Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-07-16
WOMEN AS POLITICIANS.
THEY WELD ScEPTRE IN HALL
OF CONGRESS.
The Statesman In Society Is More
Successfully Approached at Five
O'clock Teas Than Anywhere Else
Lobbyist Plays Second Fiddle.

0oSSesSiu'iy HPPToaSHeu dt F'NS
O'clock Teas Than Anywhere Else
Lobbyist Plays Second Fiddle.
Beneath the great white dome in
Washington our law makers are writ
ing history in the hall of Congress,
while their homes are the center of
that social interchange that represents
the intricate machinery of the stage.
Washington society is of itself fac
tor conducive to the dissemination of
the informal mingling in the happy
freedom of the 5 o'clock tea.
1t is on record that more state secrets
are hatched and disclosed over the
nuts and wines than any amount of
lobbying could accomplish. 1t is not
the professional lobbyist who to-day
wields the scepter in the halls of Con-
gress, but the fashionable hostess who
understands her part and arranges
her menu to tempt the palate of her
guest.
How many legislative favors are
won across the fiower-decked board
will never be reckoned Yet the age
writes its story on the page of time,
The power welded by the wife of
politician possessed of ordinary dip
lomacy is unbounded, and when to this
quality is added wit and beauty her
success is assured. A well known So
cial leader whose husband has been
twice elected to the Senate asserts
that a successful social career is suf-
ficient to guarantee a reelection to
Congress, and that one brilliant enter
tainment properly reported has more
influence with a constituent than any
number of official favors.
Conspicuous among women whose
influence has been felt in legislation
without apparent deviation from her
natural environment may be number
ed such congressional danes as Mrs.
Frye, Mrs. Elkins, Mrs. Davis, Mrs.
Gallinger and Mrs. briggs. In order
of precedence Mrs. Frye may take the
lead, in view of the Senator's long and
repeated tenure of office and from the
fact of his wife being at once a wo-
man Of modesty and decided political
opinions. She has from the first as
sumed an influential position among
the resident hostesses, her familiarity
with delicate points of etiquette and
thorough knowledge of political ques-
tions rendering her advice eagerly
sought by those less fortunate, while
her sweet womany heart has never
been known to refuse assistance to
those in need.
Senator and Mrs. Frye have for
great many years occupied suite of
handsome apartments at the Hamil-
ton Hotel, during the winter, spending
their summers quietly at their primi-
tive little cottage ON Squirrel Island,
off the Maine coast, where the Senator
may indulge in his favorite pastime--
fishing of the world of pol
ftics and all that lies beyond his hor-
tzon.
Mrs. Elkins, wife of the Senator of
West Virginia, is also regarded a be-
owed and familiar figure among resi-
dents, her beautiful home on X street,
west of Farragut square, being rank
ed as one of the charming social cen
ters Oh the city. Twice returned to
Congress, Senator Elkins has also been
n Cabinet minister under the Harrison
administration, when Mrs. Elkins' re-
ceptions were the most enjoyable and
largely attended OF each season.
AS Miss Hallies Davis, daughter of
ex-senator Davis of West Nirginia,she
enjoyed thorough familiarity with
social lie that well lifted her for her
present responsible position. Her sud-
den change OF politics Is in conformity
with hef IDEAS OF wlfely duty.
Mrs. Cushman Is. Davis, wife of the
Senator from Minnesota, Is essentially
a true ana loyal helpmate to her Illus