The Washington times., 1914-06-22
Suffrage Seen Through
Fiction Spectacles

Into the rattling cross fire of suf-
frage and antisuffrase, Mrs. Isabel
Gordon Curtis has interiected The
Congresswoman." The author is the
wife of Francis Curtis. the historian
of the Republican party. and is
resident of Washington. The story
deals intimately with Washington
life. and treats the suffrage move
ment from the practical point of
view of the Capital City. II aims 10
depict the career OF the first woman
elected TO Congress Grom Okla homap.
and TO state as the fruit of her ex-
perience certain conclusions respect
ing the great suffrage movement
MIS-. Curtis is an antisuffragist.
Lest one be misled into mis,aklnS
a novel for treatise. it should be
said that Mrs. Curtis has tod a
story that will appeal as delightful
fiction. one that may be read Tor It's
moral or its romance. as one pleases.
wealthy widow, charming in per-
son and brilliant in mind. is elected
TO Congress from the Tenth Okla
homa district. She is not reformer,
in the unpleasant sense of that word.
but just a sprightly human being,
nominated on forlorn hope, and
whom the exposure of her antagon-
lists wicked record at the eleventh
hour has swept into the National
House, 10 the genuine surprise of
herself and her constituents.
Cynthia Pike. the Congresswoman,
is a fascinating character all the
way through. and her own summary
OF her political conclusions, at the
end of her two years of service.
presented as her farewell speech to
InuSa . NJ i'm
pressiveness that is foreign to many
platform speeches with which, in
careful brevity, the book is studded.
In the mouth of Jane Hagner. a
veteran suffragist who never parts
with her common sense. is placed
some of the most telling arguments
advanced for and against the
cause
Appearances Count.
A sturdy wit enhances the many
striking comments on the suffrage
question. presented from time to time
by the characters Thus says Mrs.
Schaffer. of the Tenth district. a
level-headed housewife, when the
women OF the Suffrage League are
discussing possible candidates for
Congress:
Everything is against my going.
A womsn's mirror teaches her COM
mon sense. ! am plain looking. and
old, with plain country WAYS You
can send the Queerest old masculine
fossil that can be dug up TO Con-
sress and nobody cares a whoop
what he looks like. But when II
comes to the frst woman. not Eve,
but the first Congresswoman, we've
got TO pick the choicest thing in
sicht-as we do when we send the
biggest pumpkin to a fair
So they picked Cynthia Pike and
she was elected.
hiring the Pink Palace on Ave
nue. of the Presidents for a residence
and engaging an honest and compe-
tent Okla noma newspaper man as
secretary. Cynthia begins her career
as ConEresswoman. the chairman
of her committee. Grebs. is back of
\ phany bill. and Congressman
Stephen Cabot of Virginis-saId to
be the prototype of a well known
politician OF that Srste-constitutes
himself her friend and respectful
adviser. Cynthia already. in her
speech of acknowledgement to the
house. has stated her political
philosophy
Il came here today 20 my seat in
congress" she says, after sleep
less night, prepared for hostility.
cold looks, disdain, antipathY, even
avowed antag onism. Instead 1 found
courteous difference. alec such
chivalry and triendliness that I feel
ashamed Of the fears l had.
II we are to achieve the reforms our
platform stands for. II cannot be
done by sex antaSonism. but by
working hand in hand with men,
Who have made the United States a
power in the world. and who have
already given to our sex more privil-
eyes than any other nation accords
to its women
Her Disillusion.
But Congresswoman Pixies disilIu-
sion comes remorselessly. though it
does not embitter her.
'Grcbe did rot ask you TO pledge
yourself or anything of that sort?"
asks Congressman Cabot of her one
day.
Cynthia looked squarely into the
eyes of the man beside her.
No. II he had done that. / should
have suspected him at once"
That's what they call loE-roll-
ing, confessed the Nirginian: If
he had promised support of a bill
YOU might want to put through"
No" answered the Congresswom-
an. slowly. he did not dare He un-
derstands ! dislike him. He knew
tonight. for instance"
Don't show il TOO plainly ad
vised Cabot 7 should never pick
out Grebe for a friend-nor an enc
my
Il want him TO stay my enemy
said C;nthia. with sudden hauteur.
II even a man could come to
Congress and have no mail follow
him. mis- life in Washington would
hc nearer the unceasing round OF
joy that manv Of a Congressman
constituents think II is. Congress
woman Pike, with her woman's ma
ture. felt tn. imposition as keenly
Cnnre srinnal hrridce