Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1924-11-13
Elk GOV. KITCHEN
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Former Congressman and Governor
of North Carolina Succumbs from
- Illness Contracted in 191S-Mem-
ber of Prominent State FAMILY.

Der of Prominent State Family.
w. W. Kitchin, former governor OF
North Carolina, former representa-
tive in Congress and brother of the
late Claud Kitchen, Democratic house
leader, died at Scotland Neck, N. C.
b Sunday after long illness.
Mr.. Kitchin was a member of a
family long prominent in North Car
olina politics and which furnished
at various times, three members of
Congress. His father, Capt. William
II. Kitchen, represented the second
North Carolina district in the 46th
Congress and later his brother Claud
Kitchin, represented the same district
Former Governor Kitchin repre-
sented the fifth district for IL years
prior to being elected governor.
Governor Kitchin was born at
Scotland Neck, October 9, 1865. He
graduated from Wake Forest college
in 1884 and became the editor of
the Scotland Neck Democrat. In 1887
he was admitted to tn ebar and took
up the practice of law at Roxboro
in 1888.
In 1896 he was elected to Con-
gress from the fifth district, defeat
ing Thomas Settle, republican, who
had represented the district for many
years after series of joint debates.
He was the only Democrat elected to
Congress from the state in that elec-
ttion.
He continued in Congress until
1908 when he was nominated for
governor. In 1912 he was defeated
for the Democratic nomination for
United States Senator by Senator F.
M. Simmons He then retired from
politics and was member of the
law firm of Manning and Kitchin
until 1918 when he retired because
of i'll health.
Mr.. Kitchin waged two mighty po-
litical battles for state fionors. In
O1e uc was SuCCSSSlul. LII CIC OCuCl
he lost. His losing fight was with
Senator Simmons in 1912 for a seat
in the United States senate and mar
ked the going down of Mr.. Kitchin's
political sun.
1t was in 1908 that Mr.. Kitchin
ano the late Locke Craig waged their
fight for the Democratic nomination
for governor. That was before the
day of the state wide primary. Mr..
l Kitchin and Mr.. Craig canvassed the
state separately from one end to the
other. Craig was backed by Senator
Simmons and what was known as the
Simmons machine. The late j. P.
Kerr, of Asheville, was Craig's cam
paign manager. Mr.. K1tchin knew
that he was fighting the Simmons
machine and it was generally recog-
nized that the defeat of Craig for
the nomination would mean the
smashing of the Simmons machine.
The convention was held in Chalotte
in June. Ashley Horne, Of Clayton
was the third candidate for the Dem
ocratic nomination but the campaign
was really fight between Kitchin
and Craig.
The convention was called to order
on Wednesday and w. L. Parsons of
Rockingham, was made permanent
chairman. The west was almost solid
" behind Craig, while the east lined
up for the most part behind Kitchin.
Balloting went>on for three days and
nights and Kitchin finally was nomi-
mated, most of the Horne vote which
had been holding the balance OF the
power, going to the eastern man.
It was during this convention that
the late Governor Beckett came prom
inently to the front. He made the
speech placing Mr.. Horne in nomi-
Nnation and while his candidate for
governor lost Beckett so impressed
the convention that they nominated
him for attorney general and in 1916
nominated and elected him governor
Following Kitchin's nomination in
1908 there was not the breaking uI
of the Simmons machine that SO ma
nv had expected to see. While Mr.
Kitchin announced his intention Of
running against Senator Simmons
for the senatorial nomination and the
campaign was begun. The contest be
tween Simmons and Kitchin was sta
ged .during 1912 while Mr.. Kitchir
was still governor. 1t was an interes
ting fight. The Simmons machine
if it was cracked as result OF tn
nomination of Kitchin over Craig
had been firmly cemented and Sim
mons triumphed handsomely over hi
opponent. Craig the same year wa
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