated, he took a severe cold. It
settled in the weakest one of his vital organs
— his liver, which, although unknown alike to
himself and to his friends, had already begun
to atrophy. The next day he complained about a pain
in his side. It was the first complaint about
his physical condition that his friends had
ever heard him make. Daily, he grew worse
instead of better. So he started back to his
old boyhood haunts among the New England
hills for a rest. In Chicago, in New York,
and again in Boston, he consulted specialists.
Each of them told him the same thing, to- wit :
that there was nothing chronic about his ail-

120 BIOGRAPHY OF
ment and that he was merely suffering from
an attack of La Grippe.
At the beginning of the New Year, he re
turned to Sioux Falls where, almost imme
diately, he became bedfast in his room at the
hotel. Dr. Ollney diagnosed his trouble as
Atrophic Cirrhosis of the liver and gave him
the best treatment for his ailment known
to the medical profession. Too late!
It availed but little ; and so on February
18, accompanied by Charles Wuest, Col. Dick
Woods and William Donohue, he went to Hot
Springs, Arkansas, to take baths. At first
he improved, and his Sioux Falls associates
returned home, entertaining great hopes for
his recovery. But on April 24, they received
a telegram saying that his condition had be
come alarming. P. J. Rogde, E. B. Northrup,
C. M. Day and Dr. R. F. Brown started at
once for his bedside.
They found him in a semi-conscious con
dition. He rallied enough to recognize them
for a moment, and he called Mr. Day by
name; then he relapsed into a state of coma

His Last Photo

SENATOR KITTREDGE 121
from which he never recovered. His friends
remained with him until May 3 ; but on that
morning they gave up hopes, and all of them
except Mr. Day, departed for home.
That day the Associated Press had this
to say :
"Hot Springs, May 3 — Noon — Senator Kittredge
is losing his brave fight, and his friends in South
Dakota must soon expect the news of his death. His
aged father in New England has been told of the
probable outcome, and he has sent in reply a brave
message." On the morning of May 4, Charles M.
Day started for home. Shortly thereafter.
Senator Kittredge's brother who was at his
bedside, sent to the Daily Argus-Leader this
telegram :
"Kittredge has been unconsicious during the
past forty-eight hours and passed a restless night.
His heart action is still strong, but is gradually
growing weaker. His death is now but a question
of a few hours only."
That evening. May 4, 1911, the Associa
ted Press flashed this dispatch to the news
papers of the state:

122 BIOGRAPHY OF
"Senator Kittredge died quietly this evening at
11:30." Immediately the whole state went into
mourning. His faithful nurse was the only one with
him at the moment that the end came, al
though, in an adjoining room, wrapped in
uncontrollable grief, were his only brother.
Prof. H .W. Kittredge, of Westfield, Massa
chusetts, and one of his two sisters, Mrs. C.
P. Pearson, of Gardner, Massachusetts.
The next day his brother and sister
started with the remains for the old home and
family burial lot at East Jaffrey, New Hamp
shire, Mr. Day had gotten as far as Colum
bia, Missouri, on his return trip home when
he received a telegram from Hot Springs an
nouncing the death of the Senator. He also
received a telegram at Columbia from the
Elk's Lodge at Sioux Falls, asking him to ac
company the remains to their final resting
place as a representative of that order; for
Senator Kittredge was not only a charter
member of the Sioux Falls Elks, but he was

SENATOR KITTREDGE 123
the first Exalted Ruler of that lodge. Like
wise, the Masons, in which he had been a
former Worshipful Master, despatched Rob
ert Beattie, at that time Master of their Blue
lodge, to represent them at the funeral in
New Hampshire. The Minnehaha County
Bar association sent Attorney E. R. Winans,
and they also sent Judge Jones to represent
the local courts. They were joined at East
Jaffrey by Senator Kittredge's life-long
friends. Congressman Burke, and by Mr. R.
S. Person, formerly auditor for the interior
department during Mr. Kittredge's senatorial
regime. These gentlemen became the honor
ary pall-bearers. The Senator's funeral sermon was
preached at 2:00 p. m., on May 8, by the
Reverend G. H. Flint, pastor of the Congre
gational church at Dorchester, Massachu
setts, there being no local pastor at East
Jaffrey. He paid an eloquent tribute to the
sterling qualities of the deceased; and he
commented pointedly on the fact that a man
whose mourners came from nearly across

124 BIOGRAPHY OF
the continent, must have made some deep
and abiding friendships during his life.
On the afternoon of the funeral the
weather was ideal, and the citizens of East
Jaffrey turned out en masse. The quiet
farm lad who had strolled leisurely through
their quaint streets as a boy, had returned
to them — great in death as well as in life!
Floral tributes came from far and near.
The famous Grid-Iron Club of Washington,
D. C, with which Senator Kittredge was de
cidedly popular, sent a monster wreath.
Large bouquets came from the Elks, the
Masons, the Shriners, the Woodmen of the
World, and the Redmen, of Sioux Falls, — in
all of which lodges the distinguished Senator
was a prominent member. Congressmen
Martin and Burke, Mr. Person and George
R. Jones contributed a magnificent floral em
blem. After the service, a wagon load of
costly wreathes were heaped upon his grave.
And there,
"Under the sod and the dew.
Waiting the judgment day,''

SENATOR KITTREDGE 125
in the language of Mrs. Browning,
"His eyeballs lie quenched with the weight of his
brows."
Well might his relatives have had in
scribed on his tombstone this beautiful epi
taph written by William Wilde in 1763 :
"Here lies a piece of Life; a star in dust;
A vein of gold; a china dish that must
Be used in heaven, when God shall feast the
just."
His living friends in South Dakota, as
well as the succeeding generation, will re
gret that he could not have been buried in
the state he so greatly honored.
He left to mourn his loss, his aged fath
er, Russell H. Kittredge, of East Jaffrey,
New Hampshire; his brother. Prof. H. W.
Kittredge, of Westfield; one sister, Mrs. Fan
ny Pearson, of Gardner, and another sister,
Mrs. Mary Hall, of Wakefield, — the last
three places all being in Massachusetts. In
addition to these the State of South Dakota
and much of the nation became his mourners.

126 BIOGRAPHY OF

EULOGIZED.
The day of his death, the Daily Argus-
Leader, in a full-column eulogy of him, said,
among other things :
"Senator Kittredge was a man of heroic
mould. He was best appreciated by those
who were his most intimate friends. Only
to those did this quiet and unassuming man
reveal the real gold of his character.
*****
"Here was a man who will not soon be
forgotten. He was strong in every sense
of the word—clear in intellect, firm in friend
ship, religious in instinct, conscientious in
the performance of a duty — a great, strong,
true-blue, broad-shouldered soul — one whose
like we shall not soon see again."
Ex-Governor Sam Elrod, of Clark, South
Dakota, sent to the press of the state this
communication :
"Kittredge was one of the truest men I

SENATOR KITTREDGE 127

have ever known ; one of the first lawyers of
ability in the state, and the ablest man that
has thus far represented South Dakota at
Washington. He was absolutely honest,
modest as a child and clean in thought and
character. No friend ever applied to him for
help in vain, as will be seen by the following
incident: During the panic of 1893, on a
Saturday evening, it was found that a certain
bank in South Dakota could not open on the
following morning unless a large sum of cash
could be raised. For several days the offi
cers of the bank had done everything within
their power to raise enough money to en
able them to keep the bank open. When it
was found that it could not open again, two
of the officers went across country to Sioux
Falls. They called Kittredge up in the night
and stated the facts to him. He knew where
money was, and he got it for them; but he
had to put up his own note and secure it by
assigning his life insurance."
The Vermillion Republican (E. W. Wil-
ley, editor) said on May 11 :

128 BIOGRAPHY OF

"In senatorial deliberations, he easily
earned and won the distinction of being
South Dakota's most distinguished states
man. He was often styled the 'silent man,'
but even his silence was little if any less than
the incarnation of eloquence.
"Today he sleeps in the village cemetery
of the little New Hampshire town of Jaffrey,
but his memory will remain as enduring as
the granite of which are composed the en
circling hills that will keep watch above his
place of rest. For happily, and most surely,
his work in every way was a credit to the
state of his nativity as well as to that of his
adoption, and the honor becomes the heritage
of the nation."
E. W. Caldwell, of Sioux City, Iowa,
commonly known as "Happy Gal" had this to
say of him in the Sioux City Journal of
May 5:
"There are few men in Dakota whose
death would bring so many tears to the eyes
of men and women as the taking off of A. B.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 129
Kittredge will bring. Whatever may have
been his power in general business, or in his
profession as a lawyer, or in politics, he was
still stronger in his personal relations and in
those qualities which attract the cordial es
teem and affectionate regard of men, women
and children ; and so it will be in the homes of
South Dakota, not only in Sioux Falls, but in
many other localities, that he will be the most
tenderly missed, where for so many years he
was accustomed to drop in as 'one of the
family, and to romp with the children, if
there were any, and to fondle the baby in
his arms. A confirmed bachelor who per
haps never in his whole life had an 'affair
of the heart,' he had a most chivalric regard
for women, and he was 'Uncle Kit' to multi
tudes of youngsters. So, however profound
may be the regret of business or ol politics
that their affairs should know him no more
forever, there will be keener sorrow among
those who never knew him either in busi
ness or in politics.
"One of the institutions of Sioux Falls

130 BIOGRAPHY OF
and of South Dakota was Mr. Kittredge's
handsomely furnished suite of bachelor
apartments where for nearly a quarter of a
century he kept 'open house' year in and
year out, and which were visited by multi
plied thousands from every portion of the
commonwealth, and by legions of men, emi
nent and otherwise, from outside the state.
While of course the apartments became a
sort of political headquarters, this was not
the prime spirit that maintained them. They
were rather the manifestation of that gener
ous hospitality characteristic of the man, and
of a desire for a place that might be to him
like a home. ^ ;|; ^ ^i ;I:
"In the whirligig of partisan and fac
tional politics in South Dakota, there came a
time when I and my paper were arrayed
against 'the Kittredge crowd,' and I pub
lished stuff against him then which now I
wish most heartily could be expunged. As
usual, after the panic of 1893, my paper be
came financially embarassed, and I was plan-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 131
ning against the day when Kittredge should
swoop down and oust me, as I feared he
might be able to do. He heard about my at
tempted manipulations, and sent me word I
needn't be scared, and that if I needed help
to let him know.
"One Saturday afternoon, after I had
exhausted every other means to complete the
payroll, I borrowed $250 from him, rather
than shut up shop, which otherwise I would
have been compelled to do. When I went to
return the money, he said to me: 'Gal, you
don't owe me a cent. Just accept that as
my contribution toward maintaining a rat
tling good newspaper in Sioux Falls, and a
booster for the town.'

