The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-16

leadership Of the next Congress. fol-
lowing the elevation OF representa-
tive oscar w. Underwood to the sen
ate, Claude kitchin, OF North caro-
lima will become chairman OF tne |
WAYS and Means Committee and the
ex-officio floor manager of the House |
majority.
And, by the same token, this man
kitchin will take his place as the re- !
sponsible head Of the House leglS- |
lating machine. The party's fortunes
will be in his hands to a greater oe-
gree than in the hands OF any Other
individual statesman in either branch |
Of the Congress- He will become the |
Democratic burden-bearer as well as
the Democratic standard bearer. The
work and the honor, in this case. GO
together.
But no friend Of Kitchin entertains
a doubt that he will measure up to
the full responsibility of his high po-
sition. He is veteran legislator;
an astute parliamentarian; a rough
and tumble debater Of the type that
neither asks quarter nor gives it;
Democrat from the ground up, but
withal, an independent of the most
obstinate sort where principle is in
volved.
This independence has more than
once placed Kitchin in direct oppo-
sition to the present administration.
He took issue with the President over
the repeal of the Panama Canal free
tolls clause. He took issue with the
President oh the Ship Purchase Bill
and has taken issue with the PreSi-
dent on less important matters. But
In this opposition kitchin has merely
voted his convictions as an individual.
He has not sought to organize re-
bellion against the administration. He
has not encouraged insurgency and
has not plotted with Republican lead
ers to undermine the Presidents in
fluence.
kitchin has maintained throughout
that he was i loyal Democrat and.
though he has embarrassed Mr.. Will
son more than once in his refusal to
stand with the majority, he has, by
reason of his strength and sincerity,
held his grip upon his party aSsO
ciateS. less able OF q less honest
revolter would have been severely
punished for his party detection.
There is ahead of kitchin real
tnan-sized job. When the new House
organizes the Democratic majority
will be reduced from 40 to about 80
Many new members will come in. The
Republican opposition will be harder
to cope with. The balance Of power
between the parties will be in the
hands OF less than a score Of men.
More than that. all the big issues
upon which the Democrats rode into
power will have been disposed Of
The tariff, currency reform and aiti-
trust measures have been passed
Upon these the Democrats stood prac-
tically as a unit. There was no diff
Guilty in organizing the majority to
drive them through. And even If g
few Democrats did insurge, the mar.
gin between the majority and the
in Sf or
wide, that the rebellious elemen
could have no force.
But kitchin is good fighter. Whe1
diplomacy fails he knows Of other ex
pedients. He began fighting a lon,
time ago at home. He has beel
lighting first as Clark and then a
an Underwood lieutenant since he ha
been in the House. If, therefore, h
can hold his party associates together
he will have no fear Of the Repub
hcan bomb-throwers.
kitchin took a lively part in tn
famous campaign of 1898 in Mort
Carolina, best known as the IRE
Shirt" campaign, when the Democrat
swept out the Republicans and fu
sionists. He never wore "red shirt,
but his participation in the fight wa
such that it won for him in 1900 tn
nomination and election to Congress
his first political office. He has bee
elected by reclamation to every Cor
gress since. no man ever having ar
nounced against him.
kitchin took his seat in Congress
December, 1901. but never rose to h
feet to make a speech until Apr
1904, after more than three years ,
membership. His first speech was G
Theodore Roosevelt It both su
prised the House and won Kitch
many admirers, displaying as it d
remarkable powers. 1t was used
the Democratic national campaie
text book, over q million copies
extracts OF it having been sent out q
over the country, and it nearly q
Kitchin in the pen" 1t did eau
another man to be sent to priso
But that tale later. Kitchin has ma,
many speeches In Congress that a
tracted the attention of the countr
Several were on the tariff, he bei1
the leading spokesman on the Dem
cratic side during the debate on Z
lumber schedule. Some Democra
wanfoS to-COrpa d}a-hroolr The ~