The commonwealth., 1916-05-16
THE PRIDE OF THE DISTRICT.

THE PRIDE OF THE DISTRICT.
Mr.. Editor:
Sixteen years ago the writer Of this
communication was selected to place in
nomination before the Democratic Con-
gressional Convention at Goldsboro,
Claude Kitchin for Congress.
1 recall that said that if this young
man should be nominated and elected,
he would take his place in Congress
as the peer of any who would sit as the
nation 8 lawmakers. Time has proved
that the statement was prophetic.
The member from this district is to-
day the Chairman of the Great Ways
and Means Committee and Floor Lead
er of the Democratic majority in the
House. By reason Of the position oc
cupied by our representative, which he
has won by sheer ability, the Second
Congressional District composed Of the
counties of BERTHE, Edgecombe, Greene,
Balifax, Lenoir, Northampton, Warren
and Wilson, is the most prominent of
any district in the United States. We
sit at the head of the table in Congress-.
It has been hundred years since
North Carolina has been so honoreI-
Nathaniel Macon left the House in 1878.
If Mr.. Kitchin should be retired this
year, it can be safely said that those
of the present generation will never
see another chairman of this commit
tee and House Leader hailing from
North Carolina, certainly not from our
district.
In making this statement I do not
intend to cast any reflection upon the
ability of the very clever gentleman
whom certain elements have seen fit to
enter the race against Mr.. Kitchin. 1
write that he was caused to make the
race for the reason that Mr.. Mitch
was not the first one sought to become
the sacrifice. If it is desired that our
district shall have place on the map
in Congress, or to count for something
in shaping the policies of this govern
ment, to say the least, it would be fool
ish to change our member and substi
tute a new man, however able, without
experience.
Therefore, I am writing this article
because I am satisfied that no man il
more faithful to the people of his dis
trict nor to the principles of his party
than Claude Kitchin
So far as I can gather there are only
two charges that are being urged
against him by those of the opposition
First:
It is charged that Mr.. Kitchin Is not
III accord with the preparedness plan
of the President. Because he differ.
} to some extent with Mr.. Wilson, tn.
charge is made that he is against al
preparation for defense. Nothing il
further from the true situation. A
the last session of Congress Mr.. Kitch
in stood with the President, the Secre
tary of the Navy and Admiral Fletch
er for the regular normal program
and for material increase of mbma
rines, mines, air craft, etc. Mr.. Kitchil
is not against preparation for our ne
cessary defense and he who makes tn
charge is either ignorant or wilfull,
. makes it knowing it cannot be sub
{ stantiated.s
, He is opposed to the proposition o
piling hundreds of millions Of tax bur
dens upon the people for war vessel
> that may become obsolete in decade
: He is opposed to the miitarism of tn
E kind that is riding unhappy Europe t.
its doom.
The only difference between the pres
ident and Mr.. Kitchin is that they dis
Ii agree as to the extent of the prepared
: ness needed. A line must be draw
! somewhere before a reckless expendj
g ture of taxes paid by the people i
;, reached and it is not at all certain tha
Mr.. Kitchin has not taken the correc
view OF the situation. The people o
: this district have q genuine admiration
for him because he is standing by hi
convictions.
Of course it is popular to agree wit
= the administration and it is the cas-
|, thing to do, but the man that has t
q provide the ways and means to rails
). all this revenue to be expended fo
dreadnaughts and super
when revenue must come from the pocl