The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1907-11-07
Mr., A. P. kETCHlN SPEAKS AGAIN.
Answers Hr. Lumphin.

On fluSy lliSIlC, az he . IN"
Warehouse, Mr.. A. P. Kitchin adj
dressed the voters of Scotland Neck
in the interest Of saloons. He stat
cd that the meeting had been called
FOR a Joint discussion Of the so-called
Kitchin-Lulnpkin letters; but as Mr..
Iumpkin had not seen fit to come he
would give bis side Of the matter.
He said that Mr.. Lumpkin, in form
er speech had made certain charges
against him; all of which he propos-
ed 10 prov absolutely false and with
out foundation. He then gave a short
discussion of the cause which he re-
presents saying he did not advocate
the drinking of whiskey but rather
Temperance; but when any set of men
try to exceed Christ in goodness they
are a failure. He challenged any
man to find the words prohibit or
prohibition in the Bible, but he said
for every time they would find the
word prohibit, he could find one
hundred places in the Bible where
it says drink. After pointing to
Maine and Kansas as examples
Of the failure of prohibition, he
turned to the Kitchin-Lunplzin
letters, saying that in the beginning
he had started out to fight this bat
tie on q high plane of politics, that
ibis was a political fight, and Mr..
LImpkin, as minister, had no bust
ness in it. He referred to Mr.. Lump
kin's statements at the Mass Meet
ing on Oct. 81, as a TRADE against
his character. He referred to some
Of the prohibitionists as hypocritical,
and said they are resorting to unfair
methods. In answer to Mr.. Lump
kin's charge that he (Kitchin) had
misled the voters Of Scotland Neck
III regard to his position, Kitchin
said he had been elected by the vo-
ters of Halifax county and had there
fore been governed by the desire of
the majority. He then read letter
received from Mr.. billiard on the
day after the opening of the Legis-
sature, in which Mr.. billiard showed
that he had always understood what
position Kitchin would take on the
liquor question. In answer to Mr..
Lumpkin's statement in Raleigh that
he had not known of Kitchin's pur-
pose to amend the town charter in
regard to high license until his
| Uumpkin's) arrival there, ne read
a letter showing that he and Lump
kin had conversed upon that subject,
even before the fight had begun. He
said that the~special committee from
Scotland Neck had treated him with
discourtesy, that instead of trying
| to find him as they claimed to have
done, they were trying to get his
bill changed. without his knowledge
Or consent, from the Committee on
Cities and Towns to, the Liquor Traf-
fc Committee.
He read letter from Mrs. Wiley
Rogers showing that there is no
gate at her residence. In regard to
the purging of the two petetions he
agreed with Mr.. Lumpkin's state.
ment of their agreement, but said
that the peteitons as written down
by Mr.. Morrisett will still show
that the soloon petitioners were
/ il the majority, and that he (Kitch.
in) did not break his agreement.
! Mr.. Kitchin seemed to realize that
sarcasm is q powerful weapon and he
used it to great effect. In regard tc
Mr.. Lumpkin he used some very
strong language, which we do not
see fit to publish.
At the close, Maj. Neal said a few
words tending to substantiate some
Of Mr.. Kitchin's statements.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES