The Alaska daily empire., 1923-06-02
CLAUDE KITCHEN.

Representative Claude Kitcain titular Democratic leader in the National House of Representatives who Glcd this week of the best do5aters and most brilliant members of Congress.
 This imprinted far we know, story, illustra- tive of Kitchens effectiveness debate told by who participated in the proceedings and one who is now a member of the House in which he has be- veteran because of continuous service since that time
 When the 67th Congress convened it contained a let of new members-most of them Republicans. be- cause the large Democratic majorftes in the three previous Congresses had been cut down in the 1916 election to a shoestrng. Naturally these mem- bers frequently to the old party leaders for pointers One day a group of them discussing the situation. particularly with reference to it's political phases, with Uncle Joe Cannon. first tormer remarked that the Republicans ought to make s showing in the House, that Underwood is in the Senate and is longer Democratic House leader.
 Don't make a mistake" replied Uncle Joe, Kit chen is the abest debater here he is of the few of the old rough and tumble, cut and thrust de- baters left and any who mixes with him is likely to get pretty badly scratched"
 While note made of Uncles Joe advice the Congresxmen, young fellows," Uncle Joe called them, began batting the leader. They kept it up for several weeks but got attention. Many of them took this to that they had Kitchens goat. that he afraid to come back at them. Uncle Joe continued to admonish the young tellcwc" to "beware," but Familiarity breeding contempt.
 Time found Mr. Kitchen, chairman of the Ways and Meana Ccmmsttee, in charge of a bill which touched the tariff question in places the traditional bone of party contention and the young fellows became more than usually active dozen or so times they attacked the well known Democratic posi- ton on the tariff before arousing Kitchen And then tho young fellows contend it Uncle Joe who said, s'c 'em, Claude At any rate Kitchen finally went after the belligerent bunch The Congressman who told the story said. eit was murder we went down like ten pins before expert" Kitchen took mp one by one the partisan speeches that had been made by different first termcrs and, pointing at the auhcre, each in turn tore them to shreds The inter- ruptons that were frequent first became less and less and ceaeed altogether after half dozen had taken the count. When he had things all his own way, with bland smile, Kitchin walked over among the slaughtered, threw his mane back and asked does anyone else among you want anything?"
 During the whole proceeding" said the Congress- man who related the incident, Uncle Joe sat with his vigorously teterng right leg crossed over his left fubolns his hands and grfnning from ear to ear"
 Kitchen was comparatively young in age but he mad been leader in Congress for more than score el years He found his place in his first term and never relinquished it unt ill health overlook him lew years ago. During the first four terms of his service he and his brother William w Kitehdn after ward Governor of North Carolina sons of a former ing adjoining North Carolina districts