"There are those who will say that his
death has been hastened by his defeat. I
do not believe him to be a man to succumb to
depression from any such circumstances.
Men, who have won, have died, as he has died,
who lost. He was too nervy a player in the

132 BIOGRAPHY OF
game of politics to go down and out simply
because he didn't win."
' The Canton (S. D.) News, in its editor
ial review of his life cited some pertinent
historical facts as follows :
"It is notable that one line of the Uni
ted States senatorship from South Dakota has
been followed by singular fatality. Colonel
Moody, at statehood, drew the short term.
He was not re-elected, and is long since dead.
Moody was succeeded by Kyle, who served
one term; was re-elected and died in oflftce.
Kittredge followed Kyle, but failed of re
election, and, broken in health, he, too, has
passed away."
The following beautiful eulogy is clipped
from the Sioux City Journal (Hon. George
D. Perkins — deceased — editor) :
"He slept his life away, and that was
merciful to him and to those who loved him.
At the last, one deep breath, and the cord
that bound him to this mortal life was sev
ered. He died as he had lived — ^the 'silent
man' — ^the uncomplaining man, the man who

SENATOR KITTREDGE 133
in every conscious hour was thoughtful of
his friends. "Mr. Kittredge was a great man, and he
was great in what men call little things. He
was a welcome guest, and he was delightful
as a host. Among those with whom he was
associated and with whom he was in rela
tion, he was never a burden, but always a
help. "His reputation as the 'silent man' grew
out of his remarkable containment, the
strength of his character, the rectitude of
his purposes and the unceasing courage of
his life. He was in no sense brazen ; he was
in every sense modest. Yet he had rare gift
in influencing the men about him, for he
knew men both in their weakness and in their
strength. "Following his retirement to private
life, he was the same contained man. If there
was expression of bitterness, he was not the
author of it. He bound his friends to him
because he was true, because he vaunted not

134 BIOGRAPHY OF
himself, because he was never parted from
the excellence of his disposition ; because in
all his good works — ^the small generosities
and kindnesses that count so much in help
fulness — his left hand was kept stranger to
what his right hand was doing.
"Those who did not know him, who
never shared in the comfort and security
of the inner chambers of his being, believing
what is here set down, can well believe that
he was a sincere man, a master of himself,
and free from all ostentation."
The Daily Huronite (W. S. Bowen, edit
or) devoted a full column to his good deeds.
Among other commendatory things it said :
"In the death of Senator Kittredge
South Dakota loses one of its foremost citi
zens, and the nation a sturdy citizen who
served it well. .**•***
"He was a forceful character, and
among men he early became a leader. His
home friends are legion, and the quality of
their devotion is that which is not habitually

SENATOR KITTREDGE 135
bestowed upon a human being. With gen
eral unanimity the people of the state will
bow their heads in grief over the visitation
that has taken him from them in the midst
of the period of his greatest usefulness.
*****
"A strong man has laid down the burden
of life. His memory will be cherished until
those from whom he has departed rejoin him
in that other realm."
Professor Will Chamberlain, of South
Dakota, in his "Wayside Notes" in the Sioux
City Journal of May 14, said:
"When Grover Cleveland died, and prep
arations were being made to express the
nation's loss, a committee, including the poet
editor of the Century Magazine, Richard
Watson Gilder, chose as the memorial poem,
Wordworth's 'Character of the Happy War
rior' (Nelson). It would not be inappro
priate' to declare that this classic depicts
many characteristics of Senator Alfred B.
Kittredge, news of whose death is fresh on

136 BIOGRAPHY OF

all lips. He was identical in type with
Grover Cleveland." :{{ ^ H< ^ ^
And again in the same set of "Notes,"
under the sub-head of "Friendship," he con
tinues :
"Observers by the wayside of life have
just had a glimpse of a record of friendship
at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that is seldom
duplicated. I refer to that which, existed be
tween the late Alfred Beard Kittredge and
Charles M. Day, editor of the Sioux Falls
Daily Argus-Leader. Mr. Day put aside all
of his important newspaper labors and re
mained in the Arkansas valley of vapors with
Mr. Kittredge until the distinguished states
man was entering death's shadow. Subse
quently, he attended the funeral in the far-
off hills of New Hampshire and beheld the
mortal body laid away amidst the boyhood
scenes of his friend. Fidelity and Friendship
are beautiful words. Mr. Day has exempli
fied them both."
Parker New Era (Charles F. Hackett,
editor) :

SENATOR KITTREDGE 137
"A. B. Kittredge was a brave, sturdy,
brainy man ; a great lawyer and a wise coun
sellor; big hearted, and as true as steel in
his friendship. Dear old 'Kit !' How deeply
his friends loved him and trusted him. His
greatest assets were his self-control, his loy
alty to duty and to his friends."
Pierre Daily Dakotan (Hon. Tom Rob
erts, formerly Senator Kittredge's private
secretary, editor) :
"During those seven years we learned to
love him as a child loves its father. The
confidential relations between us were as
close as it was possible to have them, and his
life, both private and public, was known by
the writer probably better than by anyone
else in the state. ' Looking over those seven
years, it is now brought more forcibly to our
mind than ever what a magnificent man he
was. Maligned as no other man in the state
has ever been, he bore it uncomplainingly
with that quiet reserve that too often caused
men to misjudge him. The best years of his
life were given to the state; and his work.

138 BIOGRAPHY OF
honest, careful and tireless, was rewarded
by his political enemies spreading false re
ports about him that defeated him for the
senate. He bore it with that fortitude which
has always been characteristic of the man.
"There is no question in the mind of the
writer about his future. His life was spot
less. Not one act, during the time we were
with him, did he perform that would not
bear the light of day."
Springfield (Mass.) Republican:
"Former Senator Kittredge, of South
Dakota, whose death occurred Thursday, was
a credit not only to the state which he repre
sented but also to New Hampshire, where he
was born. His service in the senate was
marked by industry and sturdy independence
of opinion. He and former President Roose
velt came into sharp collision on the subject
of the type of the Panama canal. While Kit
tredge was careful in abstaining from pub
lic criticism of Roosevelt the senator's
friends were aware of his strong feeling that
Roosevelt, after having himself first favored

SENATOR KITTREDGE 139
a sea level canal, was wholly unjustified in
demanding that Kittredge should abruptly
change and support a lock canal. Kittredge
who was chairman of the senate committee,
had come to believe in a sea level canal after
giving the subject great study, and from that
opinion no pressure could budge him. Wheth
er he was right or wrong on the question of
type, he undoubtedly was better informed
about the canal in a general way than any
other member of the senate and he was firm
in his belief that time would vindicate his
views that a sea level canal would be the best
and, in the end, the cheapest."
The Sioux Falls Daily Press, one of the
large daily papers in his home city that had
for years fought him in politics, and which
was largely responsible for his defeat, said
of him in part:
"In the death of former Senator Kit
tredge at Hot Springs, Thursday night.
South Dakota loses a distinguished citizen
who won a prominent place in national af
fairs, and thereby helped to bring this state

140 BIOGRAPHY OF
into prominence in official circles in Wash
ington. Senator Kittredge was distinctly a
conservative in politics. He was for many
years the chief adviser and leader of the re
publican party in South Dakota. He was
the head of the organization.
"In the campaign of 1908, Mr. Kittredge
was a candidate for re-election as United
States senator, and he had for his opponent
Governor Coe I. Crawford. Mr. Kittredge re
alized that he was in the midst of a fight for
his political life and he lost. The campaign
was especially noteworthy in that it was the
first time that his voice had ever been heard
in convention or on the stump in this or any
other state. He has long borne the name of
the 'Silent Senator,' because of the fact that
he not only declined to speak in public, but
seldom talked for newspaper interviews. In
that campaign he surprised even his friends
by his ability as a speaker and the apparent
ease with which he succeeded as a forceful
speaker."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 141
Aberdeen Daily News (J. T. Sanders,
editor) :
"Alfred B. Kittredge, of Sioux Falls,
who died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, last
night, will be mourned throughout the state
as few have ever been mourned.
"His death is a loss irretrievable to this
state, because his equal as a man and a
statesman cannot be equalled from north to
south or from east to west.
"Thousands will mourn him as a brother
— a big brother he was to all who enjoyed his
confidence — and there is none who can take
his place. As long as the men of this gener
ation survive, his name will be enshrined,
and wherever these men foregather his pres
ence will be with them.
"May his great soul find rest in the
realm in which it has joined other great souls
that have gone before !"
Deadwood Pioneer .Times (W. H. Bon-
'. ham, editor) :
"His career in the senate was a, brilliant
I one, and he was recognized as one of the

142 BIOGRAPHY OF
great men of that body. His knowledge of
the French claims to the Panama route for
the inter-oceanic canal, gained after hard
study and a thorough investigation, made
him an authority on that subject, and his ad
vice was sought by the president and the
1 senate. He was made chairman of the senate
committee on Panama canal, and its legal
adviser in all matters pertaining to the
French claims. His career In the senate
was such that a brilliant future was pre
dicted for him, and his close friendship with
President Roosevelt and the confidence
which the president accorded him made him
one of the most influential members of the
upper house of Congress."
The Deutscher-Herold, Sioux Falls,
(Hans Demuth, editor) :
"Ex-Senator A. B. Kittredge is suffer
ing no longer; death has mercifully relieved
him, and all that is mortal in him is now
resting in sweet repose in the cool native
soil of New Hampshire.
"In him a man of his own kind, an emi-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 143
nently able attorney and highly respected
politician has departed this life.
"No one, not even his most bitter antag-
lonist, has ever dared to charge our dear
departed friend with dishonesty, incapacity
or low political tricks, nor was there ever a
reason for such.
"The departed senator was a 'sticker.'
He stuck inflexibly to a plan, carefully con
sidered and deemed just and right. He stuck
inflexibly to his party and to his friends. He
was an indefatigable worker and disdained
strenuously to be lionized by 'society'. He
worked from early morn to late at night, no
errand was too difficult to serve his friends,
no errand too far, no difference whether at
home at Sioux Falls or at the National Capi
tal. "The private life of the dear departed
was a pure one. He was an attorney very
much sought for, who hardly ever lost a
case. The competence which he acquired
he made use of in a good and noble manner.
He never refused an appeal for aid from
friend or foe.

