Evening star., 1923-06-03
BY ROBERT, Il. SMALL.

The death of Representative Claude
KItchin of North Carolina two days
ago, brings up to an appalling total
the shining marks in the political
world claimed by the Grim Reaper in
the last two years.
Perhaps In. these deaths is found
the answer to the paramount ques-
lion of the day. What is the. mat
aer with politics." or the corolary to
his interrogation, whittier are the
two old political parties drifting"
The truth is that both republicans
and democrats have lost so many old
hands at the wheel it is not surpris-
ing that things are getting out of
hand 1t is not to be wondered at
hat mushroom leaders should grow
Of master whether suited to it or not.
Nor is it surprising to find many
Keen political observers opinin.5 chat
no man today can say definitely just
what the next republican and the
next democratic national conventions
will do either in the way ii candi-
dates or of platforms. Il Is pre-
sumed. of course, that if President
Harding at the time of the republi-
IAN convention should actually de.
sire denomination, he can readily OBJ
tain that honor. But the old masters
Of the Ii. .. T.. many Of them. are
zone and it is freely being said that
The smooth running machinery of the
past may he lacking next year and
that the lack of steady, dominating
hands may result in condition
which might make anything possi-
bic.
kitchin Striking Figure.
Representative Kttchin was the
war leader of the House of Rep:,-
Hentatives. For eight years prior to
l9lS he was in command of the pop
ular branch of the national legiSld
ture, and since that time he has been
the militant leader of the minority
His death takes another striking fig
ure from the life of Washington-an
other leader from tie rapidly thin
ming ranks in the House.
The republicans perhaps have suf
fered greater losses by death than
the democrats since the national con-
Nentions Of 1920. The loss of Boies
PenroSe alone was a stage ering blow
for them. Whatever one might think
"f PenroSe. one always knew where
lie stood on any public question which
was up for vote or discussion, and
wen his worst enemies respected him
as a fighter. PenroSe was the big
fellow for so many years in the
party that his passing not only rock
ed his party nationally, but nearly
wrecked it in his home state OF
'
In addition to Senator Penrose.
death claimed Senator Philander G..
Knox of Pennsylvania and Senator
William r. Grow of the same state.
1t also claimed State Senator Edward
Ware of Pennsylvania. With these
four big leaders out of the way it is
small wonder that Clifford Pinchot, a
Bull Mooser in 1912, should rise to
the top of the heap and possess about
the only sort Of leadership the G. o. p.
can claim in the rock-ribbed Key
stone state today.
New York Hard Hit.
Next to Pennsylvania. New York
has been one of the hardest hit states
in. the last two years. the death list
of the Empire commonW wealth record
ing such exalted names as Richard
Croker Bourke Cochran, George w
Aldridge and Lew Payn.
The losses in New York state were
evenly divided between the repub-
licans and the democrats.
Massachusetts and the nation at
large lost former Senator Murray
crane, a man who had been MEM
ber of the inner circle" in the MAX
ing of republican Presidents for so
many years that there were few at
his death able to recall the time
when 'PuSsyfOot' Crane was not 4
familiar figure at the national con-
was fighter. Crane was a fxer. and
the two funCtioned together as
smoothly as clock work.
Watson Loss Felt.
-Ffhe political world lost at least an
extremely picturesque figure in the
death, Of United States Senator Tom
Watson of Georgia. Watson was indeed
the stormy petrol of American politics
Beneath a rough exterior. and perhaps
yindCtive mind Of many prejudices,
Tom Watson had the culture of won
derful education. Brilliant and sharp
tongued in debate, he was even more
exceptional as a writer. and his works
Of history will live long in the bright
pages of American literature.
Illinois republicans suffered an ire
trieYa BILE loss in the death of Repre-
Sntative James r. Mann. There were
few in public life who got more pleas
IRE. out of politics than Jim Mann.
He was great leader in the House of
Representatives the opponent OF
Claude Kitchin who has followed him to
that bourne whence no traveller re-
turneth. Jim Mann was perfect fiend
IN debate. He was not a generous foe.