The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-26
Mrs. Hathaway Will Not Run
Again; Says Miss Rankin's
Actions Have Injured Cause
Woman Legislators Record
at Helena Remarkably
Efficient.
MEN CHANGE OPINION
Skepticism Gives Way After
Demonstration of Real
Ability.

Helena. Feb. 25.-Spccial ~ m mol 4
going to RIM again. ! believe dear
sister Jeanette has Killed the Womans
chances for office in Montana.
This was the striking statement
made at the close Of the Legislative ses-
sion Nv Mrs. Maggie smith Hathaway
the representative from lsavalli. Mrs.
Hathaway. and her woman colleague.
Mrs. E.mms, \. Ingalls,, have won the
affection, regard and respect OF inc
members Of the lower house for their
conduct and attitude, not only through
the special session now closing, bot
through the regular session a year
ago.
Mrs. Hathaway said she had not de-
cided. until she came here, whether
she would be Il candidate again or not.
..Bnt j have talked with the men
who are members she said and
they have convinced me that the way
Miss Rankin has acted in congress and
out Of 1t, has hurt the women Of Mon
tana very much
"less Deadly Than the Male"
Contrary to Mr.. Kipling's widely ex-
pressed idea, the female of the species
IL less deadly than the male--at least
NO far as the Montana state legislature
Il concerned Persons who, when
Mrs. Hathaway and Mrs. ingalls, were
chosen members Of the lower house
from Ravalli and Flathead counties
viewed with alarm" On Witnessed
with concern" the prcsense Of women
legislators, find now that their fears
were groundless. And they admit it
It has been just as Mrs. Hathaway
expressed it today:
I'VE haven't been spectacular at all"
Both Are Hard Workers.
But a certain lack of the sensational
In their activity hero is by no means
Indicative that they nave been idle
They have not. They have worked.
And they have worked effectively.
The two counties in the banana
belt" OF Montana. over across the hill,
may he termed fortunate in having so
wisely chosen the first two women
legislators who ever sat in the house
Of representatives of their state, While
some may question the success of Mis-
soula.s choice in tho lower house at
Washington, there has been no occa-
sion OF disappointment with either
Mrs. INGALLS, Or Maggie v as the
lady from Ravalli is frequently re-
ferred to--and not at All disrespcct-
fully-by some of her colleagues.
Experienced Business Women.
They arc both experienced business
women. familiar with public methods
and association in affairs with bust
ness men. Mrs. Hathaway has held
public office before and knows what
that means. For some years she was
county superintendent of schools in
Helena, and she has held other offices
in the county where she now lives.
And so. as she tells il:
II was not particularly moved by my
experience in coming here as legsla-
tor. In fact | think that tn" men
who had sat before and knew what II
was to be surrounded by men only as
members. We're n little bit less com
Portable about it than ! was.
Men Amused at First,
II could see in tho attitude of some
Of them though they always have
been most courteous-that 1t was hard
for them to accustom themselves to our
being among them. That, however,
has largely worn away and now it
doesn't cause the least hit OF hilarity
when, for instance, | am asked 10 pre-
side in committee of the whole.
when first came. there Were some
members who thought. perhaps, they
might lead me---hut they soon found
ont that / could vote no when they
voted yes, and vice versa without feel
ing | had done something | shouldn't,
And I'm sure now. that II" IuCn mem
bers of this house would b. distinctly
disappointed If they shOul. hear us
vote against some measure tor the good
of public morals,
Leaders on Moral Questions.
They look upon us both - t}u' lead
ers, believe. in the sentiment for publ
lie morality, and I'm sure they Would
think less of us if We should d' any
thing which would hurt their vi,W.
was chairman of the public moIdis
committee which directed the ahnu.
ment law through the house, and
think that established my position OF
such qucstions--if it needed establish
ment."
Mrs Hathaway doesn't seem 10 min,
the fact that among her Immediate
neighhors on the floor Of the house at,
those who have opposed the dry scUt1