144 BIOGRAPHY OF

"Whoever had been a real friend of the
deceased, remained so after his defeat, a
friend of Kittredge as a 'man.' Many a young
man owes the good position he holds to the
senator's aid, rendered in his own quiet and
unassuming manner.
"This was Kittredge.
"When his serious condition became
known, a flood of telegrams arrived at his
bedside and when the wire announced his
death a feeling akin to nightmare oppressed
the hearts of his friends and all who had en
joyed the privilege of his immediate ac
quaintance. "Kittredge is no more, but his memory
will never grow dim, and the whole state has
just cause to mourn for his untimely de
mise." Mitchell Daily Republican (W. R. Ron
ald, editor) :
"All of South Dakota mourns the loss
of A. B. Kittredge. Cut off in the very prime
of life, he was denied many years of useful
ness to his home city and his state. It is

SENATOR KITTREDGE 145
unnecessary to say that Senator Kittredge
was one of the most distinguished sons of
South Dakota. * * * His ability as an at
torney not only brought him professional
success, but led him into the field of politics,
with the result that upon him was bestowed
the highest office in the gift of the state.
*****
"Senator Kittredge was a man of few
words, thereby evidencing his careful judg
ment. His earnestness and concentration in
all that he did, together wjth his own respect
for his own promises, won for him great
respect on the part of the people of South
Dakota."

Avon Clarion: "What South Dakotan
can measure up?"

Spearfish Mail: "His service to the
state and nation will stand as a monument
which will survive all time."

Carthage News : "He was one of South

146 BIOGRAPHY OF
Dakota's favorite sons and in his death the
state has lost a citizen whose place will not
soon be filled."

Alexandria Herald: "His death is an
irreparable blow to South Dakota, and to
his legion of friends throughout the state it
caused deep and genuine sorrow."

Big Stone Headlight: "His death will
be mourned by many, and as his public ser
vices recede into history they will be more
and more appreciated by South Dakotans."

Hudsonite : "He was loved and honored
and appreciated more thaji he knew arid his
demise has put a whole state into sincere
mourning, and his loss will be keenly felt in
South Dakota."

Faulkton Advocate: "In the state at
large he was always a commanding figure
even after he was deprived of power by the
supremacy of the progressive wing of the

SENATOR KITTREDGE 147
party. A great and able man has passed
away."

Alcester Union: "Mr. Kittredge served
eight years as senator from South Dakota
and during that time became a figure of na
tional prominence. He was conservative in
politics and his fellow senators had great
confidence in his judgment and information
on public affairs."

Scotland Citizen-Republican : "His
staunchest friends were found among those
who knew him best, and in his public service
which extended over a quarter of a century,
his strongest opponents do not question his
great ability nor discredit the services that
he rendered his state and nation."

Turner County Herald: "His intimate
friends loved him and were intensely loyal
to him and perhaps if his diffidence had not
prevented his taking the public into his confi
dence all might have seen him as his friends

148 BIOGRAPHY OF
saw him. But he made no place for popu
larity, espoused no reform movements, kept
his face to his foes, and went down to defeat,
smiling, courageous and strong."

Pierre Capital- Jour nal : "As is usual
death will no doubt serve to give him greater
credit than was ever accorded him during
life. His life was such that his friends
can always feel proud of having been counted
among those in whom he confided."

Clark County Courier : "Mr. Kittredge
was a man in the very best and truest sense
of the word. Too quiet and unassuming to
be a practical politician, he went down in
political defeat, but will be remembered as a
true statesman who stood for what he be
lieved to be right regardless of personal con
sequences. Time itself cannot erase the
memories of Senator Kittredge. In very
truth he was a statesman, a friend and a
man."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 149
Lake Preston Times: "Ex-Senator Kit
tredge was a great man, perhaps the most
distinguished resident of South Dakota. He
had a great brain and he accomplished things
without any spread-eagle flourish. He was
not selfish, as his enemies pictured, but he
proved a little too cold to be as successful as
he would otherwise have been in politics. He
occupied a position while senator that it will
be difficult for another from this state to
soon reach in national affairs, and his opin
ion and judgment counted with the author
ities in Washington."

Iroquois Chief (J. F. Halladay, editor) :
This writer considers himself extremely for
tunate in having had the friendship of Sena
tor Kittredge and of having worked with him
in matters political. He congratulates him
self upon the fact that he has been a support
er of this worthy man. To be referred to
as a 'Kittredge lieutenant,' is to fill the breast
with pride. He has gone and the people of
an entire state mourn. His place will be

150 BIOGRAPHY OF
hard to fill. True friends drop a tear and
even those who hurled the shafts of envy and
malice in times of political excitement mourn
the untimely death of Alfred Beard Kit
tredge, South Dakota's foremost citizen and
greatest statesman."

Des Moines Capital : "Former Senator
Kittredge of South Dakota died not many
days ago and his body was taken back to a
New England state for burial. The deceased
was fifty years of age and was noted for the
things he did and not the things he said. He
was a man of deeds, not words. He was
sometimes called the silent man. The news
paper reporters could get nothing out of him.
He was a standpatter during his lifetime and
received lots of abuse. Since his death he
has received much praise."

Aberdeen Daily American: "In the
death of Senator Kittredge, South Dakota
has lost one of the most brilliant men who
ever mingled in public life. * * ""In

SENATOR KITTREDGE 151
this hour all partisanship and factionalism
are forgotten in the sorrow sweeping the en
tire state in the passing of Kittredge, and
his memory will be treasured in South Dako
ta for years to come."

152 BIOGRAPHY OF

RESOLUTIONS OF BAR ASSOCIATION.
"The Bar of Minnehaha County has
commissioned and directed the undersigned
to prepare an appropriate expression of its
sorrow in the loss of a distinguished member,
the Honorable Alfred Beard Kittredge; also
to pay a fitting tribute to his life, character
and service, and requested the court to make
proper record of the same.
:}: ^ ^ :}: ^
"It has been well said that a community,
state or nation, is known by its great men.
In Senator Kittredge were combined the
rugged strength of character so typical of
his native state, together with the breadth
of view, liberality of thought, and power for
growth and expansion, which are character
istic of the great Northwest.
(Herefrom is omitted an able review of
his record as a senator).

SENATOR KITTREDGE 153
"As a lawyer, he was remarkable for his
conservatism and caution in giving advice,
for diligent research and unstinted labor in
the preparation of his cases, and for clear
ness and thoroughness in argument. His
learning was profound and covered the whole
field of jurisprudence. His style as an advo
cate was forcible and convincing, rather than
ornate and showy. His methods of attack
and defense were straightforward and stub
born, rather than ingenious and crafty.
While he was devoted to the interests of his
clients, his cool and excellent judgment was
never carried away by professional partisan
ship ; and this characteristic made him a safe
and invaluable adviser, rather than an en
thusiastic and sympathetic advocate.
^ ^ ^ •<* ^
"Both in public and in private life. Sen
ator Kittredge was distinguished for his
personal integrity, his sincerity and stead
fastness of purpose, his fidelity to the prin
ciples in which he believed, and loyalty to his
friends.

154 BIOGRAPHY OF
"Blemishes of character and conduct
will be revealed in political contests, if any
where, and it is therefore regarded as worthy
of more than passing notice that he came
through the fiercest political strife in the
history of our state unscathed in character
and unsullied in reputation and personal
honor. $ :^ ^ :{; :{«
"We, therefore, bear testimony to the
worth, work and achievements of our de
ceased brother. To his father, brother and
sisters, we extend our heartfelt sympathy in
their bereavement; but we know that the
memory of his life and character will remain
with them and be a source of pride and com
fort when the keen edge of sorrow shall
have been dulled by time."
Committee :
Charles P. Bates
R, H. Warren
Tore Tiegen"

156 BIOGRAPHY OF

CHAPTER VII.
PERMANENTLY HONORED.
HIS MARBLE BUST. LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR
ABEL'S SPEECH. MEMORIAL COMMENTS.
ADDRESSES OF JUDGE DICK HANEY,
JOHN T. KEAN AND C. M. DAY.
BUST UNVEILED. OIL PAINTINGS.
OTHER HONORS.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 157

HIS MARBLE BUST.
Doctor M. E. Walton, of Huron, secre
tary of the South Dakota Republican Primary
organization, oii May 10, 1911, sent to the
Daily Argus-Leader of Sioux Falls, a lengthy
communication which was published by that
paper in full, suggesting the creation of a
fund with which to erect a memorial tablet
to the memory of Senator Kittredge. His
closing paragraphs were as follows:
"As one who feels that he, too, has lost
a friend, the writer would respectfully sug
gest that a subscription be raised over the
state, by the friends of the late A. B. Kit
tredge, for the purpose of erecting to him a
suitable memorial tablet. Let the amount
be raised through the medium of small sums
preferably, so that all who wish may have a
part in the undertaking.
"Let the tablet be placed in some con
spicuous place as a symbol of the presence of

158 BIOGRAPHY OF
one who, though gone forever, has meant so
much to the life of Sioux Falls and the state
of South Dakota.
"Enclosed find $5 for the purpose men
tioned, with the hope that the movement
will appeal to all."
This published suggestion of Dr. Wal
ton's elicited state-wide comment. There
were no opponents to the plan ; all favored it.
The history of the transaction, from this
point on, is admirably told by Mr. Day in his
speech delivered at the unveiling of the me
morial, published in full herein; hence the
omission here.
There is one feature of the matter, how
ever, that has not as yet been made public.
The response of the Senator's friends was
greater than was anticipated, and far more
funds were raised than were necessary.
Senator Kittredge, for reasons known only
to himself, never married, and was, there
fore, childless; yet, nevertheless, he dearly
loved children. As we go to press the sur
plus fund raised for his marble bust is being

