The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-11
HEFL|N STANDS BY HIS DEMAND THAT
 K|TCH|N RETIRE
Many Others Are Adding Their Voices to Position of Alabama Member
 That Action Be Taken
By HIGH w. ROBERTS

Washington, April -(Special.)-S Thursday night, a great many people, members of Congress and others, have taken up the cry of Representative lief lin of Alabama: Claude kitchin should be removed as leader of the democratic majority and chairman of the ways and means committee
 MT. Heflin, as a matter of fact, called on Mir. Kitchin to resign the leadership and his seat in Congress. No other man asks that Kitchin resign his seat, and MT. Heflin now declares that he should not have suggested that extreme action. But there is serious consideration given to the idea that I<itchin, an extreme paci- fist, should resign because of the inti- nation that on account of his conscien- tious scruples against war, he cannot frame war legislation with a full heart and ardent enthusiasm.
 It is regarded as probable, however. that unless MT. Kitchin voluntarily re- tires, the House will not take action to depose him. The President, however, may select another to express the views and purposes of the administration in the House.
 HEFLIN MAKES STATEMENT
 Prior to the part taken by Kitchn in the attempt to defeat the war resolution, he and MT. Heflin were very warm friends. Since MT. Heflins furious at tack, the two have bowed. Between them, however, there is and will be very probably certain spirit of aloofness.
 N-l. 4. ,,Trl,t ,rrl,a suggeshed that Kitchin should retire from his post of leader" said MT. Hefin to- day. However I regret that I sug- gested that he retire, also, from Con- gress. A member may properly vote his convictions, even if his convictions are utterly out of joint with his party and his party's administration. But leader, for the good of hs party, must express the sentiment of his party even if by so doing, he subjugateS his own opinion
 ''Therefore, I think I was right when I declared that had I been leader of the party, and had prepared an arraignment against my party's position, an arraign- ment in fact, against my country. would have resigned the leadership be- fore publishing that arraignment"
 KITCHEN ACTION SHOCKS
 The attack of Kitchn against the war
 
 Kitchin was a pacifist was well known Thursday afternoon members regarded it was probable that he would vote against the resolution. It was not known, however, save by few that he would speak and speak violently against it.
 Mr. Heflin stated that in the after noon certain member whispered to him suggestion that Kitchin, then ab- sent from the House. was preparing -a1 of fact ' added the Alabamian. T did not fear the effect would be the defeat of the reso- lution. I did fear however, that certain of the wavering membership would be so heartened that they would follow Kitchin, and thus prevent the practically unanimous vote which, in the emergency was so necessary. T urged my informant to say nothing, for I thought it best to postpone the news which would be so comforting to the other pacifists Therefore, when kitchin expressed his bitter arraignment, it was as much in the nature of a surprise to his brethren-in-arms as to the majority of those who stood by the country"
 THE SENATOR'S ATTITUDE
 Kitchin has host of friends in Con- gl ess. He is regarded as a conscientious and aggressive character. There are cer- tain members. however, of such ardent patriotism, that they have reached the conclusion that Kitchin, without giving notice of his intentions, retired to pre- pare a submarine with which to torpedo the House without giving the custom ary warning. There are others who be- lieve that he thought his logic and his forceful eloquence would be sufficient to sweep the membership off it's feet and ! thus encompass the defeat of the reso- lution
 The bitterness of the criticism directed against Kitchin and the 49 others who voted against the resolution is traceable t) this question:: What would have been the plight of the United States had the resolution been beaten?'
 SOURCE OF DANGER The President had urged its passage. All Europe was aflame with the pend- 1 ing events in the American Congress. The Senate had acted overwhelmingly. 1 The House, having enacted the armed neutrality bill, a measure which practi- l cally gave sea captain the right to declare or precipitate war, was appar- ertly hesitating. Had the 50 pacifists suc-