Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-23
PICTURESQUE FIGURE
IS LOST To HOUSE
IN KAHV'S PASSING
Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
40S Evans Bldg.
HN THEODORE TJLLER

by IIIEODUkE lJLLEb
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-In the
passing of Representative julius
Kahn. Of California, the house has
lost one of it's ablest debaters and
picturesque figure. He was serving
his twelftH term in that body, and
came into national and international
prominence with the entry of the
United States into the World war.
Among the historic debates in the
house of representatives was that
led by julius Kahn, Il Republican,
in support of the selectiVe draft bill
of Democratic PRESIDENT woodrow
Wilson. Mr.. kahns speech on the
selectiNe draft was probably the
most eloquent he ever Delivered
and he was a man given to eloQuence
and dr3matic delivery because he
was once a ShakeSpoarean actor, ana
looked like an actor of the immortal
bard's roles until the day of his
death. Into that house speech the
Californian, born q German Jew, OF
-kuppenhcim, put all the fire of his
American patriotism and put through
legislation opposed by many an
American born member of the house.
He was the ranking Republican Of
the house committee on military af
fairs, of which he later became chair
man. The chairman of the commit
tee in 1917 was Representative HUI
bert Dent, of Alabama, q Democrat.
Mr.. Dent declined to assume charge
on the floor of the administration
bill for the selectiVe draft. He,
along With Speaker Champ Clark.
and several other influential Demo
Gratis, advocated the volunteer sys-
tenn of raising troops. They believed
with Bryan, perhaps. that million
men would spring to arms over
night"
The administration was firmly
committed to the selectiVe service
system on the theory that America
must strike quickly and in great
numbers. There was also the ele-
ment of equal responsibility for serv-
ice of men between the ages of
eighteen and forty-rive.
Becomes Floor Leader
When Chairman Dent declined to
sponsor the legislation of the presi-
dent, the ranking Republican of the
committee, Kahn, because of his tai
entS and because of his, intense de-
votion to the principle of the selec-
tive draft, became the logical floor
leader for the bill. He spoke for
hours, arousing the house time and
time again to intense fervor and
outburStS of applause. Again, he had
members in tears. Only persons who
sat in the galleries or upon the floor
that eventful day can know the
scene
One of the more effective strokes
in the Kahn speech was the reading
of Abraham Lincoln's famous and
great letter to Mrs. BiXby. of Bos-
ton, who gave five sons to the Union
cause in the Civil war. Lincoln heard
of her, and. admitting the inability
of words to assuage her grief, sought
nevertheless to record a nations
gratitude to a mother who had sac
rificed five sons upon the altar of
freedom"
Kahn asked the house if, in new
war, one mother should give five
sons and another mother no son q t
all. Taking the houses on two sides
of a street, Mr.. Kahn foresaW and
pictured the possibility Of such in
equality. That illustration was typi-
cal of the manner he used in a call
to whole nation to respond to the
selective draft against a common
enemy.
Representative Kahn made other
eloquent speeches during the war as
the necessary measures for it's prose
cution came before the house In the
military affairs committee he was a
tireless worker. He seemed then
about in his prime, but soon after
the war ended he began to fail. In
announcing his death to the House
Representative Charles r. Curry, of !
California. ascribed his failing health |
and his eventual death '.to overWOrk |
in behalf of his country on the mill, |
tary committee"
Iii for Some Time
Representative Kahn has been lit !
tie in attendance about the house for |
the past two years. He went back
home in search of health at the |
Golden Gate, making only occasional !
visits to Washington. Discouragin
reports about his condition have been |
reaching colleagues here for some |
months.
Prior to his legislative battles for |
war measures, Mr.. Kahn was Il sue
CeSSful leader in the contest to stage |
the Panama-Pacific exposition at San |
Francisco. New Orleans was the |
chief contender, and the congress de- |
bates were far above the average.
The Californian, with snowy white |
hair in later years, resonant voice, |
a magnetic personality, and the Ges-
lures of a great actor and dynamic |
being, was the type of legislator to |
whom the galleries pointed and ask |
ed, And who is he?" His popular |
ity in the house for years never |
knew the dividing aisIes of political |
parties. He was respected, liked and |
loved by all races and creeds. When !
he died only four members of that |
body had served longer than he -
Speaker GiIlett, Representative But,
Ter of Pennsylvania :. Cooper, Of Wis
consin, and Hau@en, of Iowa. In his |
race for the present congress, he had |
the nomination of both Republican !,
and Democratic parties in the Fourth
California district
Mr.. Kahn was born February 28,
1861. at kuppenheim, present repub-
lie OF Baden. Germany. He emf
grated to California with his par
ents five years ! ter, and was e1u-
Gated in the public school of San
Francisco. In 1892 he was elected
to his first political office. and be-
ca me a member of,the state leGisla-