SENATOR KITTREDGE 159
used to equip a room in the Children's Home
in Sioux Falls, to be known as the "Kittredge
room." Instead of erecting a tablet as suggested
by Dr. Walton, the committee of nine which
had been appointed to look after the matter
decided to procure a marble bust of the Sen
ator; and to place the same in one of the
alcoves of our state capitol at Pierre, di
rectly opposite the life-sized marble statue
of General Beadle.
Memorial exercises in review of his life
and for the unveiling of the bust occurred in
the city of Pierre, January 15, 1913. The
state legislature was in session. Both hous
es united in executive session, and the exer
cises were conducted before them in the room
occupied by the house of representatives.
Lieutenant Governor E. L. Abel, of Huron,
by virtue of his official position, presided
over the deliberations.
The music for the occasion was fur
nished by a male quartet consisting of Harry
Quackenbush, Stanley Stevenson, Ralph

160 BIOGRAPHY OF
Longstaff and Leslie Parry ; and by a ladies'
quartet composed of the Misses Hunkins,
Fox, Campbell and Lewis.
Lieutenant-Governor Abel, in opening
the exercises, said :
"Members of the Legislature and my fel
low citizens :
"Far to the east, where first the rising
sun casts its rays upon this continent, on one
of the beautiful hillsides of New England,
lies all that was mortal of our departed!
friend, Alfred B. Kittredge. His spirit has
left its tenement of clay, but still it walks
abroad, for truly great men never die, but
continue to live in the memory and affections
of their friends, and in the history of their
country. The good they have done marches
down the corridors of time brightening the
dark pathways of the future, — a lamp to
guide the footsteps of succeeding genera
tions. All the history of any state or coun
try that is really worth while is the biogra
phy of its great men. To them it owes its
life, its power and its growth, and that

SENATOR KITTREDGE 161
country or state, which fails to properly per
petuate, honor and reverence the memory of
its great men is destined to lag behind and be
beaten in the great race for social, political
and commercial supremacy. It is well that
we meet today to perpetuate the memory of
our departed friend by appropriate exercises
and by placing his marble bust in a niche in
our Capitol, where, so long as these walls
shall last, it shall remain to remind posterity
that this state is not unmindful of the great
services rendered it by its distinguished
statesman, and that under our form of gov
ernment the humblest boy may aspire to the
greatest honors a state can confer upon a
citizen. "This magnificent assemblage, drawn
from every nook and corner of our great
state, and filling to overflowing all the space
of this vast chamber, testifles more eloquent
ly than words the high esteem in which the
people of South Dakota held the services of
our lamented Senator and their desire to
properly perpetuate the memory of South
Dakota's greatest statesman.

162 BIOGRAPHY OF
"I must be brief, for there are others to
speak after me, who can, more eloquently
than I, depict the life and services of Senator
Kittredge; but I cannot forego the sad yet
pleasant task of paying a short tribute of re
spect to the memory of one who was for more
than a quarter of a century an intimate and
loyal friend. I regard his death as a dis
tinct loss to our state, leaving a blank which
it will be difficult to fill, for throughout the
length and breadth of these United States
the name of Senator Kittredge had become
firmly associated with the name of South Da
kota and added luster to our state ; and in an
age like this, when many aspiring politicians
seek to become leaders of the people, and at
tain high office by appealing to the passions
and prejudices of the multitude, there is
great need of men in public life like Senator
Kittredge, who with firmness and decision of
character, pure and lofty patriotism, and al
most infallible judgment in matters pertain
ing to great policies of government and af
fairs of state, cannot be swerved from the

SENATOR KITTREDGE 163
right as God gives them light to sta it. No
personal, political interest was strong enough
to cause him to change his attituda when
once assumed, after careful and pairstaking
consideration, — and he never acted in haste,
but orly after the most earnest and studious
investigation. That this was his unalterable
policy was most clearly proven when he stood
squarely in opposition to the president and
all the power of his administration on the
question of the Panama Canal. Great en
gineers believe that time will vindicate the
wisdom of his action. Be that as it may, it
was in accord with his judgment and no
thought of personal danger to his political
future could move him to surrender his con
victions. It was typical of the man. How
different from many of our public men who
veer with every change of the political wind,
thinking not of the best interests of the peo
ple, but of their own political fortunes. Sen
ator Kittredge was like his great prototype
who preceeded him in the senate,~to be right
was a greater honor to him than office.

164 BIOGRAPHY OF
"With the thought of a great statesman
is usually associated the idea of power to
move the multitude with flowery rhetoric and
glittering speech, but in this sense Senator
Kittredge was not a great orator. He was
called reticent. But until he could think and
speak clearly he had nothing to say upon
matters of importance. His thought came
to him in a clear, well defined and strong
light. What he clearly saw he clearly com
municated and until he was sure of his po
sition he never spoke. He never attempted
to appear eloquent or sparkling and his mind
rejected all ornaments of speech. He spoke
only to be understood and not to cloud the
minds of his hearers by figures of speech or
glittering platitudes, and generalities. His
habits of mind could not accept any method
of speech but that of simple statements of
facts and natural and logical deductions. A
severe simplicity and directness marked all
his efforts, but he was always listened to with
rapt attention whether in the Senate, at the
bar or on the stump and his statements of

SENATOR KITTREDGE 165
facts were rarely, if ever, questioned. There
was nothing of the demagogue in his com-
iposition, but truth alone was always his
highest aim. With this perspicuity of
thought was associated a very high degree of
intellectual force. He had power of state
ment, felicity of arrangement, logical skill,
depth of conviction and he was always in
earnest. "He was often spoken of as cold, re
served and unsympathetic, but those of us
who knew him intimately fully understood
that this seeming coldness was superficial
and sprung largely from a diffidence that was
genuine and creditable. The really modest
estimate which he placed upon his own abil
ities and accomplishments made him slow to
engage the attention of others, except as duty
demanded, but underneath a seeming cold
exterior beat as warm a heart as ever palpi
tated in the bosom of a human being. He
was always true to his friends and enjoyed
their company and conversation to a remark
able degree.

166 BIOGRAPHY OF

"His patriotism was of that character
not bounded by state lines, but which com
prehended the interests of the entire coun
try. He had no sectional ambition or ani
mosity to gratify and possessed none of that
ambition that would lead him to aspire to
places of honor by any means that would
conflict with his well confirmed notions of
justice, morality and integrity.
"His vision was broad and he was at all
times a champion of the great principles of
self-government and constitutional liberty,
ever jealous and watchful of all encroach
ments of power against the bulwark of free
dom — the Federal Constitution. His broad
patriotism, his unsullied integrity, his great
natural abilities, his indefatigable industry
and his unswerving fidelity to principle and
justice, commanded the unbounded respect
of his associates in the Senate of the United
States and made him one of the few leaders
of that august body, bringing great renown
to our state, which he so highly honored by
his presence there.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 167
"He loved his chosen profession — the
law, the labors of which were congenial to
his tastes, and for which he was eminently
fitted by an endowment of extraordinary*
powers of mind united with an untiring in
dustry. He always commanded the entire
respect of both the bar and the court. Trained
to habits of logical reasoning and judicial in
vestigation he subjected evidence and law to
the closest scrutiny ; never went to trial with
out thorough preparation and seldom lost a
case. He was the leader of the bar in this
young commonwealth, at a time when there
were many giants here. In the practice of
his profession, to be kind to the widow and
fatherless, was one of his canons, and never
in his profession would he receive a reward
for serving them. In his intercourse with
his associates at the bar he was always kind,
courteous and considerate, and he won his
cases by his masterful handling of the law
and evidence and never by bluff and an as
sumed superiority.
"All his conduct in both public and pri-

168 BIOGRAPHY OF
vate life was characterized by the greatest
simplicity and lack of ostentation. That he
made integrity his religion, work his orison,
and truth his idolatry, is only repeating the
written words of the wise and good of all
ages. He was always true to his friends
and every public trust. Pericles in his last
illness said: "No Athenian in consequence
of any action of mine has ever put on mourn
ing." As Alfred B. Kittredge turned for
the last time to behold the light of day, and
passed into the undiscovered country in the
prime of life he might have truthfully given
utterance to these words of Pericles in a
larger and better sense.
"Great as a statesman, renowned as a
lawyer and faithful as a friend, his fame
and memory are secure in the affections and
remembrances of a grateful people whom he
so nobly served. So long as South Dakota
honors the great men who have promoted her
interests in state and nation, the name of
Alfred B. Kittredge will shine in effulgent
glory on the pages of her history.

SENATOR KITTREDGE

'His star of life sunk ere yet it had reached
its full promise;
Snatched all too early from the august fame
That on the serene heights of silvered age
Waited with laurelled hand.' "

170 BIOGRAPHY OF

MEMORIAL COMMENTS.
Attorney Tore Teigen, Vice-President
of the Committee, during the services, read
many letters from men prominent in the na
tional life commenting upon the importance
of Senator Kittredge's work in the Senate
and upon his sterling qualities as a man.
From these letters, the following extracts
are taken :

William H. Taft then president of the
United States, wrote :
"I knew Senator Kittredge in his life as
a Senator. We had been Yale men and had
a strong bond of sympathy that unites the
sons of that Alma Mater. I had much to do
with him in connection with the Panama
Canal, for I was Secretary of War while he
was Chairman of the Canal Committee of
the Senate. We did not agree on the type
of the canal, but in other respects we were

SENATOR KITTREDGE 171
in harmony. I can testify to the conscien
tiousness, earnestness and assiduity with
which he devoted his whole life to the public
service as long as he was in office. South
Dakota lost in him a very able lawyer and
an honest, effective representative of the
people."

