The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-05-04
MISS RANKIN IS
LIKED IN THE House
TREATED LIKE LITTLE SISTER
by HER "BIG BROTHER"
CONGRESSMAN.
BY gibson GARDNER

Washington, April 2S.--The first
woman Congressman generally is lik-
ed by her men colleagues Their at
titude toward her may best be liken-
ed to that of big family of boys to
the one sister. They all are anxious
to do something for her and in a
kind, brotherly way are overwhelm-
ing her with attention.
Miss Rankin is taking it all with
dignifed composure. She has not
been swept of her feet, nor is she
austere or unfriendly. She evidently
is of the mind that likes people, and
TO her, even men are people.
Miss Rankin is good type to
serve as first woman Congressman.
She is nice-looking, without being
pretty or beautiful. She wears good
clothes gracefully, but could not be
charged with being "dressy." She
is thoroly womanly; does not sug
gest the hardvisaged feminist of the
cartoons, and at the same time she
avoids any suggestion of the iirta-
tious or coy.
Has Courage or Conviction.
AS to suffrage, the fact that she
is in Congress is the best evidence
that Miss Rankin is a good suffra-
yist. To obtain the ballot for woman
IS the one big thing to her. Other
ssues she views rather broadly
Jerhaps typically. She is not slant
minded nor an extremist Her mind
IS open and honest and she has evil
dent courage to back her convictions
even tho she may vote in tears.
Her vote against war was a good
illustration. She had expected to
vote for war. She had not given the
matter much thought, but her broth
or who also was her hacker and
campaign manager, had advised her
strongly to vote a mans vote" on
he war issue. He assured her that
otherwise she would discredit herself
and justify the charge that women
were all alike and opposed to war
for sex reasons.
Miss Rankin heard all the debate
on the war resolution. She planted
herself in the Senate when the debate
began and was there when the vote
was taken. Then she did the same
In in n Int, 90
The day the vote was taken she had
about made up her mind to vote
against war. and she then retired to
her room in the House Office building
10 have a final session with herself
alone and behind locked doors.
Cause For SObs.
II had been widely heralded that
Miss Rankin sobbed when she de-
livered her vote; which is true. But
it is not generally known that a te-
legram announcing the death of a
near relative was delivered to her
just before the balloting and that
there were other causes for emotion
than the mere contemplation of war
That Miss Rankin is possessed of
la large measure of tact is amply
evidenced by the breakfast which
was given in her honor the day of
her arrival in Washington. This
breakfast was pulled off under the
Joint auspices of the Woman's Party
(nee the Congressional Union) and
the National American Woman Stuff
rage Association, and on her right
was Miss Alice Paul, of the first
association, and on her left. Mrs.
Carrie Gait, OF the second organiza-
ton; and no scratches were exchang-
ed.
Miss Rankin has had lot of coll
eagues to get acquainted with. Every
one of the 434 members of the House
felt the first day that it was his SOL
emn duty to meet the member from
Montana, and Representative John j.
Evans, of Missoula, suddenly found
himself as colleague from Montana
a person of large and pleasant re-
sponsibilities. He is now almost as
well known in the House as the lady
from Montana.
Miss Rankin has a hard job. If
she pleases half the suffragists she
Will be pretty sure to offend the
other half. If She pleases one politi-
cal party she will offend the other.
And every girl in the State and dis
trict who wants a job and can't get
it will be quite sure that woman suf-
frage is a failure.--Louisville Her
aid