The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-25
SENATORS WIVES
LOYAL HElPMEETs
They Take Active Part in Legislative
Trays by Assisting in Detail
Work. n

lenanIed now, the plucky women OF
the senatorial contingent are calmly
pI oceeding To make plans u remain
unSli the session has closed. Many Oh
them take the keenest interest In the
battles their husbands are waging on
the moor Of the senate, and after the
long days work is done and the SEN
ators seek their homes they get
wif.ly pat on the shoulder as from
comrades who, knowing the game OF
politics inside and out, are able 10
help along, not only by sympathy, out
by feminine wisdom, sharpened by
Of political conditions and
an experience gained on many haru'
fought field.
In some instances the senators
wives actually take part In the strug-
gle TO the extent OF digging up desired
papers and worrying along with musty
books TO unearth fresh data 10 spring
upon the unsuspecting foes OF the OPP
posing camp.
Wife Of an Insursent.
Among those who frequently devote
themselves 10 watching the battle
from the viewpoint OF well-informeu
observer whose intimate knowledge OF
the personnel OF national politics
stands her in good stead, is Mrs. Cum
Minis, the wife of the well-known III
surgent" Senator from Iowa. Mrs.
Cummins is notable housewife, and
In rhe good, old-fashioned way she
looks after her household and sees To
II that rest and quiet await the SEN
ator when he returns TO his own home
which is a bright, coy, book-flled re-
treat, cared for by a corps or well
trained servants. Mrs. Cummins also
tactfully relieves her husband OF much
of the strain Of meeting people, In
which art OF the politicians wife she
Is an adept This gives him many al
opportunity TO snatch a few minutes
rest without offending a caller.
Mrs. Cummins has been the help
mate Of the political leader through
out his entire career. Almost the t1rst
person he met when In his early boy
hood days he set out from his home
in the Pennsylvania mountains TO
start in life was the young girl he
later made his wife. AS cub mem
Der OF a surveying corps who blazed
the way for a railroad passing through
the little town Of Eaton Rapids, Mich.
his path crossed that OF Miss Ida Gal
lery, daughter OF one of the directors
of the road. Like an old-fashionei
love story the lifelong romance OF
the senator and his wife began with n
boy penniless but plucky, whose abil-
ity won the day, not only in the love
game, but even against the objec-
tons of jealousy devoted father.
Long before the railway on which
young Cummins was working had
been finished an engagement existed
between the girl in her early teens
and the young man. who was even
then studying law with a determina-
ton to get on in life. For thirty years
the Cumminses have made the Iowa
capital their home. Rising rapidly In
his profession, Senator Cummins
reached the height Of his legal ambi'
ton, only TO put 1t aside to enter
politics.
Her Opinion Of u All.
Mrs. Cummins is proud OF her hus-
bands career, although like most
politicians wives she somewhat OPP
posed his giving himself so entirely
to the strong mans game" Mr.. Cum
mins's entrance into politics meant the
continuance Of a lifelong strain, and
| didn't fancy It at first said Mrs.
Cummins, but when he got into
things and everybody fought him
felt sorry for him and helped him all
| could" she added naively. IL have
been proud OF him as governor OF Iowa
and as senator, but was just as proud
of him the day / married him."
When Mr.. Cummins was elected
governor of Iowa he and Mrs. Cum
cause Iowa has no governors man
sion" Their house stands in acres
of forest-clad grounds, which they
built after his rise to wealth and
prominence. Their only child, Mrs.
Hollis Rawson, occupies the house
next door to that Of Senator and Mrs.
Cummins. Mrs. Rawson Is the wife
OF one OF Des Moines' best known bus.
mess men and is the mother Of several
children, the oldest OF them a boy nine
years old
Mrs. Cummins has abundantly given
evidence Of her ability to do things on
her own part as the president OF the
Des Moines Woman's club, one Of the
pioneer woman's organizations OF the
country. This particular club has
been a dominant factor in the beauti.
fication and progress Of the city from
the woman's point OF view. It's mem
bers, of whom there are 500, have
evinced their practical ability by erect.
ing a handsome clubhouse, perfectly
appointed and well equipped, which
they long ago placed beyond the posi-.
bility OF financial mishap.
Mrs. Cummlns has also served as
president Of the Home for Friendless
Children. When she left Des Moines
10 come to Washington she thought
her resignation was In order, but 40
loath were the other members OF n
board TO lose their energetic head that
they thought otherwise and Mrs. Cum.
MINIS Is now president by absent
treatment" using the telegraph when
critical moments arise