South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-05
STATESMEN
REAL AND NEAR
by FRED @ KELLY.

WASHINGTON, May 5.-If one
sees a congressman who invariably
wears a black suit and a white vest,
who never goes on the street without
a Cane-and a black felt hat-and
who. IN winter time. never puts on
his overcoat, but wears il hung over
his left shoulder-if one sees a COM
pacity built man answering that de-
scriptiOn walking up Pennsylvania av..
there need be no controversy about
who he is. 1t is none other than
Claude Kitchin of North Carolina,
who is already entered on the books
TO succeed Oscar Underwood as the
floor leader of the house of represen-
tatives after March 4 next-providing
that the house keeps right on being
democratic.
kitchin is noteworthy for a num-
Der 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 3
years old. Friends and relatives
thought, inasmuch as ii was his first
attack, he would get over it. He had
picked an attractive little girl, they
admitted, but ii wouldn't last. AS he
grew older he would desire to shop
around a little before making final
selection. But Claude fooled them.
When he was 19-just beginning the
study of law-he UP and married his
first and only sweetheart. and they
lived happily ever after, and nine
children were born to them, and when
he was ripe and full of years-that
is. when he had attained the age of
31-Claude was elected to congress.
1t seems probable that Kitchin
came to congress by heredity. There
Of
heredity in his family. For instance,
his father had nine children. just as
Claude has In fact, his father had
II children, but prior 10 having II
he had merely nine, and that is
SDrobably why Claude has nine today.
Moreover. Claude's father did time in
congress- years ago, and Claude s
brother, William, inherited this tend
ency. William Kitchin came 10 con-
gress a few years ahead Of Claude,
but Claude came along in due course,
and they were here together for nine
vears-until brother William resigned
to become governor of his state. Al
though both were and are argumen-
tative persons. they usually were on
the same side Of every important
question. and formed what one might
almost be pardoned for terming a
little Kitchin cabinet OF their own.
The Immediate or proximate cause
of Claude Kitchin's coming TO con-
gress was his efforts to restore his dis
trict>to the white folks. The fusion
its. so-Called, had elected NUMBER
Cf colored people one year TO import
ant offices. including that of repre-
sentative in congress. and the white
voters felt that with all due respect
TO their fellow human beings in Of
fee. il would perhaps be just as well
10 switch back TO white men. Kitchln
worked up and cemented this senti-
ment throughout the district, and ala
il so satisfactorily that hundreds OF
voters openly declared for him rather
than for a colored congressman
po,resan+ative BRYAN of Washing
ton was remarking 10 an acqualnt-
ance here one day that he favored
the government taking over all the
railroads of the United States.
YES. wouldn't doubt that II
might prove a grand scheme con-
coded the acquaintance. The only
/ difficulty. Of course. would be the
/ raising of the money
"Oh." SAYS Bryan, with the de-
preciating gesture Of man who is
/ above trifies. that is a mere detail
/ Former CONGRESSMAN Joseph L.
/ Rhinock of Kentucky. now in the the
/ atrical business in New York. y. Y,
gets most of his fun out of life by
/ twitting his friends about one thing
and another. For instance, he is a
1 great admirer OF Senator Ollie James,
\ but he never tires of giving limitations
| in Ollie'S presence, OF the behemoth
/ Kentuckian's manner OF making a
| speech. Ollie has a habit OF leaving
off the g's from the end OF his par
ticiples and this gives Rhinock his
motif. However, this story started
out 10 be about James Overmap Pugh
who also used 70 be in congress from
Kentucky. Pugh and Rhinock were
/ campaigning together one year and /;
was Pughs custom. on going 10 a
+ hotel. TO register his full name in a
/ bold. flowing hand, that occupied
two spaces instead of one. He did