The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-23
THE AMERICAN
WOMAN IN POLITICS.

Tho American woman in politics is a
condition new to this country 1t is a
feature Of nati0nal-and more particu-
IarIy. poIiticaI-life thar we have adopted
from England.
Throughout the principalities of Great
Britain the wife of a politician has long
been recognized as power She has
figured at the musings" waved ban
ners from the balconies of country inns
and opened county balls; all in the in
terest Of her husbands parliamentary ca
reer.
It is a phase of existence that The WON
en- OF the United States are only now be-
ginning to enjoy.
In discussing this subject recently a
members Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee of the House gave it as his opinion
that the Daughters of the American
Revolution" Were responsible for the
present-day interest taken in politics by
women. lie said. Just as soon as they
began to acquire knowledge of pariia-
mentary law-and they never would have
thought Of making this a subject Of study
if it had not been for the ID. A. r.
they wanted TO take a hand in the ma
tiouaI game.
If by the national game" this eminent
authority refers to politics. ard not poker.
or baseball. he is mistaken. National af-
fairs have always been Of Importance 10
women living in Washington. and just
now it happens that a large percentage
Of the money and might peculiar TO the
women who set the American pace live
al the National Capitol What they are
busy about is bound 10 become the fad.
Possibly the most conspicuous OF the
women actively interested in the politics
of the hour are Mrs. Fairbanks. wife of
the Vice President of the United States.
Miss Helen Cannon daughter of the
Speaker of House of Representatives;
Mrs Nicholas Longworth wife Of the
popular young Congressman from Ohio.
and Mrs. Herbert Wadsworth-
Mrs Fairbanks was born with execu-
tive ability She is a master hand at
management whether directed over q
household or an election. BY a rare
chance Of happy selection, she was mar
Tied, while still very young. 10 a man
whose career has been IN every way a
furtherance to her natural talents Mrs
Fairbanks information upon questions Of
political economy and political govern
ment is equal to that of most men who
occupied seats in the Senate chamber.
She was one of the best informed of the
pTesidents-general OF the D A r.
Miss Helen Cannon has kept intelli-
gently abreast with the political times
through her enormous interest in her
fathers affairs. She is one of the few
unmarried women who understand the
inner workings of party politics.
Mrs. Nicholas LOngworth has thrown
herself into the campaign arena with all
the ardor and enthusiasm Of her nature.
She is canvassing the State with her hus-
band and Ohio politics are just now oc-
occupying her undivided attention. 4
daughter Of President Roosevelt could
hardly escape an inheritance Of political
keenness. and Mrs. LOngwoTth not only
delights in hearing her husbands cam
paign speeches. but she assists him TO
formulate them, as well. If inspiration
and interest count as assistance
Mrs Herbert WadsWOTth is a TeCOg-
nized power in all public questions that
In any way touch the life Of American
women. She is the friend of the working
woman. therefore, she is an influence
with the voter. Mrs WadswOTth is d
fluent speaker. and is as much at home
in addressing an assemblage as an in
dividual
1t is fresh in the minds Of every Wash
ingtonian what a tremendous political
power was the wife Of a Secretary of the
Treasury under Cleveland. Her appTe-
citation Of what constituted public ser
vice acted as a lever upon her husband
splendid intellect, and directed It to one
channel The wife of q Secretary Of
War, Of an even earlier period. had such
a reputation for lobbying and influence
ing the Congressional vote, that she was
recognized as "A more potent factor in
public life than her husband, Her din
ner parties were known as Extra Cabi-
net Meetings
When the Lady CurzOu went to Eng
land TO live, she was not in sympathy
with the English womens participation
IN the public careers OF their husbands.
One month after her marriage. however,
she caught the political fever and was
plunged, deep as any Britain. I'm the prob
lens Of state, that were as the breath
Of his nostrils to her distinguished hus-
band
Lady CurZOn's marvellous beauty en-
tered largely into her political influence,
and as Nicereine OF India she was not
only an adviser In the affairs of state.
but she was blindly adored and followed
by her husbands native allies
The wife Of Joseph Chamberlain, who
was Miss Edicott OF Salem. and whose
long line Of witch-persecuting ancestry