The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-06-01

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grin as he slaughtered the enemy"
and republicans often declared that
Kitchin kept smiling "as he oper-
ated on them before the country.
Back in the days when he was a
struggling young North Carolina
lawyer, Kitchin's temper was like
that of wild man, as he himself ex-
pressed it. One day a country trial
justice decided a case against him
and KitChin started to clean up the
court. 1t was an exciting moment.
And then it suddenly occurred to
me-" he told friends later, that if
expected to get along l had to put
ice on my head and a bride on my
tongue. Right then and there / de.
cided l would never get mad with
anybody again"
Was Vicious In Debate.
James R. Mann, veteran repre-
sentative from Illinois, who often
crossed swords with kitchin in the
house, declared on the occasion OF
tic leader, that he was vicious in
debate because his attacks, like
brick in a towel, were wrapped in
smiles.
Kitchin's greatest fight with his
legislative conscience came when
. the house was called upon to declare
war against the German government
in 1917. Congress was widely excit =
ed Word passed back and forth
among members that the majority
leader would vote against it. Later,
81 81. Is = L..
Of the leaders family and some Of
his most intimate friends were in his
offce. For once the leader had lost
MS smile. He was weary and tagged
from loss Of sleep. He told the group
|. that he could not bring his consci
\ enCe TO the point Of voting for war
that his right of leader because of II
would be challenged. but that he
didn't care because his heart spoke
against 1t.
Then he went to the house cham
ber-with every seat filled and a
vast throng in the gallery-and dur
ing a tense and dramatic moment
look his stand against war.
Threw Support Into War.
But once war was declared kitchin
threw his support, whole heartily
into the fight, and championed every
move by the government for victory.
There were times, it was said, when
he was at odds with President vii.
son at white house conferences, but
his political enemies never doubted
Ms patriotism after the weight OF
American arms had been thrown on
he side of the allies.
In the early days of 1919. Kitchin
when a republican house, elected the
preceding fall was waiting to come
into power. went to the front at the
party leader with the biggest war
revenue bill ever framed by an
American congress. He put II
through. Long a member Of the
ways and means committee which
framed the bill. Kitchin had every
fgure at his finger tips. Fordney, OF
Michigan, who succeeded him as
chairman of the committee, fought
him at every step.
II was during the revenue bill de.
bate, while the house was consider
ing a luxury on shirts, that Kitchin
standing before hundreds of well
dressed men. declared he never paid
more than 50 for a shirt in his life
His plea for simplicity in dress while
\ the country was burdened with the
big cost of war was taken up by the
press. and two dollar shirts were
Urged.
was III Long inc.
Not long after the big revenue bill
light Kitchen was stricken. For a
.ong time he lay in bed, trying to get
we'll, but it was not an easy thing
ior a man. so long in public life to
shake off the old habit. Feeling bet
:er, he went back to the old grind
only to be stricken again. A new
party had come into power.
Champ Clark. stepping down from
he speakers chair became minority
eader. with Kitchin as ranking
member of the ways and means com :
mittee. When Champ Clark died
Kitchin was made minority leader
but being i'll then at his home in
]. Garrett, of Tennessee. be desig
mated as acting leader, in the effort
to hold the dwindling ranks of dem
ocrats in line.
Was Born In 1869.
Claude Kitchin, who was born
March "a. 1859. first came to con
gress In 1901. serving continuously
thereafter. On the closing night oil
that congress the fifty seventh
he attracted attention by a fiery
speech against French spoilation
claims. From that day his reputa
ton as a house debater was made
resented. He was the son of a con
gresham and his brother, William
w. Kitchin, served FIVE terms in the
house prior to his election as COVER
nor Of North Carolina.
During a hot political campaign
in his district in 1898 Kitchin at
tracted public attention by taking an
active part in what was known as
the red shirt movement" a revival
If democratic tactics in some south
ern states in reconstruction times
1t was organized by the white PEG
ple. chiefly democrats. for the avow
ed purpose of eliminating the negro
In politics and office holding. But
it's purposes were peaceful Thous
ands rode to the first public meet
ing in Kitchin's district in red bug
gies, on horses draped with red
wearing red shirts, red hats, some
even digging up the old red trousers
of fox hunting days. The speech
made by Kitchen put him in line for
the house, and he won the first time
up.