The Washington herald., 1909-10-24
Rr J. HoOPER CAFFEE.

Mr. Speaker I yield the floor to the
lady from Colorado"
And then the press gallery will sit az
attention. For then a Congress win have
seated itself TO listen to the eloquent
words Of wisdom. In the soft rich tones
of Ruth Bryan Leavitt. daughter Of the
Great Commoner." hamering home to-
the nations lawmakers the demands OF
her adopted State, Colorado.
Such. at any rate is the picture OF the
oixty-second Congress. which in its glo-
rlous promise and the easy possibility
Of its naturalization. is stirring the men
and alarming the women of the Colum-
bine State where women vote And. In
the struggle TO achieve this reality. TO in
sure the election OF the Nebraskan's
daughter TO a seat in Congress as the
representative of the first Colorado dis
trict. there is being played by the women
OF the state one OF the prettiest games OF
politics in the history OF vote cajoling.
Behind It all Is a wager, made half in
jest. half in earnest. BY Ruth Bryan
Leavitt and her father. the day after the
latters most recent defeat for the Presi-
dency 1t was at the dinner table at
Fairview. Bryans country home, near
Lincoln, Nebr.
Bet Is Made.
Mr. Bryan was laughing at the early
eaCerness OF a number OF newspaper
men 10 persuade him 10 say for their
newspapers that he would make the
Presidential run again. In banter, Mrs.
Leavitt declared that for the honor OF
her family she guessed she would go
over TO Colorado. run for Congress. and
prove that at least one member OF the
Bryan family could run FOR something
and get Il, maybe the first time out.
Bryan playfully wagered his daughter
that she could not accomplish II, and
Mrs. Leavitt took the bet Now. since
things are shaping into shape in Colo
ado. It looks much like the father is
going 10 have 10 pay the bet
Immediately after her divorce from
Leavitt. the artist. the Nebraskan's
daughter came back 10 Denver, where
she lived first after her marriage. and
again announced her residence. Soon
after there was an important meeting OF
the Jane jefferson Club. OF which she
was q leading figure when she first be-
came a Denverite. A week later there
was another meeting OF the Jane Jeffer-
sons. and 20 this one went Mrs Sarah
Platte Decker, foremost woman politician
and ward heeier" OF Colorado and Oft
mentioned possibility as a mayOralty can
ddate for Denver on the womans inde-
pendent ticket.
Then began the remarkable game OF
politics with women dealing the cards
with a skill and dexterity which would
I Fnw
ever 20 the famous Cox machine of Gin
cinnad The election IN Colorado was
more than a year away and the women
folks had plenty OF time to stack the
cards and fix things with all the ruffies
/ TO brighten up their ticket.
Talks In Every County.
The first move by the Jane Jeffersons
| and the Women's Club was the arrange
/ ment for Mrs. Leavitt OF a series OF lee
} ture dates. which before the end Of the
I year VIII have taken her INTO every
I county seat and important vote center in
/ the State Her lectures are not on poll
/ tics or on the rights OF woman to vote
/ but womans views on questions OF cur
rent interest calculated TO convince her
, hearers that she is a woman above the
] IEiFlalllles oL ltLliniltSgi Aogal 10 AeF sex
/ yet broadened OF perceptions and all the
/ time loyal 70 womanhood - something
! prided by women OF Mrs. I.eavitt's class.
even II she does dabble into things that
often get mems minds fused up.
/ In the meantime Mrs Leavitt IS being
/ feted and dined and press-agented and
/ functioned 70 a queens taste IN the Col
/ orado capital Denver society writer's
/ seem 20 find II impossible 20 make a
| lead society" out OF anything else when
! Mrs. Leavltt is In town. and as she has
been In town for the last two or three