The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-02-11


States in the Importance of the posi-
tons held at each end of the natio-
nal Capitol by North Carolina men,
bers of Congress.
The selection of Representative
Claude Kitchin as chairman of the !,
Ways aud Means Committee and as
the leader of the majority in the !;
House comes to him as place Of
honor and power won by service
and ability. He is resourceful as
we'll as a popular man, and the un-
animity Of his choice by his colles-
CUES of the Democratic majority
is an emphatic recognition of his fit
ness for the position.
That the Democracy~in the house
will have leader of unquestioned
capicity in Representative Kitchin is
given proof by the accomplishment
made by him in his career. In the
meeting of committees his Iower
as a constructive force has been
shown; on the floor of the house he
has demonstrated that he has those
qualities of leadership demanded of
man to whom the Democracy OF
the house has given direction of its
affairs.
A man of high ideals, imbued
with the spirit Of Democracy
which would serve the people faith
fully and we'll, gifted as a speaker,
versed in parliar entary practice,
intellectual and farslghted, he will
enter upon his new duties with the
assembling Of the next Congress
ready to prove a real leader whose
generalship will be party resource.
This State may we'll feel the highest
graf; fication that so signal an honor
has come to him, that again where
North Carolina sits is the head of
the table. His career has been such
as to reflect the highest honor on
this State, and it's people take a just
pride in the recognition which he
has won on merit Of the highest
kind. News and Observer.
The fact that a North Carolinian
is to lead the majority in the next
Congress is gratifying, to a certain
degree; but the universal belief that
in Claude Kitclin the house has 8
leader who will really lead is matter
for pride, indeed. North Carolins
might have sent man of no partic
: u!ar capacity to Washington and by
keeping him there might eventually
have made him eligible to the lead
ership by seniority. 1t is true tina
Kitchin is the senior member Of tn,
committee, but had that been thu
only claim to the leadership that h.
possessed he would have been over
a whelmed long ago. He has give1
n his critiss plenty of ground on which
+ to base a technical assault on hi
9 candidacy, and had there been tn
slightest chance for such an assault
. to succeed it would certainly hav
e been made. The lack of such at
: tacks is the sincerest tribute t
e ability that has silenced the envious
+ There has never been the slightes
doubt as to who owns the next hous
leader. He is the property of Claud
i Kitchin, and of none other. "a hour
Z in the day. Even a Democrat
i President cannot dictate to him
y moment. But when he insurges h
: does it with such tact that the dicta
Il torial Wilson himself has not bee.
{ able TO read him out Of the ranks Q
regularity. A man who can &c
y along with the present house with
- out sacrificing his convictions for
moment is tactful q man who ca
{ Vote against the present President
pet schemes without angering tn
Chief Magistrate is diplomat; an
a man who can stand in with tn
secretary of state and still call hi
e soul his own is a wizard. Kltchi
: has the art of handling men develop
ed to point incredibly fine.
}. It is mans job he will assum
r with the assembling of the new Coz
', gress. There is nothing to hold tn
:. party in line as there was in the la.
l. house in the shape of the great part
;. issues, and the majority is DANCE
d ously reduced. The administr'
J. TONS sky is heavy with clouds, an
). its course for the next two years
8. thick with reefs. The verdict of tt
3. people in 1916 will be based to +
t. small extent on the work of tt
It, house under Kitchin's Leadership
t. II