Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-07
TIVE PErrIcoAr-I POLITICS.
Activities % American Women In
AmericRn Public Life,

Activities % American Women In
Americas Public Life.
Leslies Weekly.
Pity II II that President RooseVelts name
was coupled with the Bellamy storer-vati-
can-cardnalate intrigue, but his name
having become mixed in Il through the
vanity and folly OF the meddlers in publish
ing their meddlesomeness TO the world, the
country is glad that he exposed the culprits
in thorough. and crushing fashion. The
United States has had some Aspasias who.
by personal fascination. ability, or zeal,
have rendered a service 10 husbands,
fathers, or friends which. remotely at least
recalled the aid which the Mllesian woman
gave Pericles. In many cases, however
American women's active mixing In prac-
teal politics has been a hlndrance rather
than help to the persons they tried to
serve.
Dolly Madison, as mistress Of the White
House during the eight years when her
husband was secretary Of state under the
widower Jefferson and through the sue
ceeding eight years when her husband was
president, was personally. acquainted with
more great men than any other woman
whom America has seen. And her tact
and her beneficent influence In politics
social (and in many instances I'm its politl-
CALI side has become a tradition. The
White House has had several other popular
mistresses, notably Harriet Lane and Mrs.
Cleveland, but the latter's activity was in
SOCIAL matters solely. Harriet Lane, who
was the bachelor President Buchanan's
niece, made friends for that personally I'M
popular executive, and dlsarmed many
enemies. She was as pure as she was tact
full, but some of Buchanan's enemies in
simulated that she had as much sway in the
selection or rejection of many applicants
for office as Madame de Pompadour had
over Louis XIV A striking tribute to Har-
riet Lan's charm of manner was rendered
by Edward VII, who, as Prince of Wales.
was entertained at the White House on his
visit to the United States in 1860, and who,
on his coronation as king more than forty
years later, put her name at the head of
the list of invitations to that function
which he sent ou:
Stephen A Douglas second wife the
daughter of James Madison Cults, actively
promoted her husbands ambition in his
race for the White House but fate ordered
| things otherwise. Kate Chase Sprague' Is
! electioneering for her father, Salmon p.
| Chase, to advance his presidential. aspira-
tions, was as persistent and as brilliant az
was the duchess of Devonshire's campaign
| ing for Fox, but destiny was against her.
Many there were in those days who
though not enamored of Chase would have
been glad to see him president, so that
another figure could be placed on the
pedestal beside Dolly Madisons when the
notably great mistress Of the executive
mansion were written or talked about.
Probably when Jackson called his friend
General John H. Eaton, who had Just mar,
ried the fascinating Mrs. TimbeTlakt
cPeggy' O'NeiD, into his cabinet, he did
not realize that he was handling dynamite
Gossip had busted itself with Mrs Tim
berlake's name, and the wives of the mem.
bers of Jackson's court circle refused tc
recognize her. with his accustomed chiv.
airy and impetuosity, Jackson rushed to heI
rescue, made her recognition a test Of 10y
atty to his administration and to the dem.
ocratic party, but was defeated for the
first time and only time of his life. The
Peggy O'Neil war" however, excited more
popular interest throughout the country
than Jackson's Creek War in Florida did
decade and a half earlier. 1t destroyed tn,
chances of Calhoun Whose wife boycottet
Mrs Eaton) for ever reaching the presl
dency. II placed Van Buren, (who as a wild
over was free to extend his attentions tt
Mrs. Eaton) In the line Of succession to tn,
| White House, II smashed Jackson's cabinet
1t sent many democrats into the opposi
ton. 1t aided in establishing the whii
party, and it had a profound influence OF
the politics of the time.
The Storer Eruption lacks the serio-comi
tumultuousness OF the Mrs. Eaton episode
Incidentally, however. It shows that tn
intrigante in American politics is an ex
cellent person for public men to shun.