Senator J. C. Burrows of Michigan sent
the following as his tribute :
"I am exceedingly gratified to know that
the people of South Dakota propose to honor
the memory of Senator Kittredge, who served
the State so faithfully and so well. It was
my good fortune to serve with him in the
United States Senate during his entire term
and I came to greatly admire his sterling
qualities of head and heart, which in his
brief service placed him well to fore in that
great legislative body. He won the respect
and confidence of all. It can truthfully be
said of him —
'He never sold the truth to serve the hour.
Or parted with eternal right for power.' "

172 BIOGRAPHY OF
Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota,
whom Senator Kittredge placed high in es
teem both as statesman and friend, wrote the
committee as follows:
"I am exceedingly glad to learn through
your favor of the 18th that the friends of
Senator Kittredge are about to unveil a bust
of him at Pierre in your State. I became
intimately acquainted with the Senator dur
ing his service in the Senate and learned to
appreciate his value and great ability as a
Senator. "He was a man of very strong mind and
clear judgment, who seemed to comprehend
and grasp intuitively the scope of any im
portant subject of legislation that was pend
ing in the Senate. He seemed always to
have the public welfare at heart and never al
lowed himself by party prejudices or undue
suasion to be diverted from the straight and
honest course. He was true and honest to
the American people and faithful and true
to his trust as the representative of your
State.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 173
"While not an orator in the common ac
ceptance of the term he was nevertheless a
clear and sound debater, who could set forth
the merits of a subject in vivid and terse
terms, and for this reason whatever he had
to say on any subject in the Senate always
carried great weight.
"I regarded him, after I became ac
quainted with him, as one of the ablest and
best Senators of the great Northwest and
deeply deplore his early and untimely death.
"I congratulate you and the other mem
bers of your committee on your efforts to
thus commemorate his memory, for surely he
deserves a great place in the hearts of all
your people."

Senator J. H. Gallinger of New Hamp
shire :
"While the Hon. Alfred B. Kittredge
was born in the State of New Hampshire,
and I was well acquainted with his family, it
was not my pleasure to meet him until he be
came Senator of the United States. He de-

174 BIOGRAPHY OF
scended from a family of much distinction in
New England, his father being a man of high
character, business integrity, and political
activity. From the moment that Mr. Kit
tredge entered the Senate he became a favor
ite on both sides of the Chamber, and it is
safe to say that when he left the Senate he
sustained kindly relations with every mem
ber of that body. He was recognized by
his associates as a man of profound convic
tions and high ideals. He was also regard
ed as a man of great legal learning, whose
opinions on questions of law were entitled to
the highest possible consideration. He was
a careful and conscientious legislator, and in
addition to serving with great distinction on
the Committee on the Judiciary he did splen
did work as Chairman of the Committee on
Inter-oceanic Canals, having a clear concep
tion of the necessary legislation to secure
the safe construction of that great water
way. His kindness of heart, geniality of
disposition and never-failing courtesy, en
deared him to his associates, and when he

SENATOR KITTREDGE 175
left the Senate it was a matter of deep regret
to all of us who had been privileged to enjoy
his friendship. As a New Hampshire man I
am especially pleased to know that a bust of
Mr. Kittredge is to be unveiled at the Capi
tol of your State, so that future generations
may be made aware of the fact that South
Dakota had been honored by sending a man
of such sterling qualities and splendid abil
ities."

In a letter regretting his inability to be
present at the exercises. Congressman Eben
W. Martin of the Third Congressional Dis
trict of this State wrote :
"Life long friends of Senator Kittredge
will, I am sure, be present to speak from the
heart in tribute to his many strong and
faithful traits of character. As one of his
colleagues in Washington I had a good op
portunity to know of the character of his
public service. In my official residence in
Washington of nearly twelve years I have
never known a member of either House of

176 BIOGRAPHY OF
Congress who put in more hours each day in
the public's service than was the habit of
Senator Kittredge. He arose regularly in
time for a six o'clock breakfast, then walked
to his office at Capitol Hill where he com
menced his labors of the day regularly at
seven o'clock in the morning, and it was not
an unusual experience to find him still at his
desk after the adjournment of the Senate in
the evening. He contributed his best talent
for the progress of the Nation and his State."

During the afternoon three splendid
eulogies of Senator Kittredge were delivered
by Judge Dick Haney, of the state supreme
court; by Hon. John T. Kean, of Minneapolis,
ex-lieutenant-governor of South Dakota, and
by Mr. Charles M. Day, of Sioux Falls, editor
of the Daily Argus-Leader. These orations
are herein given in full. They follow :

SENATOR KITTREDGE 177

MEMORIAL ADDRESS.
By Judge Dick Haney of the Supreme Court
of South Dakota.
"To understand character requires at
tention to inherited tendencies and early en
vironment. "The man whose memory we have met
to honor was born on a farm among the hills
of New Hampshire, when God was 'tramp
ling out the vintage where the grapes of
wrath are stored;' when the hearts of the
men and women of New England were aglow
with the love of liberty; when patriotism
was the ruling passion in northern homes;
when the flower of American manhood was
being prepared for that 'full measure of de
votion' required to preserve the Union ; when
gentle women, going down into the very shad
ows of death, that future defenders of the
flag might exist, were imbuing their children
with the most exalted aspirations and im
pulses.

178 BIOGRAPHY OF
"Fourteen years, doubtless the most
happy of Mr. Kittredge's life, were spent on
a farm in a typical New England home, free
alike from the privations of poverty and the
enervating influences of wealth, where he
acquired habits of industry and conceptions
of moral rectitude which characterized his
conduct throughout his entire career.
"During the years of his boyhood he
performed his part of the daily toil incident
to life on the farm; engaged in the invigor
ating sports of northern winters; enjoyed
the pleasures of glorious summers and splen
did autumns; learned to love the sound of
rippling waters, the songs of birds, the infi
nite, exquisite music of nature. During those
years he learned the teaching of the stars;
learned to appreciate the beauty of moun
tains, rivers, forests and flowers ; learned the
precepts of his mother's religion; learned
the lessons of life as they were taught in the
farm homes of good old New England—homes
whence have emanated in large degree the in
tellectual and moral forces which have pre-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 179
served the better social and political institu
tions of our great republic — whence have
come the men, who, in a large degree, have
contributed to the marvelous, material pro
gress and prosperity of the entire country and
caused its flag to be respected 'in every land
and on every sea under the whole Heavens.'
"I know not what hopes, ambitions, as
pirations, dreams, stirred the heart and
brain of the reticent country lad as he fol
lowed the plow, played by the brook or wan
dered in the woods ; I know not the language
of his mother's prayers ; but I do know that
the promise of his youth was fulfilled in far
larger measure than is usual even in this
land of opportunities.
"Mr. Kittredge graduated from Yale in
1882; completed the law course of that an
cient institution and was admitted to the bar
in 1885. The same year he located at Sioux
Falls in the then territory of Dakota, where
he continued to reside until the time of his
last illness. "He was twice elected state senator

180 BIOGRAPHY OF
from Minnehaha county. He represented the
republican party of this state on the national
committee for four years beginning in 1892.
He was appointed United States senator in
1901, and chosen to that high office by the
legislature in 1903. He died on May 4, 1911.
Such a record does not require the aid
of art or oratory. It is sufficient of itself to
preserve its possessor's name from oblivion.
Any one, who honorably secures a seat in the
senate of the United States, merits consider
ation. But there are other reasons than this
to justify the friends of A. B. Kittredge in
presenting to South Dakota the work of art
which will be presently unveiled; abundant
reason why representation of his now well
remembered features should be placed and
preserved in the Capitol of his adopted state.
For a considerable period Mr. Kittredge
was recognized as the leader, in this state, of
the great political party to which he be
longed. He was its leader in fact as well as
in name. His friends believed he exercised
the powers of that position with due regard

SENATOR KITTREDGE 181
to individual rights, prompted solely by the
desire to promote the best interests of all the
people of the state; that the time will come
if it has not now arrived, when men of all
parties and factions will concede the recti
tude of his intentions. Certain it is, that dur
ing the whole course of his political career,
no person, not even his most unreasonable
political enemy, ever had cause to question
his personal integrity. Certain it iSj that
no taint of political corruption ever soiled
the mantle of his masterful leadership. Cer
tain it is, that no lawyer in South Dakota
has been more constantly careful than he, to
remove our judges from the slighest sug
gestion of improper influence.
"Mr. Kittredge was successful in busi
ness. When his last illness came he stood in
the front rank of his chosen profession, uni
versally recognized as an attorney of excep
tional ability and marvelous industry.
"It was, however, during the eight years
of his service in the United States senate
that Mr. Kittredge gave proof of his real

182 BIOGRAPHY OF
character; proof so abundant that his fame
as a legislator has become a valued national
heritage. It is doubtful if any person ever
entered the senate who acquired the same
degree of prominence in so short a time of
service. Practically unknown beyond the
boundaries of his state when he took his
seat in that distinguished legislative body,
when he retired to resume the practice of his
profession he had secured a place among the
ablest living statesmen of his country. All
this was accomplished without oratory, with
out display, without self -advertising ; simply
by force of his indomitable industry and the
intellectual and moral strength of his char
acter. "Reputation and character are not the
same. As some one has said: 'Reputation is
what men and women say of us ; character is
what God and the angels know of us.' Bad rep
utations usually are worse than they deserve
to be ; good ones, better than they deserve to
be. Men without any essential element of
true character may receive the applause of

SENATOR felTTREDGE 183
the multitude. The voice of the people was
not the voice of God when it rang through
the judgment halls of Pilot, 'Crucify him!
Crucify him !'
"Men who rise to high place and power
in a republic usually belong to one of two
classes: Those who lead in the direction
the people appear inclined to go and those
who, endeavoring to lead in the direction
they believe the people should go, follow the
straight and narrow path of duty regardless
of the effect upon their own personal political
fortunes. Mr. Kittredge belonged to the lat
ter class. He always was loyal to his party,
loyal to his country, loyal to his friends, mod
est, reserved, sensitive, incapable of artifice ;
fearless in the conflicts of life, and calm in
the hour of death. The days of his life on
earth are ended but the influence of his
strong personality, the results of his arduous
labors, and the memory of his many qualities,
remain. "Thinking of that low green tent among
the hills of his boyhood's hopes, whose cur-

184 BIOGRAPHY OF
tain never outward swings; thinking of all
that was good and true and brave in the life
of the departed: thinking of his service to
the state and nation ; thinking of the solitude
of every soul in its prison flesh ; thinking of
the hour when we too shall take our chamber
in 'the silent halls of death;' forgetting his
faults as we would have our faults forgot
ten, shall we not hope that somewhere in the
infinite hereafter there is perfect peace, per
fect understanding and absolutely just re
wards."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 185

