The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
Mrs. Astor Lands Husband in
 Parliament
HOW ONE FELLOW LOST
Women ssPOliticians" and Stump Speak, CTS Pay Great Attention To Be- ing We'll Dressed-Some New
 Hair Fashions
BY LADY MARY sfANNARING

ment that if all the women were sup porting one party 1t would carry the coun- try overwhelmingly would cause little sur prise and I doubt if 1t would be seriously controyerted. I am not touching on the question of woman's suffrage one way or the other.
 We have had striking illustrations of the truth of this statement In the elections which have just come to an end. Of course, you all are familiar with the splendid campaign made for her hus- band by Mrs. Waldorf Astor which land- cd him in parliament from an apparent ly safely liberal constituency and the stories of the other American wives who have helped to push their husbands to the front and keep them there In British policies.
 English women here are no less active and successful politicians than their American sisters.
 If I dared I could name many mem- bers of the last parliament who owed their success at the poles to the unstinted labor and influence of their wives. Let me quote a case-typical of many that occur at every. election nowadays as an instance of the part played by women in these contests. The candidate in this instance was busy city man who was induced to stand at the last election for a provincial town. He had risen from the ranks, and, If the truth must be told, had never taken a serious interest in politics
 True he had always voted for the party in which he believed, but in political his- tory he was decidedly lacking In knowl- edge. No one knew this better than his wife. She also realized that his busi- ness was such that 1t would be virtually impossible for him to devote that time which would be necessary for victory
 What did the lady do? She threw her whole heart into the fight, and her hus- band won. She studied the questions and problems of the moment, got emi- nent and authoritative opinions upon many of them, and pointed out the weak points in the opponents armor, with the result that the speeches of her husband were applauded by his hearers, and quoted far and wide.
 When a titled candidate was informed that he had won at the last election, he was so overjoyed that he jumped up and sang My Old Dutch" His wife was among the company present. Then, to an intimate friend, he confided how valuable the assistance of his wife had been. By her resourcefulness, tact, influence and valuable hints and little acts of courtesy in the borough, she had turned what at first looked like defeat into a victory. A certain baronet, head of a business concern with capital of over a million sterling, once admitted to me that It was through an idea of his wife-he termed 1t 8 providentlal inspiration-that he had
 won seat in the west country during the election at the time of the Boer war. His opponent made a sensation, and ap- parently a decided hit, by declaring that it was Lord Roberts wish for the people to vote for his party. The point went home, and a mere declaration that this
 was a "fib'' had little effect. Four days went by and the baronet was clearly los- ing ground Then his wife suggested that
 he should cable to South Africa to the | great soldier and ask him If he had any cognizance of the matter. The reply came that the story was false, and that his lordship as a soldier, held himself strict ly aloof from party politics. When the cable was read out to a mass meeting It acted as O thunderbolt, and the baronet obtained the seat.
 | It was a woman who won a certain
 tory his seat at the late election. He
 had consented to stand for what looked like a safe seat. Then labor candidate with decided socialistio ten dencies was pitted against him. The lat ter had the gift of speech, and easily carried his audience with him. He was winning all along the line. Ills oppo- nent was not a good speaker and very | scon got terribly "jeckled." It was after such meeting that he returned home very Respondent, and informed his wife | of the hopelessness of the situation. She said very little but her brain was active. Next morning she sought the assistance of an influential and titled lady friend in the neighborhood. | What was the result? In few days the | labor candidate was seen visiting this particular lady, and quoting her remarks | to his hearers. He attended her dinners, where he met many influential and well | known people.
 But this action was his downfall. Those | who had listened so attentively and spell bound to his proposed programme of re- | forms began to sheer at the working man | candidate who went out to dinner with Lady-- and hobnobbed with aristocrats | He cannot have our interests at heart they began to say to themselves and lost faith in him. As his popularity declined | his opponents increased. and he found himself a defeated man. Perhaps you will say this was not playing the game. That may be so; but you know the old saying, "Alrs fair in love and war"
 His wife is a marvel!' said an cleo
 tion agent to me the other day. "She
 gave me more hints in ten minutes than her husband Ghe candidate) did in a week.
 The Headquarters of the women's politi- cal societies were not the only feminine haunts to become centers of activity up- on the announcement of a general cleo | tion. The salons of the west and milli- ners and dressmakers were also drawn into the vortex, and were daily thronged with women ordering clothes for the cam
 paign The modern are of electioneerfng makes a call upon the mental resource. political knowledge and physical energy | of it's exponent, but when that exponent chosen toilette is by no means to be over- looked. While exaggerated fashions must be avoided, it is at the same time a
 mistake to pay no attention to the nice- ties of dress for self-confidence springs | from the knowledge that one is becom- | ingly gowned, and self-conhdence is a | quality which the successful canvasser needs in full measure. Strong boots and short skirts Is the eminently pra-
 tical advice which one great organiza- tion of women impresses upon its army of canvassers For platform wear, how ever, the abbreviated skirt Is not to DO
 recommended A smart hat, which does
 not obscure the face, should be chosen.
 and if veil Is worn 1t should be raised
 when speaking.
 | Cost of Living
 From the Philadelphia Ledger. | "You are charged with allowing your