The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-04-27
MISS RANKIN LIKED
BY HER COLLEAGUES
(By ellison Gardner.)

Washington, April 21.-The first
woman congressman is generally
liked by her men colleagues. Their
attitude toward her may best to lik-
ened to that of a big family Of boys
to the one little sister. They all are
anxious to do something for her ana
in a kind brotherly way are over
whelming her with attention.
Miss Rankin is taking it all with
dignified composure. She has not
been swept off her feet, nor is she
austere or unfriendly. She evidently
is of the mind that likes people, ana
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 thorough
ly womanly; does not suggest the
hard-visaged feminist of the cartoons
and at the same time she avoids any
suggestion of the firtatious or coy.
There is nothing Of the purring pussy
about jeanette.
AS TO- suffrage the. fact that she
is In congress is the best evidence
that Miss Rankin is good suffra-
gist. To obtain the ballot for woman
is the one big thing to her. Other
issues she views rather broadly
perhaps typically. She Is not slant
minded nor an extremist Her mind
is open and honest and she has evl-
dent courage. to back her convictions,
even though she may vote in tears.
Her vote against war was good
illustration. She had expected 10
vote for war. She had not given the
matter much thought, but her broth
er, who was also her backer and
campaign manager, had advised her
strongly to vote a mans vote" on
the 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 de-
bate began and was there when the
vote was taken. Then she did the
same thing in the house By mid
night on the day the vote was taken
she had about made up her mind to
vote against war;, and she then re-
tired to her room in the house o.
flee building to have final session
with herself alone and behind locked
doors.
It has been widely he-alded that
Miss Rankin sobbed when she del1v-
cred her vote; which is true But 1t
is not generally kuown that a tele-
gram announcing the death of near
relative was delivered to her just be-
fore the balloting and that there were
other causes for emotion than the
mere contemplation of war.
That Miss Rankin is possessed OF
large measure of that is amply ev-
idenced by the breakfast which was
given in her honor the day of her
arrival in Washington. This break
fast was pulled off under the joint
auspices of the iW7omen's party (ne>
the Congressional Union) and the Ma
tional Woman Suffrage association.
and On her right was Miss Alice Pau
of the first organization, and on her
left Mrs. Carrie Gait Of the second
organization; and no scratches were
exchanged.
Miss Rankin has had lot of col
leagues to get acquainted with.
Every one of the 434 members OF the
house felt the first day that it was
his solemn duty to meet the member
from Montana, and Representative
John NJ. Evans of Missoula suddenly
found himself as colleague from
Montana" a person of large and
pleasant responsih il He is now
almost as we'll En in the house
as the body frol ma.
Miss Rankin nard job. II
she pleases half tn suffragists she
will be pretty sure to offend the other
half. If she pleases one politicall
party she will offend the other. And
every girl in her State and district
who wants a job and can't get it will
be quite sure that woman suffrage
is a failure.