New Britain herald., 1915-01-21
CLAUDE KITCHIN DEMOCRATIC LEADER By Hon. Thomas l.. Reilly in
 National Monthly.

great pleasure to introduce to you l through our open forum, the Nation | al Monthly. tho new democratic lead l Hon. Claude I<itchin, of Scotland 1 Neck, N. C.
 That's rather old when you stop TO | think if over--thc idea of having to l introduce man big enough to be l leader, to tho party he is going to 1 lead. But it is positively necessary l in the case of Claude I<ttChin. Necessary for the reason that if 1t 1 were left to Mir. kitchin he never would be introduced. Not that ne l doesn't like company; not that he doesn't like companionshp; not that he is not Q good mixer. for he is ost Companiabe and the soda, foun- tain expert who skillfully fiips your egg ph osphate has nothing on him as a mixer.
 Claude Kitchin is the most bashful , big man in public life in Washington He doesn't like the spotlight, and there is no good reason for the dis like, for he has the looks that go to makeup the star spot-lighter Tall, erect, black haired, black eyed; in a
 
 born to lead if he would only give that inborn leadership a chance.
 This introduction, of course, is not intended for his colleagues in the house of representatives, for they know him and he knows them. He has been in congress thirteen years. He knows the ropes and the rules, and Is one of the first to greet the new member with a real handshake that means q lot to the stranger, and Mighty -gla tom eet-you" that is most reassuring.
 During all the years he has been in congress MT. Kitchin has made few speeches. It has cost the gov ernment very little to print what he has said publicly but what he has said is worth reading; when you read 1t you remember it.
 Without a doubt Claude kitchin Is one of the very best public speakers in or out of congress. As the new democratic leader he will have to do great deal more public talking than he has ever done, and consequently there are many talk-treats in store for the house and the country.
 MT. Kitchen masters every subject he attempts to talk about. He is a L. He collects every bit of information he can get from all sources on any subject in which he is interested. lie not only does it himself, but asks his friends to help out with newspaper clippings on the proposition, the re- suit being that when he gets ready to put speech in shape he has a vast supply of facts regarding the matter.
 He will remain in his room, in the DriscOll hotel, where he has long lived, for days at a time getting a firm grip on his subject in prepara- uon for use in speech, or to equip himself for ways and means conl- mittee work.
 During the hearings on the Under wood tariff bill, MT. kitchin was practically recluse. After sitting all day with the committee he would often sit up all night, preparing his work for the next day. It is no dis credit to Chairman Underwood or the other big brainy men of that cont mittee to say that on a majority of the sch edules MT. kitchin was the best posted man of the committee.
 He knew his book thoroughly and the man who came before the com mittee 10 do any fourflushing or side
 
 With the resignation of Burton Harrison, of New York, from the committee to become governor gen eral of the Philippines, MT, Kitchin became ranking democratic member and he will surely be the chairman of the committee when Oscar W. Underwood goes to the senate next March. With that chairmanship 1 goes the house leadership
 There was some talk for a time af- | ter MT. Underwood decided to enter the senatorial race, of a contest for his place as chairman, but it did not | last, it being so apparent that MT. kitchin was the overWh elming choice 1 of the democratic members of the ] house.
 The chief compensa ton for the loss of Oscar w. Underwood as a | leader is the gaining of Claude I<itch- in. Though of an entirely different | type. he, will lead as successfully as 1 his illustrious predecessor, and that 1 will be some leading.
 By his great ability. by his renoel, l by his courteous manner, by his de votion to duty, Mr. Underwood has led his party for two congresses in q 1 remarkably successful manner. Ton would never expect Mir. Underwood 1 to slap you on the back DO matter how enthusiastic tho occasion and ] you would never think of skipping him. There is always d certain r2- serve and dignity that make back slapping out of tho question.
 Yet without the lowering of dig nifty in the slightest degree, you a1- ways feel that il would be entirely natural and proper to slap rlaudc kitchin on the back or receive a re- sounding Whacl from him with an 1