KITTREDGE AS A STATESMAN.
By Hon. John T. Kean, of Minneapolis, Min
nesota, ex-Lieutenant-Governor of
South Dakota.
"Before addressing myself to the sub
ject allotted to me, I must pause long enough
to acknowledge my obligations to the Me
morial Committee for the great honor they
have conferred upon me, carrying with it, as
it does, the great privilege of allowing me to
contribute my own wreath of forget-me-nots
in memory of my friend who has gone.
"When, by appointment of Governor
Herreid, Mr. Kittredge became United States
Senator, he took with him into the larger field
of national activities three great prerequi
sites of success — Honesty of Purpose, Devo
tion to Duty and a Genius for Labor, and in
due time they brought to him the full meas
ure of reward. From early morning until

186 BIOGRAPHY OF
late at night he labored as no other Senator
in Washington ever did. Not now and then,
but every day seven o'clock found him at
work. When the senate was in session he
always was in his seat and when not in ses
sion, he was doing committee work. Every
move for the good of this state commanded
his instant and loyal support. Every letter
from a constituent recieved his personal at
tention and he was ever the loyal and consist
ent friend of the old soldier.
"After a very careful research and in
vestigation. Senator Kittredge became con
vinced that the great lumber interests of the
country had entered into a combine to unduly
and unlawfully inflate the price of lumber to
the consumer. To the great prairie state of
the Northwest this was a matter of supreme
importance, and in an able and impressive
speech before the Senate he asked for a reso
lution of inquiry directing the Department of
Labor and Commerce to investigate the mat
ter. His resolution prevailed and his evi
dence and data were placed at the service Of

SENATOR KITTREDGE 187
the department, but for reasons which need
not be mentioned the matter was pigeon
holed for such a time that when the investi
gation took place its purpose was partially
defeated. Since that time the need of an
investigation became so imperative that the
Department of Justice has been pressing its
suits all over the country against the lumber
trusts with a fair measure of success but to
the late Senator Kittredge belongs the credit
for initiating the movement against this
great combine and in the interest of the home
builder of the great Northwest.
"For centuries it had been alike the hope
and the dream of the mariner that some day
the little neck of land that kept the two
oceans apart might be cut in twain, their wa
ters wedded and the Occident and Orient
brought thousands of miles nearer each oth
er. "When other efforts had failed and this
government had resolved to accomplish the
task itself, at this time Senator Kittredge
arrived in Washington, and by a most happy

188 BIOGRAPHY OF
chance was placed on the committee on inter-
oceanic canals, of which the late Senator
Hanna was chairman. With Senator Kit
tredge it was congenial and fascinating
work, and with untiring and undaunted en
ergy he studied every one of the many and
complex questions arising, and I am abso
lutely within the facts when I say that Sen
ator Kittredge was recognized and admitted
by all as the best informed man in public life
on all canal questions. And then a great
controversy arose — shall it be the Panama or
Nicaraguan route? Doubt was thrown up
on the Panama title. The committee appoint
ed a sub-committee to determine whether
or no, if this government purchased of the
French Panama Canal Company its rights,
franchises and concessions, the title would be
good. This sub-committee was composed of
some very able lawyers, of whom Senator
Morgan of Alabama was chairman. Mr. Kit
tredge was a member of the sub-committee.
The majority of that sub-committee, after an
exhaustive investigation, declared the Pana-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 189
ma title to be bad and declared for the
Nicaraguan route. Senator Kittredge pre
pared a minority report, affirming the
Panama title to be good, passing upon all the
legal questions involved and declaring in
favor of the Panama route. His brief upon
that great question will forever link his name
with the greatest constructive and engineer
ing work of the world. It was approved by
the President of the United States and re
ceived the official sanction of the Department
of Justice, and standing on the floor of the
Senate with his brief and his minority re
port, he defended them both. In the
presentation of his views he showed sagacity
and tact. His sentences were short and com
pact. He reasoned with crystal clearness
and fortified his conclusions by indisputable
facts, cold, irresistible logic and all clothed in
the simplest and plainest of English. His
minority report was adopted, the Senate de
clared in favor of the Panama route and
work was begun. This year it is expected
that the canal will be finished and the dream

190 BIOGRAPHY OF
of ages realized, but the expenditure of hun
dreds of millions of dollars and the realiza
tion of all our hopes in that direction is all
based upon the brief prepared by the late
Senator Kittredge, declaring that if we pur
chased the franchises and concessions, we
would secure a good title.
"The speech which Senator Kittredge
made upon that occasion brought him from
obscurity to fame ; up out of the ranks of the
Many into the ranks of the distinguished
Few who, by virtue of results obtained and
intellectual equipment, rank as leaders in the
Senate. "Following the decision of the Senate in
favor of the Panama route and all through
the negotiations leading up to the final pur
chase of the French concessions and fran
chises, it was understood that the type of
canal to be constructed was to be of the
sea-level order. The committee on inter-oce
anic canals had declared for it and one of the
controlling reasons that influenced the Sen
ate in preferring the Panama route was that

SENATOR KITTREDGE 191

a se^-levej canal could be obtained which
could not be done with the Nicaraguan
route. "The administration was understood to
be in perfect harmony with the program for
a sea-level canal; but later, claiming that
both time and money would be saved, it
changed its attitude and advocated the lock
canal. "It was characteristic of Senator Kit
tredge and entirely to his credit that he
broke with the President rather than change
his convictions. "When the type of canal was under con
sideration. Senator Kittredge on the floor of
the Senate led in the fight for the sea-level
canal and bore the brunt of the attack from
those opposing him. He was aided by the
committee on inter-oceanic canals and eight
out of the thirteen constituting the board of
consulting engineers endorsed his attitude.
But the President of the United States
brought all the force and influence of his
great office to bear, and by a narrow margin

192 BIOGRAPHY OF
the Senate voted for the lock canal. Whether
Senator Kittredge was right or wrong, time
alone will record its verdict. But all through
the canal controversy the late Senator
showed such high moral courage, such devo
tion to his convictions and upheld his views
with such conspicuous ability and fairness,
that his position as one of the great men of
the Senate was unchallenged.
"Some one has said that the purpose of
language was to conceal thought, but it was
not so with Senator Kittredge. His English
was like a stream of pure water, clear and
limpid. He spoke in the Senate but few
times, but what he said was always a notable
contribution to the subject under considera
tion and the simplicity of his English was en
hanced by the crystal clearness of his thought
and logic.
"It was repugnant to his modest and
honest nature to resort to the tricks and arti
fices so frequently used by public speakers.
There was nothing of the dramatic about
him. He was not an orator — he did not pre-

SENATOR KITTREDGE 193
tend to be. He never tore a passion into
tatters, but whether orator or not, the fact
remains that when Senator Kittredge spoke,
the greatest deliberative body in the world
paid him it§ highest compliment — it always
listened to what he had to say.
"But the time came when the people of
this State recalled its commission and at a
moment, when the door of Opportunity was
wide open to him, when Fame stood in its
portal and beckoned him on, when his career
was bright with a promise of greater honors
yet to be won, at this crucial hour, he was re
tired to private life. This is not the time nor
the place to refer to the contributing causes
of his defeat. If the arrow of justice ran
kled deep, he was too brave and too modest to
bear his heart upon his sleeve.
"He played the game fairly and accord
ing to the rules, and, if, in his sturdy way,
he gave blows he likewise expected to re
ceive them.
"But I believe if he had lived, it would
not have been long until the people of this

194 BIOGRAPHY OP
State, realizing their mistake, would have
knocked at his door and urged him to again
represent them in the United States Senate.
"But that is neither here nor there. His
life work is done, his battles are fought, and
with characteristic courage he fought against
the encroachment of that Great Power that
enters hovel and palace alike, that 'lays the
shepherd's crook beside the scepter of the
king.' But weary at last of the struggle, he
laid his head on the soft bosom of Mother
Nature and fell asleep. So let him rest. 'His
name above the need of eulogy, his motives
beyond the reach of malice.'
"Up in the hills of New England in the
State that gave him birth his remains are
buried, but his fame belongs to this great
Commonwealth that gave him to the Nation.
"As the years go by, South Dakota will
have other sons of whom she may be justly
proud, and whose monuments may be placed
in this Capitol building, but none will there
be who can or ever will give to the State in
purpose and energy such full and unstinted

SENATOR KITTREDGE 195
measure of all that he possessed as did the
late Senator Kittredge.
"Mr. President, as this great State with
its ever widening horizon shall go down the
isles of the future, so, likewise, slowly reced
ing into the past, will be the memory of the
personality of her great son; until at last,
wrapped in the kindly mantle of the mist and
fog of time, it will be lost to the world for
ever. "But, Mr. President, let us indulge in
the hope that so long as cold marble shall
retain its enduring form, the memory of
his industry, his honesty, his fidelity to his
friends, his State and the Nation, his great
mind and his Heart of Gold, shall ever prove
a noble and lasting inspiration to, the youth
of this great Commonwealth. For these, af
ter all, are the things that truly live.
'Cold in the dust that perished heart may
lie.
But that which warmed it once shall never
die.'
"Mr. President, as we review the career
of this great man, as we dwell on those qual-

196 BIOGRAPHY OF
ities that endeared him to his friends and
made him useful to his State and Nation, I
am prompted to exclaim as Antony did when
he saw the dead body of Brutus : —
'The elements so mixed in him that
Nature might
Stand up and say to all
The world, 'This was a man.'"

