The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-02
SENTIMENT DRIFTS
TOWARDS KITCHEN
North Carolinian Seems to
Have Lead Over Palmer tor
Underwoods Successor.
Continued on second pagel.
nv GEORGE H. MANNING.

WASHINGTON Dec. with the ap-
uearauce on the floor of the house
today of Representatives Oscar Under
wood and Claude Kitchen, at the open
ing Of the new session, discussion was
general among the house members re-
rarding q successor 10 Mr., Underwood
as floor leader. Notwithstanding his
statement that il is not his intention TO
resign before his term is up on Aarch
4. 1915.
Little discussion was engaged in re-
snrdtne a successor to Mr.. Underwood
during the past six weeks. as eoth
Hobson and Underwood were IN Ala
hama campaigning and ar. Kitchen
was resting at his home following MS
ardaous duties la connection with me
massage OF the tariff bill. But with
the renewal Of real legislative activities
today the names OF Kitchen ana a.
Mitchell Palmer were on many lips,
Claude Kitchen 10 apparently gaining
favor as a candidate for the house
leadership with each succeeding week.
Many members who were passiveIy TOT
Kitchen at the time Underwood was
first considered as a possibility FOR the
senatorship are now strongly In tavor
OF his selection, while others who mad
a leaning toward Mr.. Palmer or HUI
Of Tennessee, or some other member.
Kitchen will be named,
During the last presidential cam
paign and for several months prior
10 Mr.. wilson's nomination. A Mitchell
Palmer was an ardent Wilson man, and
many house members fully expected
that President Wilson would in some
manner make II known that he favored
the selection of Palmer to succeed Cn-
derwood. Men close TO Palmer have
Eliminated that he was waiting patient
Nv for some word OF that kind from
the White House. But Ii mas faiieo
I to make it's appearance.
And now it lis learned on good au
! thority that President Wilson Is con-
/ templating letting II be generally
known either that he does not Intend
/ 10 take such step, or else that ne
| intends to maintain strict policy
of hands OFF, in this regard. An In
timation of the presidents attitude IL
expected within the next two weeks
Kitchen has now been considered
! for this position for more than tive
/ months and during that time not {
single man has raised voice to sug
/ gest that he would not acceptably III
| the office.
1 Mr.. Kitchens strongest opponent
I Mr. Palmer, cannot muster to his sup
\ port the members OF his own Stat'
4 delegation from pennsylvania but tn'
| North Carolina delegation stands
/ solidly behind Kitchen and Is prepared
I TO get out and hustle day and nigh
to have him succeed to the position
/ now held by Underwood.
4 Senators Simmons and overfnan ais
stand prepared to aid Kitchen in what
ever way they can. During the Ions
weeks that Senator simmons and Rep
resentative Kitchen toiled with tn
tariff bill in the caucus between tn
senate and house committees Senate
l simmons told Mr.. Kitchen that he has
been pleased to read in the newspaper
that Kitchen was being mentioned a.
a successor to Underwood. and pledged
Kitchen his support in any way tina
Kitchen would suggest he could b.
useful. The senator told Kitchen tina
Hit would be great thing for tn
State of. North Carolina to furnish
the next house leader and that II woul'
afford him great pleasure to aid II
any way possible to secure such al
honor for the Old North StatA