The Washington times., 1917-02-26
Charming congressWoman.
elect, Here From West,
GiggIes Only a Little.
LIVES UP TO NEW DIGNITY
Favors Suffrage, Child Welfare,
Prohibition, and Other
Reforms.

-O-e@Af ENOs eoc-
woman Jeannette Rankin from Mon
tana, just arrived. tn New York, sat
demurely on a sofa in the home OF
Mrs James Lees Laidlaw. 9 East
sixty-sixth street, while ten eager re-
porters. their pencils poised in air,
waited in a line in front Of her for
her opinion on peace, preparedness,
what a lady representative ought to
wear on the floor of the House,
whether the suffrage pickets at the
White House ought to be withdrawn,
what chance Congressman Randall
has OF lining the new Congresswoman
up with the independents, and so
forth and so on.
Their pencils remained mostly
poised. The Hon. Miss Rankin has
made up her mind that the so-calied
feminine vice of discursiveness shall
not be hers. She is going to live up to
the dignity of her position, and she
did 1t 'nobly last night, barring a
tendency to burst into giggles when
the struggles OF her interviewers
were too much for her sense Of
humor.
"Do you intend to wear severe tailor
made clothes in Congress, or viii you
tighten up that dreary spot with q
few f1uffs and ruffies?" was the FIRST
question.
For workers' Protection.
Congresswoman Rankin looked down
at her hands, which were folded in
the lap OF her pretty black and white
marquisette dress.
what 1 stand for Is contained in
my platform" she said, smilingly.
Copies of her platform were handed
around. The planks are: National
suffrage, child welfare. tariff revision
for the protection OF the worker,
State and national prohibition, greater
publicity in Congressional commit
tees, farm loan law.
"Does that third plank mean that
you stand for high tariff or low
tariff?" demanded the reporters.
''Why, il means that when a tariff
bill is, Introduces in Congress will
study II to see IL it means the pro-
lection of the workers, and IL IL does
I will support it." Miss Rankin ex-
planned amiably.
Though you were elected on the
ticket, you will probably,
being a woman. be Independent, and
that means that you will be one OF
the small group Of independents Rep
Randall, the Prohibition
Ist OF California, Is trying to line up?"
the reporters.
81 really don't know anything
about that lining up OF the independ-
ents except what I've seen in the pa
Ders," sid Miss Rankin.
Hair Redf Absurd.
The reporters tried another tack.
Funny how the papers all had YOUR
hair red," they said, their eyes fxed
on the first and only Congresswom-
ans pretty chestnut locks, which go
we'll with her bright dark eyes and
the clear healthy complexion which
tells of outdoor campaigning on the
breezy Western plains.
Miss Rankin sat up, showing a
1igor, directness and excitement
which hitherto had been absent from
Ter diplomatic and highly profes-
Iional mien.
''Yes. Wasn't that absurdr' she
aid. Where did they get the idea
hat my hair was red?'
Asked as to what she thought Con-
yresss ought to do about the food
lots Congresswoman Rankin turned
diplomatic again.
Montana, last year raised enough
wheat to make 1O6 loaves OF bread for
very man, woman and child In Great
r New York" she said.
"Did that come to New York; de-
handed a literal person in her audi
nee.
Montana has nothing to do with
he marketing of her products" said
Iiss Rankin. But pressed to state II
hat meant down with the spectators
he only laughed.
"Pve had three babies named after
me-" she stated, taking pity on the de-
pairing interviewers. "Girl babies.
)ne in Montana, one in California and
ne in Connecticut. No, didn't send
hem any silver cups or anything, but
wrote and asked for their pictures.
IN, IL you knew what a tremendous
nail I've had since 1 was elected. I've
.ept two secretaries at work, or one
ecretary and one stenographer. But
read all the letters. I wouldn't miss
hem for the world" y
Millions of Women Write Her.
Thus started on "reminiscences,
Rankin became quite
oluble, developing a loquacity you
Touldn't suspect her capable of when
ou are questioning her as to her fu-
ure policy.
Absolutely millions of women have
1ritten to me-" she ran on. sitting up,
er face glowing. "Old ladies want
ne to get the pension they have been
rying to get for years, they say, and
ouldn't., They are sure a woman can
o something for them Schoolgirls
ave written to ask me If think they
an go to Congress some day. They
hink it would be so much nicer than
"You know. I think toe significance
{ my election is not what I'll stand
or so much-it doesn't matter so
luch whether / will support this or
hat bill--the big thing is that now
Tomen will be so much more interest
d in Congress. They will read about
Congress- to see what the woman Is
ding there. 1t has broken a prec-
dent, that is the important thing.