Evening star., 1915-03-28

One of the brothers, Paul. is one of the
ieadlng lawyers of the community His
chief delight is to get Claude into a
lawsuit on the other side On such
occasions the full bar and the people
Tor miles around turn out to see the fur
ny, for fly it does. all the Kitchins
pelng controversial folk and eager for
debate
Some doubt has been expressed among
the democracy out of Congress as to
the wisdom of selecting for House
leader member of Congress and of
the party who has been arrayed against
the president, the party's titular head
on several occasions, notably on the oc-
casion of the fight over Panama canal
tolls. Such talk comes only from those
VINO are not familiar with the situation
and not familiar with Claude Kitchin
Note, again, Representative Reilly's
words above in regard to the tolls
night. Mr.. Kitchin is a man of inde-
pendent mind. firm in his convictions.
but he is a loyal party man. He will
not surrender his own convictions. but
ne VIII not fight his party chief. Just
as Mr Reilly said, he could have beaten
the President in the matter of tolls
mad he gone into the fight at all
1t can be predicted, then, that there
is to be team work in the House dur
ing the life of the incoming Congress
II insurgency develops in any certain
direction. be assured that the new
leader will be ready with something
else to create diversion and to bring
the mutineers back into the fold, leav-
Ing the subject of their mutiny for
later consideration. He is that sort of
q leader
Naturally. as leader. Mr. Kitchin will
have to abandon his long silence and
do much talking on the floor. Arrayed
against such able. skilled, resourceful
and ready opponents as James R. Mann.
minority leader. and former Speaker
Cannon, 1t will be his place to engage
frequently every day in the rough and
tumble of floor debate.
In one respect Mr.. Kitchin resembles
Mr.. Mann, he Is an omnivorous reader
One of Mr.. Mann's great resources is
his wonderful memory and his SEEM
ing uncanny familiarity with every
subject of legislation that comes before
the House. Mr.. Kitchin promises to be
a match for him in this respect.
Mr.. Kitchin has not yet demonstrated
his ability as ready parliamentarian.
something in which Mr.. Mann evcels
for Mr.. Kitchin has done his work in
council and not in the swift inter-
change of floor fighting. There is no
doubt of his knowledge Of parliament
ary law and practice. nor of his readi-
ness of wit: but he lacks practive.
Mann has practiced every day for
years. But Mr.. Kitchin will have, just
as Mr.. Underwood has had, as his chief
floor lieutenant the alert and skillful
Fitzgerald, chairman of appropriations
committee and adept in verbal fence.
Most men who rise to national prom
inence in Congress sooner or later are
claimed by the chautauqua circuit 1t
is not probable that Mr.. Kitchin will
meet that fate. He has a singular dis
taste for the spotlight, and he will get
all Of the spotlight he can stand in the
House 1t has been said of him that
he is the most bashful big man in
public life in Washington" though he
has no good reason to be afraid Of ex-
hibiting himself to the multitude. Tall.
erect, black haired, black eyed. with a
dashing quality in his carriage, he Is
an attra ctive and engaging figure, and
when he talks he charps.
Still, born politician that he Is. COM