SENATOR KITTREDGE 197

KITTREDGE AS A FRIEND.
By Charles M, Day, of Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, Editor of The Daily Argus-
Leader.
"Soon after the death of Alfred Beard
Kittredge in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on the
4th day of May, 1911, his friends all over the
State began to suggest the propriety of the
erection in the State House of a lasting mem
orial in his memory. The movement finally
took form by the appointment of a commit
tee of nine to take charge of the matter. For
the purpose of administrative convenience,
this committee was composed of men who
lived in Sioux Falls, but in every portion of
their undertaking they have had the hearty
and loyal support of the friends of the late
Senator in every portion of the State, from
the great Black Hills country to Watertown,
and from Aberdeen to Yankton. I had the

198 BIOGRAPHY OF
honor to be made chairman of that committee
which was known as the Kittredge Memorial
Committee. Edward G. Kennedy was its
treasurer. Tore Tiegen was made its vice-
president. Colonel R. J. Woods was selected
as secretary and as the chairman of the fi
nance committee. John H. Toohey, Dr. R. F.
Brown, E. B. Northrup, William T. Doolittle
and Will A. Beach completed the committee
of nine, under the auspices of which the work
was undertaken and completed.
"The committee first made a contract
with H. Daniel Webster, a graduate of the
Sioux Falls High School, who had become a
sculptor of renown, for a marble bust of the
late Senator. Mr. Webster's equipment for
the undertaking was doubly vouched for by
the excellent work he had done in the making
of a statue of General W. H. H. Beadle,
which now stands in the State House as
South Dakota's appreciation of a great
thought persistently exploited by a far sight
ed and courageous man; and by the further
fact that Mr. Webster had been personally

SENATOR KITTREDGE 199
acquainted with Mr. Kittredge, whom he
knew well and admired much. Scarcely had
Mr. Webster started the work, however,
when he died suddenly in Texas, putting an
end to a career at scarcely 30 years of age,
which had promised to reflect great honor
upon his family and his State, and to write
his name high in the world of artistic
achievement. Following this the committee
decided to turn the work over to Mrs. Ethel
Webster, the young widow of H. Daniel Web
ster, who had never seen the Senator, and
who was compelled to make her ideals entire
ly from his photographs and from personal
descriptions given by friends of Mr. Kit
tredge. It is this bust representing the quiet
strength, the calm poise, and the heroic mold
of our distinguished citizen and fallen com
rade that the friends of the Senator, through
his committee, turns over to the keeping of
the State, and to the inspection and apprecia
tion of generations yet unborn.
"I have been asked to speak briefly of
Alfred B. Kittredge as a friend. It was my

200 BIOGRAPHY OF
privilege to know Mr. Kittredge in many re
lations in life, but it was on the personal side
that he called most for admiration and affec
tion. 'He was my friend, faithful and just
to me,' and it is as such that I shall speak of
him today. "I first met Alfred B. Kittredge in the
summer of 1886 in the office of L. D. Henry,
then a city justice in Sioux Falls, now a resi
dent of Hartford, in Minnehaha county. I
last saw him the day before his death bravely
fighting a hopeless battle in Hot Springs,
Arkansas, in May, 1911. Of what he had
done during the twenty-five years that had in
tervened, of how he had grown from a brief
less attorney to one whose counsel and advice
were sought throughout the west, of how
from an unknown youth he had developed in
to a leader, with the largest and most devoted
personal following ever known in South Da
kota, of how with no backing but that of good
health and lofty purpose and remarkable
industry he had won his way to the
front — these are the things I should

SENATOR KITTREDGE 201
like to speak of, for they contain a fine story
of the making of a splendid leader out of the
raw material of high purpose and inherent
manhood — ^but it is a story outside the scope
of my remarks today.
"For Alfred B. Kittredge the road was
never too long, nor the night too cold nor the
going too hard if at the end of it he could be
of service to a friend. I am talking to men of
affairs, to men experienced in the ways of
politics and business, and I would ask them
to make a list of their real friends — of the
men who would sacrifice for them or lose for
them or go down into the ditch for them. The
list would be a short one. Shall I say that
they can be counted on the fingers of one
hand? Mr. Kittredge was a man of that sort.
It was perhaps this quality which brought to
his standard more warm and devoted fol
lowers than has been the portion of any other
public man in this State. It was perhaps for
this reason that the dispatch from Hot
Springs announcing the end of his desperate
struggle for life brought to South Dakota a

202 BIOGRAPHY OF
wideness and depth of sorrow which had not
been known before.
"The little back room in the rear of his
office in Sioux FaUs was the most glorious
clearing house of friendship that the State
has ever known. Here nothing was too small
for Mr. Kittredge's consideration and noth
ing too large for his attention. Whatever was
of interest to a friend was of interest to Mr.
Kittredge. Here he was known to all his
friends as 'Kit' or 'The Old Man.' Elected to
the United States Senate, and winning a
place there as a leader, Mr. Kittredge's unas
suming modesty and delightful simplicity
were unchanged and to the day of his death,
the beautiful comradeship of the little back
room was delightfully unchanged.
"There was no consideration for Mr.
Kittredge's friendship. He asked no return
except the return of friendship. When a
friend became involved in trouble, Mr. Kit
tredge stuck to him the closer. When other
friends left, this one remained. The clouds
might gather, and the storm break, but the

SENATOR KITTREDGE 203
friendship of this man stood as fixed and un
wavering as a guiding star — ^true and faith
ful and loyal ever.
"Good taste forbids the mention, on an
occasion like this, of specific cases, but his
friends still remember and rejoice over his
knightly loyalty to a friend in the keenest of
trouble of his life when that loyalty undoubt
edly cost Mr. Kittredge his re-election to the
United States Senate. In the hours of his
truly desperate sorrow, when friends were
leaving, and the darkness had gathered, and
the pitiless storms were beating hard, there
was one shoulder on which this beaten and
broken man could lean ; there was one voice to
cheer and comfort, there was one friendship
that was as unwavering as the stars above —
the shoulder, the voice, the friendship of Al
fred B. Kittredge. It cost something, and
Mr. Kittredge knew that, but it is one of the
reasons that Alfred B. Kittredge is missed
the more today.
"I shall never forget my first intimate
view of the Rocky Mountains. One cannot

204 BIOGRAPHY OF
see the mountains from a passing train. He
must drive into them and climb over them,
to see and feel the meaning of the mountain
spirit. Bom and reared upon the prairies,
I looked with unspoken wonder at the vast
cathedrals which the Almighty had builded
there. To me there came the thought that
for uncounted ages they had looked down
unchanged upon a changing world. And all
that was small and petty and temporary fell
away like mist, before the sun. I knew that
these mountains were grimly and silently
the same as when the armies of Alexander
trod the earth in their vain-glory, when the
little ships of Columbus set sail for a new
world, and when Washington prayed and suf
fered at Valley Forge. And as I looked and
thought and wondered, it seemed to me that
character and fidelity and truth were the on
ly things eternal and that it really mattered
very little, as related to the great march of
things, what any one individual had won or
lost, in political aspiration or financial ven
ture.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 205
"It was ever with some such feeling that
I left a visit with Alfred B. Kittredge. There
was a poise and balance in his point of view,
a magnanimity in victory and a serenity in
defeat, a bigness in his adjustment and a
wideness in his comradeship with the world
that suggested the crystalline atmosphere of
the mountain peaks — ^the size of something
that could not be small — the immutability of
something that could not change — the gentle
and the serene peace of a great soul that
knew what friendship meant."

206 BIOGRAPHY OF

BUST UNVEILED.
At the conclusion of the exercises, the
great assemblage retired to the rotunda of
the Capitol, where Attorney Russell D. Kit
tredge, of Sioux Falls, a nephew of Senator
Kittredge, gently pulled aside the large flag
which veiled the marble bust of the Senator;
and the admiring audience, led hy the double
quartet, burst forth in the patriotic strains
of "My Country, 'Tis of thee,
Sweet land of Liberty.''
Only two men in South Dakota have been
thus honored to date. The first one was that
grand old educator for a half century, Gen.
W. H. H. Beadle. The other is A. B. Kit
tredge. Their marble statues stand facing
each other in two of the four alcoves in the
rotunda of our state Capitol, especially pro
vided for this purpose. Beadle, in the realm
of education, ingratiated himself in the

His Marble Bust, State Capitol, Pierre, S. D.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 207
hearts of the school children of the state,
who contributed the pennies that bought his
statue. Kittredge, in the field of law and
practical politics, forged his way to the front
and earned a place in the state's Temple of
Fame.

208 BIOGRAPHY OF

OIL PAINTINGS.
After his death. Senator Kittredge's
friends also contributed an amount necessary
to have two large oil paintings made of him.
They are valued at $500 apiece. These paint
ings are the work of Mr. H, K. Saunders, of
Pierre. He is a Civil War Veteran who
served with Co. "K" 36th 111. Infantry. The
pictures are masterful pieces of art. One
of them hangs in the state Capitol at
Pierre, the other hangs in the Cataract hotel
at Sioux Falls.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 209

OTHER HONORS.
In addition to the western honors that
were bestowed upon the memory of the Sen
ator, back east, in the region of his boyhood
home, he was recently remembered again.
The following is from the August 19, 1914,
issue of the "Keene Sentinel," published at
Keene, New Hampshire:
" A memorial meeting of the school
friends and relatives of the late U. S. Sena
tor Alfred Beard Kittredge, a native of Nel
son, was held Wednesday afternoon at the
school house at the Center. Mr. Kittredge's
picture was given to the school by his broth
er, Prof. H. W. Kittredge. Rev. A. L. Struth-
ers, who married a second cousin of the
Senator's, acted as chairman of the proceed
ings. Rev. Edwin N". Hardy, Ph. D., a sec
ond cousin, and pastor of a church at La
Grange, Illinois, gave an outline of the life
and work of the late senator and many par-

210 BIOGRAPHY OF
ticulars of his boyhood days, paying fitting
tribute to his exceptional talent and charac
ter. Mrs. Pearson, his sister, unveiled and
presented the picture, giving a few words
in regard to her brother in the home and his
true worth ; and Homer Priest, superintend
ent of schools here, responded and acknowl
edged the gift, saying he hoped the children
who looked upon the picture would be in
spired to do better work. Mrs. D. H. Osgood,
a teacher of Mr. Kittredge and also of others
present, gave testimony to the faithfulness of
his work when a boy in school and in his
home duties. Rev. M. F. Hardy spoke most
helpfully, drawing lessons from the points of
character already presented and forcefully
applying them. Mrs. T. W. Barker and Mrs.
A. L. Struthers gave a few pleasant reminis
cences of the boyhood days of the deceased.
His father, Russell H. Kittredge of East Jaf
frey, Miss McKough and Miss Barker, E. H.
Kittredge of Boston and Mr. and Mrs. Pear
son and son of Gardner, Mass., were present
at the exercises.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 211
"The picture hangs near the old-fash
ioned long bench on which Senator Kittredge
sat while a boy in school."

