The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-07-25
KTTCHIN MAKES REPLY.

Iserver. During the campaign for the
nomination for governor in 1905 the
News and Observer kept hands or
on the ground, as the editor states
that he believed that all candidates
were clean and high and that either
one, If elected. would stand against
monopoly; but so earnestly had the
paper stood with Mr.. Ktchin In his
fight against the subsidy that the
friends Of the other candidates felt
that its influence had already
strengthened Mr.. Kitchin." While we
do not believe that the News and OBJ
server can claim any credit for the
nomination Of Mr.. Kitchin, yet, as the
editor OF the News and Observer fur
ther states, the governor did make
pledges in vigorous terms. denouncing
the trusts. Mr.. Kitchin does not deny
that he made such pledges in his re-
ply. but we are somewhat disappointed
that he places the blame for the non
fulfillment Of these pledges upon the
legislature. The truth OF the matter
Is that the people of North Carolina
did not want an antitrust law as adj
yocated by the News and Observer.
II they had desired such law it could
have been enacted before this.
But the one immutable law OF retri-
button that governs human conduct
is that AS a man soweth so shall he
also reap" This law Is swifter OF
action in regard to political conduct
than It is in regard to neral conduct.
During the famous campaign for
the nomination for the governorship
Mr.. Kitchin posed as a trust-buster.
He went up and down the state de-
claring that the American Tobacco
Company. the Southern Railway CON-
pany, the Charlotte Observer and
other large interests were fighting his
He promised the people
Of the state that II he was elected
governor, he would put the trusts out
Of business There we're many people
throughout the state who believed
with all OF their hearts that he was
sincere in his promises. At that time
here was an immense wave OF popu-
ar indignation against the capital in
lerests Of the state. Mr.. Kitchin rode
INTO the governorship on this wave.
ANY one at all acquainted with the
Tobacco Company knows
hat It did nothing to oppose the can
iidacy Of Mr.. Kitchin. Any one at all 4
acquainted with the men who domi-
nate the American Tobacco Company
Knows that these men scarcely knew
u Mr.. Kitchin's existence as candI- Z
late for the governorship until be
segan TO raise a howl. The same Is
rue Of The Southern Railway Com
pany. Any one who kept close tab
On the campaign knows that the
Charlotte Observer. which Mr.. Kitchln
claimed represented the Interests" Of
the state. never did or said anything
hat could be twisted into opposition
% his candidacy. Mr.. KItchln Ger
ialnly knew all this. Mr.. KitchIn had
certainly been Ia touch with political
affairs long enough to know that the
governor Of North Carolina, who does
not even have the veto power, was
absolutely powerIess to gel any trust
legislation on the statute
books
Thousands Of people throughout the
state did believe that the chief execu-
live could have this legislation en-
acted. They took Mr.. Kitchin al his
word and voted Tor him in the
primary.
Mr. KitchIn was duly Inaugurated
governor. The legislature met and
adjourned. No Historically destruc-
Tive. trust-busiing Legislation was
passed In the eyes Of many Of the
voters Of the state Mr.. Kitchin sud-
denly changed from a courageous
into a weakened server
81 the interests.
The fight on Mr.. Kitchin Is none Of
our fight We have no opposition 10
offer 70 his candidacy for the United
States senate. But when be goes 10
offer himself 70 the people Is 4 candI-
date for this high Office II be finds
strong opposition and dIstrust Or his
sincerity he need not be surprised.
He will be rcaping what he has sown.