The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-04
KitchiL and Reynolds
Lockin Strong Debate.
KITCHIN THE MASTER
But in Reynolds the Republicans Hear
Man Of Whom They May be
Proud---Summary of Argu-
ment and Notebook In
cidentS at Oxford.
By IL. l.. GRAY.
Especial to News and Observcr)


BY IL. l.. GRAY.
Especial to News and Observcr)
Oxford. n. c., Oct. 3.-Hon. w. w
Kitchin and ex-Lieutenant Governor
Chas. a. Reynolds, candidates for Con-
gressmen of the Fifth district, spoke in
joint debate here today to an audience
composed of close upon a thousand
people, although there was consider
able Republican applause.
In the left hand corner of the large
court house there were possibly half
a hundred negroes, mostly, however,
old relics of slavery times-respectful
"ole uncles" with black wrinkled
foreheads, cocoanut heads, beady
black eyes and grey boards, who sat
as impassive and unthinking listeners
throughout the meeting. These old
darkevs. drawn to the court house
from childish curiosity, were interest
ing in their dumbness They were un-
moved and excited by the rollick of
fun and cheering that broke about
their ancient heads. 1t was plain to
see that, under the amendment not
half a dozen of them could possibly
be voters; and, equally, that they took
no real concern in the result of polit-
ical battles.
In a specially reserved space In the
rear of the room there were q sco-e
or more of ladies, young and old. a
faint note of whose refined applause
sometimes penetrated the whooping
and dancing thunder of the men even
within the bar.
Outside of the fact that he had the
crowd largely with him, Mr.. kitchin
may be said in all truth and candor to
have easily gotten the better of his op-
ponent in the debate although the
statement in connection with today's s
discussion implies far higher com
pliment than is usually the case when
Democrat meets Republican in the
State.
Mr.. Reynolds, known as a debater
scarcely outside his own immediate
balliwick, was n revelation to the
Granville crowd; he was an inspiration
TO Kitchin. His style in the opening
speech was luc.d terse and logically
sequential. He said that he was not
an orator and then proceeded to dis
prove the statement. Not an orator
of the impassoned type. but a man
who knows the point to make and how
TO make it; speaker who glides easily
from subject to subject, who talks
without embarrassment or effort and
tells a joke with the freedom from
care and affectation of the man spend
ing an after-supper hour at the corner
grocery.
To any save a stump artist of Kitch-
ms experience and ability he would
have proven a most dangerous antag
onist; as it was, as / have indicated
he merely set the match to the latter's
eloquence, serving as the worthy an
tagoniSt of the joustS to one better
equipped. with a fairer following and
a braver cause.
The contrasts of the two men add
ed to the beauty of the debate. Rey
nolds, mature, settled, with iron gray
hair and beard and steel spectacles
set far down below the bridge of his
nose so that he looked at his audience
through down turned eyes like a sage
old pedagog of the olden time, with a
mouth dropped a little sombrely and a
face that rarely permitted itself a
smile.
Kitchin, just turning forty and
looking thirty-two, tall, black-haired
his brown eyes sparkling with the
fun Of battle, his white teeth cleaning
in a triumphant and frankly appre
ciative smi,a whenever he drove home
a point, agile, forceful, full of gestures
that grew unconsciously from the full
flood of his vitality, a perfect picture
of manly vigor and enthusiasm. And
how he did speak! He is a man
one OF those fighters-who needs the
touch ard sight Of an adversary to
put the fire in his soul. Abstractly,
away from the firing line or with the
people already won. Kitchin has little
of the orator about him. He is then
more the statistician. the coldly prac-
teal analyst. He has mona oe the
poetic feeling that, differently mani
tested, moves both Aycock and Glenn.
But let him see the foe. let him meas
ure his blade, and he sparks into the
glory of combat IN flash. With all
the intrepidity of his attack, he is
not swayed to forgetful passion. He
sticks close TO his mutton. At times
1t seemed rs though he would sweep
away OPPOSITION with words. The
light in his eye spoke the rapidity of
his thought. his gestures told of his
JOY In the fray, and yet not once was
the thread Of the argument lost. never
did he fail to remember the right
place for joke or for those jocular
illusions which are the salt Of cam
paign efforts. Turn as he would Mr.
Reynolds could not escape his pursuer;
flash back thrust for thrust as he did
with rare ability, he always met the
point IN the end. To appreciate
Kitchin one should hear him in joint
debate, should see his resource when
taken by surprise, should follow his
audacity that is saved by his good
humor.
Such debates as today's ara bound
to be an uplifting educational force.
remember themselves. They speak
hotly yet with constant regard to the
amenities. And they rouse their