The Washington herald., 1914-04-26
Feminine Writer Contests Argument
that Her Sex Does Not Care for
Statescraft and Points to Tolls
Debate.
Here is a Gaze for psychologists.

VINO are WITNESSING
calling, Bring on the I'sychs-
In spite of all the theories Of the anti
suffragists. who say that politics are un-
interesting to the feminine mind, and also
the suffragists. no claim that women
are only interested in the political issues
that directly affect them and their prop
erty and home-why, o why, asks the
world Of men. do the women crowd the
galleries of the House and Senate to hear
thetolls repeal debates?
Every morning and afternoon during all
the debates women made up the greater
proportion of the gallery audience. Num-
ber= of them arrived early in the morning
TO insure a good seat and stayed through
to the afternoon session, having their
lunch served from the .ouse restaurant.
Bridge Party spurned.
The most frivolous woman of the writ
ers' acouaintance-she loathes even the
mention of votes for women, she adores
bridge, she would actually rather play
auction than do the one-step-this light
hearted soul rejected all invitations for
a game of cards during the days OF the
fight in the House. and spent long, long
hours in the gallery.
Now, why this remarkable concern in
the repeal of a stupid bill?
It is a question for psychologists
IN neT Enthusiasm NehAN
friend was not alone. There were dozens
more like her. She was just a bright
and shining example of the crowd OF
feminine patriots seen most any day OF
the debate when the percentage OF women
to men in the galleries was as 10 TO
in favor of the former.
OF course, any debate in the House or
Senate is a good show. 1t is spectacular
and il is. therefore, interesting. There
is. always a chance of our distinguished
lawmakers rising up and calling each
other names.
The man whose opinion l sought in my
perplexity over the reason for women's
interest in the debates declared that the
women went merely to see scrap. He
secuted the idea that they were Senu-
inely interested in tariff reform and in
such a question as preserving the ma
tional honor" Moreover he insisted that
a very good reason for women's presence
in the galleries was because they had
nothing else to do.
Oceans of Time.
Many Washington families live in apart
ment hotels. The uncertain joys of house
keeping and managing maids is for these
homeless ones nOneXistant- Therefore.
milady has oceans of unOccupied time on
her hands. Why not spend some OF II
However. this is only mans point of
view. Women can always find some en-
tertaining way to spend an afternoon. II
there is no dansant. no auction game,
no shopping expedition. no matinee. then
there is still left the joy of spending an
hour or two AT the music store and select
ing one graphophone record out of the
siXty-seven you try.
So the theory of nothing else to do il
disposed of.
Perhaps there is the fascination of a
fight that lures feminine persons all that
weary way to the Capitol Yet one days
attendance would convince even the most
imaginative woman in the world that the
tariff debate. though a battle. was not in
this case an electrifying battle. II was
for the most part an opportunity for the
ambitious lawmakers TO make speech.
1t was an elegant opportunity for them
TO get their lofty sentiments about pre-
serving the integrity Of the United States"
into the Congressional Record. OF course.
they sent a copy of the Record to each
constituent.
CAPITAL Women Interested.
Indeed. most every lawmaker who
smoke for the repeal spoke as did pretty
much all of his allies did. Few arguing
against the repeal had an original
thought At its best the debate was not
thrilling.
And so there's another Of the mans
theories put to fight.
The pleasure that women take in any
unusual event at Congress is mighty
good argument for the suffragists. Even
If our excessively frivolous and pleas
ure-Ioving sisters pretend not to care one
whit whether or not they can go to the
polls, yet in their hearts they must be
awaking to a genuine though involuntary
interest in politics.
Washington women as class are stu
dents of politics Suffragists or amt,
they are concerned in the manipulations
of the lawmakers I suppose in no other
city in the country where women have
not the right to vote nave they as sincere
an interest in the activities of the poll
tiCianS.
This may seem a bit strange when one
considers that there is no possible chance
Of women ever voting in the District. Yet
when one thinks about the matter the
reason for general feminine interest in
affairs of state is not obscure.
It's Uncle Sans Town.
Half Of the city's population is vitality
concerned in the government Washing
ton is distinctly an Uncle Sam town. The
members of the Senate. the House and
the Supreme Court, the newspaper cor
respondents. the government clerks in the
various departments. all of these i'm
part to their home folks an abiding zest
for the workings of the republic.
The feminine half Of the household nat
urally reflect the interest of their liege
lords Many women are as alive to the
value of the different measures before
Congress as are their husbands and
fathers.
l shall never forget one experience I
had with a woman versed in politics. 1t
happened shortly after l came to Wash
ington a bride. I had heard in a vague
way of the great men OF the country.
had seen Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Roosevelt
and I knew that Mr.. Bryan had run for
the Presidency three times. l also knew
that Mr.. Taft was very fat and very
jolly and that he gave lovely receptions
at the White House.
Knew la FoIIctte's Hair.
/ was prepared to call the names of the
Representatives. from my own State.
That Mr.. La Follette's hair stood up in
an emotional pompadOur. l was aware of,
and ] was sure of the fact that Mr..
Hamilton Lewis had pink whiskers. Mr..
Wilson had not yet appeared on the Pres
idential horizon. but I was vaguely con-
scious Of the fact that he was governor
Of New Jersey.
This was probably the extent of my
political knowledge. And was not
ashamed OF my store of learning. Rather
was / proud of knowing few of the &C.
centricities of natural genius.
This embarrassing experience that !
referred tc humbled me into realizing
how little I really knew. 1t was at a
dinner party of Congressional people and
newspaper correspondents and their wives