May 30, 1936
THE STATE
Page Seven
GOVERNORS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. 67— WILLIAM WALTON KITCHIN
- By Mrs. Max Abernethy -
AS
»
dchiiler. Governor Kileliin
l>rol>ni>l.v never bad an equal in
North Carolina, lie participated in
.some bitter campaigns and be ren¬
dered faithful service to tlie people
of his state.
THE election of Gov¬
ernor William Wal¬
ton Kitchin in 1908
was preceded by one of the
fiercest political party con¬
tests the Democratic party
in North Carolina has ever
experienced.
Championing the economic reforms
that meant a more equal distribution
of wealth and a fairer return for the
efforts of the working man. Mr.
Kitchin was recognized as the party s
liberal candidate. Pitted against him
were the so-called conservatives who
were pledged either to Locke Craig, of
Buncomlie. or Ashley Horne, of John¬
ston. The struggle for the nomination
between these two factions was fought
out in the State Democratic Conven¬
tion in Charlotte, which was in session
for a week lief ore the deadlock was
finally broken and victory was
К
i tell in's.
This contest for the nomination al¬
though hitter, left no political wounds
so deep that the Democrats were ex¬
tended in defeating the Republicans
in the general election the following
November.
Industrial Progress Continues
Industrial progress in the State con¬
tinued during Governor Kitehin's four
years in office. Highways were im¬
proved to permit the use of an in¬
creasing numlier of automobiles while
railroads lettered not only their road¬
beds hut the equipment as well. There
was also an increase in the number <>f
manufacturing establishments in the
State.
Two new counties. Hoke and Avery,
were created by the General Assem¬
bly. Avery was formed from the coun¬
ties of Caldwell. Mitchell and Wa¬
tauga and was named in honor of
Colonel Waightsill Avery, a Revolu¬
tionary patriot. Hoke was composed
of sections taken from Cumberland
and Robeson counties. It was named
to do honor to General Robert F.
Hoke, a distinguished North Carolina
Confederate officer.
To meet the desire of the farmers
that their children should be specially
trained for farm life, the General As¬
sembly of 1911 made provision for the
establishment, of Farm-Life schools in
all such counties as were willing to aid
in their creation. These schools were
to teach not only the sciences on which
farming ami home-making are based,
hut actual practice was to be provided.
A number of counties took advantage
of the Farm-Life School act.
Was Also a Congressman
Prior to his election in 1908, Gov¬
ernor Kitchin had served in Congress
from 1896 to 1908, representing the
Fifth Congressional district. 1 1 is
campaign which preceded his first
election to Congress attracted the at¬
tention of the entire State, particular¬
ly his debate with the Republican op¬
ponent, Thomas Settle, Jr. Kitehin's
skill os a debater in this campaign
thrust him into the Democratic spot¬
light. The debate, opening in Gran¬
ville County, was continued all over
the district and attracted tremendous
crowds. 1 1 was long remembered and
was one of the last such exhibitions
staged between the two parties in the
State. Every contested State office
was filled either by Republicans or
Populists in 1896 with the exception
of the Congressional seat won by
Kitchin. Ilis fame was carried
throughout the State by reason of the
debate and his election which followed.
THE MOCKING BIRD IN THE
PEPPER TREE
My mocking bird sings in the pepper
tree
And this is the song that he sings to
me :
“Life is a pattern, love is a song
Come sing with me for night is long."
Li ra Thomas McNair.
Jonesboro. N. O.
One writer had this to
say of his campaign against
Settle:
"To the excited crowds
which pressed about him he
«corned a sort of knight-
errant undertaking to re¬
dress the wrongs of the peo¬
ple. There could Iw no mistaking his
onriicstness or his convictions or the
deep power of the motives to which he
appealed. His gifts were those of the
practiced orator. His qualifications
those of the genuine man of the peo¬
ple. His strong musical voice carried
I he message to tin* utmost limits of
the great throngs and rang in tones
which warmed men's blood. There
could Is1 no doubting the forces which
lay hack of him.”
A Record of Service
The congressional record made by
Mr. Kitchin was in keeping with his
campaign. He consistently cham¬
pioned the principles of reform, op¬
posed subsidies in any guise, favored
the election of 1’iiited States senators
by direct vote of the |»coplc, the regu¬
lation of railroads and other measures
which were enacted into law.
Governor Kitehin's career as a pul»-
lie man closed in 1912 following his
defeat by Senator F. M. Simmons for
the United States senate. The liberals
in the party were divided between
three candidates, Kitchin, t'hief Jus¬
tice Walter Clark and ex-Gnvernor
Aycock. Senator Simmons had the
support of the conservatives as well
as strong support from those who had
not forgotten his great service to «lie
State. Even after the elimination of
Aycock by death ii was apparent that
Senator Simmons would lie the victor.
With the expiration of his term as
governor. Mr. Kitchin returned to the
practice of law. forming a partnership
with Judge James S. Manning at Ra¬
leigh. hut the two great contests of
1908 and 1912 had taken much out of
his life. His enforced retirement from
active practice was close at hand. He
returned to Scotland Neck, his old
home, in 1918. He died November 9,
(Continued nn page seventeen )