Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-01-15
YOUNG MEN In CONGRESS-.
An Unusually Large Number Was
Elected Last Year.
Representative Kitchen, of North
Carolina. Aged Thirty. is the Baby
of the Housc-Other Juve-
nile Leaders.
Especial Washington letter.

For very many years, if ever before,
there have not been in the national house
of Representatives so many young men
as there are in the Fifty-ffth congress,
which is now assembled for its first
regular session.
This fact is almost wholly attributed
to the political unrest and uncertainty
which overspread and overwhelmed the
country in the early days of 1896, when
political parties were splitting to
shreds and the air was as full of theo-
ries and vagaries as the Atlantic coast
atmosphere is full of mosquitoes in
July and August. The older politicians
were hesitant about hunting nomina-
tions, because they feared the possibil-
tiles and probabilities of defeat. The
real cunning politician always wants
"the other fellow" nominated in off
years.
But, in spite of this fact, it is grow
ing more and more apparent that the
young men of this republic are forging
/ to the front. Men advanced or advance
! ing in years are not always philoso-
piers and do not delve into the mys-
teries of causes and effects. Conse-
quently they have not noticed that the
telegraph, the telephone, the phono-
graph. the typesetting machines and all
other inventions of the past generation
have facilitated education. The ambi-
tious young man of to-day can secure
an education at the age of 21 which
would have been difficult for Webster
Calhoun or Lincoln to have secured ten
years later in life. Therefore the young
men of to-day can rush into the home
stretch of the race of life before they
are suspected of having attained in
tellectual requirements of an extraor-
dinary nature.
These young men of to-day, in like
manner, when natures brush tinges
their hair with white, may wonder how
it happens that young men are chasing
them over the home plate; because the
inventions of the next generation will
work similar revolutions and give the
young men yet unborn opportunities
more extraordinary than the preco-
cious boys of this age have enjoyed.
Hon. w. w. Kitchen, of the Fifth
North Carolina district, is the youngest
member of the house, being only 30
years of age. He has been for some
years past an active campaigner for the
democrats in his state, and they last
year gave him the nomination to con-
gress. He represented North Carolina
at Washington on Independence day,
and his speech made on that occasion
was one that electrified his audience,
and Mr.. Sibley said of him that he was
the coming orator." His father rep
resented North Carolina in congress,
and he himself stands an excellent
chance to be some years a member
from that state. He has attractive man
rers, is modest, but impresses people
at orce with being a man of ability and
courage. He is attentive to his duties
and has useful and brilliant career
before him.
The youngest man in the Illinois del
egation is Thomas NJ. Jett, of Hills
boro, who is only "a. His tall figure,
coal-black hair and strong, smooth
shaven face give him distinct individ-
uality. Mr.. Jett is prominently a self
made man. Until 20 years ago he