CHAPTER VIII.
ADDITIONAL TRIBUTES.
PRESIDENT TAFT, SENATOR CRAWFORD
H. LUGG, G. W. NASH, M. M. RAMER,
DOANE ROBINSON, GEO. A. SILSBY,
JOE PARMLEY, LEE STOVER, THE
DEAD EULOGIZES THE DEAD.

SENATOR KITTREDGE 213

PRESIDENT TAFT'S TRIBUTE.
Inasmuch as Judge Garland, of Sioux
Falls, (Now U. S. Circuit Judge), resigned
the Federal Judgeship of South Dakota in
the winter of 1910, to accept an appointment
at the hands of President Taft on the newly
created United States Commerce court, and
owing to the fact that the president, for sev
eral months, permitted the vacancy caused
by Judge Garland's promotion, to go unfilled,
it was persistently rumored over the state,
as well as commented on by the press, that
President Taft was awaiting the outcome of
Senator Kittredge's illness, so as to tender
to him the appointment of Federal Judge,
provided he recovered sufficiently to accept
it; therefore, in the preparation of this book,
in order to clarify the political atmosphere
and keep the record straight, as well as to do
justice to Judge James D. Elliott, one of the
foremost jurists of the west, who received

214 BIOGRAPHY OF
the appointment, I wrote to President Taft
and asked him concerning the matter. He
was told that I desired to publish his reply.
It follows: "March 30th, 1914.
"My dear Mr. Coursey :
"I have your letter of March 24th. I
never thought of appointing Senator Kit
tredge as Federal Judge for South Dakota,
because I do not think he ever was a candi
date for the place. I have thought Senator
Kittredge a strong lawyer, an honest and
conscientious Senator, of very marked ability
and great usefulness. He and I differed with
reference to the type of the Panama canal,
but I had very pleasant personal relations
with him, and after the type was settled, we
worked together with great harmony.
Sincerely yours,
Wm. H. Taft"

A COURAGEOUS FOE.
Perhaps no tribute to Senator Kittredge
could carry greater weight than that of his

SENATOR KITTREDGE 215
former political adversary. Senator Coe I.
Crawford. Following is his testimony to the
worth of the man he defeated :
"I made the acquaintance of Senator
Kittredge in 1889. We served together in
the first State Senate, and were both mem
bers of the Committee on the Judiciary. I
knew him as a lawyer and met him often at
political conventions. He was a strong man.
He was temperamentally conservative and
distrusted any proposed change in the exist
ing order of things. He was a quiet man
with an iron will.
"In our, views of political procedure we
were far apart, and in the later years of his
life we opposed each other politically without
asking or giving quarter or compromise. No
man ever had truer or more devoted friends
than he. No man ever pursued more firmly
the course which his judgment dictated. He
was above everything else a rugged, strong
character who led and held a great band of
followers by the fascination which always
goes with the gift of leadership.

216 BIOGRAPHY OF
"I was never on terms of intimacy with
Senator Kittredge. Our differences were dif
ferences of viewpoint, and were entirely po
litical. Never, so far as I know, were they
personal. As one who stubbornly opposed
him politically I can say in all cincerity that
he was one of the most indomitable and re
markable men I have ever known; a true
friend, an open and courageous foe, a great
lawyer, a remarkable personality, who left
a lasting impression upon his State.
Very truly, Coe I. Crawford."

FARSIGHTED.
"Senator Kittredge always impressed me
as an unassuming man of great reserve pow
er who looked far into the future of the caus
es with which he allied himself. Causes to
him were the really important affairs of life,
and personal questions and preferences were
secondary matters. His strong, rugged na
ture perhaps lacked the tact that might have

SENATOR KITTREDGE 217
smoothed his way with those who did not
agree with him, and for this reason he was
often misunderstood. He was loyal to South
Dakota and devoted to her welfare. In his
death the state lost an able representative in
the legal world, and a citizen of sterling
worth. — C. H. Lugg."

TEMPLE OF FAME.
"Senator A. B. Kittredge will stand out
in history as one of the greatest men who
has ever served South Dakota in a public ca
pacity. He was a keen lawyer, an able
statesman, and a loyal friend.
"He is easily entitled to a place in South
Dakota's Temple of Fame. George W. Nash."

STOOD FIRM.
"Senator Kittredge was first a friend;
he never deserted one no matter what the
personal cost to himself. He was not a poli
tician in the modern sense of the word; he
was a statesman. His view was always

218 BIOGRAPHY OF
broad and patriotic. Having espoused a cause,
neither popular clamor nor partisanship
could deter him from standing where his
convictions dictated. M. M. Ramer."

HIS PLACE IN HISTORY.
"During the flrst twenty years of the
life of South Dakota, Mr. Kittredge exercised
a strong, conservative influence In the affairs
of the state. In all business matters he was
a wise adviser and his influence was ever for
conservative and economical administration.
During all of this period, or at least until
very near the end of it, his position was a
potent one in the party organization that
dominated the legislation and administration
of the commonwealth. In national affairs he
will always be best remembered by reason of
his association with the legislation affecting
the construction of the Panama canal.
Doane Robinson."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 219

A SELF-CONTAINED MAN.
" 'Give me that man
That is no passion's slave, and I will wear
him
In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart.
As I do thee.'
"The immortal Shakespeare puts the
above language into the lines of one of his
characters ; and he must have been thinking
of a man possessed of the rich attributes that
Alfred B. Kittredge enjoyed in a marked de
gree. For to those who knew him, his won
derful personality gave evidence that there
was a man indeed, where one could 'wear
him' in the 'heart of heart.'
"Senator Kittredge was in a wonderful
degree, a self-contained man. No matter
how severe the criticism ; no matter how ab
solutely unjust the conduct of any man might
be against him, he rarely — if ever — referred
to it among his intimate friends, and if they
should broach the subject he would at once
dismiss it as unworthy of consideration.

220 BIOGRAPHY OF
"That the onslaught did sink deep into
his nature is more than probable; but with
rare self-control he gave no surface indica
tion that the shaft had found lodgment.
"He was never known to retaliate in
kind, and never sought revenge; but with a
spirit of toleration, as magnanimous as un
usual, passed it by, and showed no sign of
resentment. "That he was one of the limited circle of
really great men of our state, and times, is
self-evident. "He was a natural born leader ; and with
rare ability and most wise counsel, he led the
hosts of the republican party, to which he
gave unyielding allegiance, through some
most critical campaigns," and won victories
where sure defeat seemed imminent.
"When it came to his personal fortunes
— politically — a higher duty than that of self-
interest was always first in his regard ; and
just such service undoubtedly cost him a re
election to the United States Senate.
"As a friend and counsellor, he was as

SENATOR KITTREDGE 221
true as the lode-star, and he never betrayed
a friend, or a trust.
"In summing his life up, it again seems
necessary to quote from Shakespeare, and
with especial emphasis:
, " 'A combination and a form, indeed.
Where every God did seem to set Ma
seal,
To give the world assurance of a Man.'
"To a very large circle of friends his life
was a benediction ; his death, a calamity.
Geo. A. Silsby."

IN THE NATION'S VALHALLA
"The one thing that stood out in bola re
lief above all others in the career of Mr,
Kittredge was his faithfulness to duty. When
asked or told to deliver 'a message to Garcia'
it was always done.
"During the period of his service in the
United States Senate I was appealed to in
many cases by veterans of the civil war ask
ing aid in obtaining an increase of pension,
which could come only through an act of

222 BIOGRAPHY OF
Congress. The request generally came from
those who were worthy but who had been un
fortunate in an effort to provide for a rainy
day. The work was a pleasant gratuity per
formed for those who saved the Union. Af
ter satisfying myself that their case was mer
itorious I gathered the necessary evidence to
present to the Congressional Committee on
Pensions and with a letter of explanation
forwarded the same to Mr. Kittredge. In a
brief note he would acknowledge receipt and
the next we heard was a press dispatch to the
effect that the private pension bill had been
passed. There was no fuss and feathers
about it — no interminable correspondence —
the work was done.
"The men who interpreted the constitu
tion, who planned and dug the Panama Canal,
framed the Monroe Doctrine, fixed our foreign
relations and helped to make the United
States the one dynamic power of the world
may count him in their company. In the
Valhalla of the great men of the nation and
especially of the Northwest, the pitiless and
ihe impartial historian will inscribe the name
^f Alfred Beard Kittredge.' J. W. Parmley."

SENATOR KITTREDGE 223

FRIEND, POLITICIAN, LAWYER.
"To know Senator Kittredge, at heart,
was to love him. Those who knew him best
loved him most. And he, in turn, loved his
fellowman. Well might. any man be proud to
say, 'He was may friend,' for his friendship
was an unfailing asset.
"As for his politics, he was firm in his
convictions. It was hard — even for his multi
plied friends — to shake him loose from a
course of action upon which he had decided,
if he himself felt it to be right.
"As a lawyer, he stood in the very front
rank of his profession, with few, if any,
equals, and no superiors, in the west.
Lee Stover."

THE DEAD EULOGIZES THE DEAD.
Attorney William B. Sterling (deceased) ,
of Huron, in closing his beautiful eulogy on
James G. Blaine, at the time of the latter's
death, in 1893, used the following language

224 BIOGRAPHY OF
which could never have been more appro
priate to James G. Blaine than it is to Alfred
B. Kittredge; hence, we close, by letting the
DEAD eulogize the DEAD. Mr. Sterling
said: "Sleep on, proud spirit, 'tis well thou art
at rest; no more shall thy royal pride be
wounded by the shafts of envy and malice;
never again shall thy great heart be torn
with the fierce and bitter contentions of the
busy life thou hast lead ! Peace has come, at
last, to thine in c^omi table and unconquerable
spirit, which no obstacle could appall, no mis
fortune disturb, no defeat intimidate, no ca
lamity subdue. Ended are thy conflicts, thy
triumphs and thy defeats. Silent the magic
voice that never sounded a retreat, or uttered
one complaint against the malignant fates
that wrecked the hopes and ambitions of a
life time. Into the shadows of the deep and
insoluble mystery, thy heroic spirit has taken
its flight, leaving as a rich legacy the heri
tage of a life well spent."
THE END

YALE UNIVERSITY

i35J