The Washington herald., 1914-05-05
Statesmen, Real and Near.
BY FRED c. KELLY.

/ by FRED =. hELLt.
If'one sees a Congressman who In
variably wears a black suit and q
white vest, who never goes on the
street without a cane-and a black fell
hat-snd who, in winter time, never
puts on his overcoat, but wears II huns
over his left shoulder-if one sees a
Ieompactiy built man answering thai
description walking up Pennsylvania
avenue, there need be no controversy
about who he is. II is none other than
Claude Kitchin, of North Carolina, VINO
is already entered on the books to sue
coed Oscar Underwood as the moor
leader OF the House of Representatives
after March 4 incorporating that the
House keeps right on being Demo-
cratic.
Kitchin is noteworthy for a number
of things, one Of which is that he was
married earlier in life than any other
Congressman. He had his first boyhood
love when he was about thirteen years
old. Friends and relatives thought, in
asmuch as 1t was his first attack. he
would get over IL. He had picked an
attractive little girl, they admitted
but IL wouldn't last. As he grew older
he would desire 10 shop around lit
tie before making hnal selection. But
Claude fooled them. When he was
nlneteen-Just beginning the study OF
law-he up and married his hrst ana
only sweetheart. and they lived hap
PLY ever after, and nine children were
borne to them. and when he was ripe
and full of years-that Is, when he
had attained the age of thirty-one-
Claude was elected to Congress
It seems probable that Kitchin came
to Congress by heredity. There has al
ways been a great deal Of heredity- In
his family. For instance. his father had
nine children, Just as Claude has. In
fact. his father had eleven children but
prior to having eleven he had merely
nine and that Is probably why CLAUDE
has nine today. Moreover, CLAUDE
father did time In Congress. years ago.
and CIaude's brother William inherited
this tendency Will am Kitchin came to
Congress a few years ahead Of Claude
but Claude came along In due course,
and they were here together for nine
yeRrs-untiI brother William resigned to
become governor Of his state. Although
both were and are argumentative per
sons. they usually were on the same side
Of every important question. and formed
what one might almost be pardoned Tor
termlng a little Kitchin cabinet OF their
own.
Claude Kitchin's coming to Congress was
his efforts TO restore his district to the
white folks. The fusionists, so-called,
had elected a number OF cOlored people
one wear TO important offices, including
that Of representative In Congress. and
the white voters felt that with all due
respect to their fellow human beings In
office, II would perhaps be Just as well
to switch back TO white men. Kitchin
- N
throughout the district. and did II so
satisfactorily that hundreds o. voters
openly declared for him rather tE7n for
a colored Congressman.
Representative Bryan. Of Washington,
was remarking to an acquaintance here
one dav that he favored the government
taking over all the railroads OF the United
States
Yes. wouldn't doubt that it might
prove a grand scheme" conceded the ac-
quaintance The only difficulty. Of
course. would be the raising Of the
money"
oh" saws Bryan. with the deprecating
gesture Of a man who is above triies,
that Is a mere detail"
Former Congressman Joseph L. Rhinock
of Kentucky. now in the theatrical bust
ness in New York, y. Y, gets most
Of his fun out OF life by twi1ting his friends
about one thing and another. For IN
stance he is a great admirer of Senator
Ollie James but he never tires OF Civ
ing limitations IN Olles presence. Of the
behemOth KSntuCkIan's manner of max
ing a speech. Ollie has a habit OF leav-
ing of the g's from the end of his par
tiCipIes and this gives Rhinock his motif
However. this story started out to be
about James Overman Pugh. who also
used to be in Congress from Kentucky.
PuCh and RhinoCk went campaigning to-
Rether one year and il was PuGh's Gus
tom, on going To a hotel. to register his
fun name in a bold. flowing hand, that
&C, upied two spaces instead Of one. He
cid not write J. o. Pugh. or James O.
Pugh. but James overman Pugh-and
as We have said. In a large hand that
got 10 the hotel desk first and
registered for both of them When he
wrote Pugh's name he did so in a small,
cramped hand as follows: "JOPu."
And Pugh never foTgave him.
Serene Payne accused Victor Murdock
one afternoon Of running for the Senate
on the Progressive ticket out in Kan
sas, because he thought he couldn't he
elected to the House. and by seeking the
Senate could get himself bigger funeral
Vic asked PAYNE II h"
thought he. Vic. could get up a bigger
funeral in Kansas than Payne provided
for the Republican party nv the tarrT
hill which bore his name. And the merry
went" right well.
Former Congressman Walter I Smith I
now a United States Circuit Judge out
in Iowa. used TO say Of a certain near /
He would miss the entire /
bea uty of a Raphael painting II his eve
CHANGED to detect a ryspeCk on the :
frame (
,Copy1Eht. 1914. by Fred c. Kci,v. All rights - /
Ssrveil