The Washington herald., 1922-11-26


The "two picture sessions" up
at the Capitol last week crowded
the galleries and presented a
spectacle as interesting if not as
exciting as any which Philadel-
phia had to offer - the formal
opening of the extra session of
Congress on Monday and the
joint session on Tuesday, at
which President Harding deliv-
cred his message and brought the
ship subsidy proposals to the at
tention of the Senate and the
House.
IN Tuesday. OF course. the
President was the center Of
attraction and the galleries Of
the House chamber were crowded
10 capacity. But on Monday in
terest centered on that engaging
little lady, 81 years young, who
has the distinction OF being the
first woman to sit in the Senate.
True. Rebecca Latimer FELTON,.
the Gentleman from Georgia"
was not sworn in that day, the
Senate adjourning Immediately
after it had convened out of re
spect for the memory Of the late
Senator Tom Watson. And II was
not until Tuesday that she took
the oath of office and, through
the courtesy of Senator-elect Wal
ter F. George. of Georgia, had
her brief hour Of triumph on the
Senate floor. Next day she made
a speech, the first woman's voice
TO be heard from the floor OF the
Senate.
But the spectators on the open
ing day had their fiat glimpse
Of Senator FELTON," and could
see her as she received one after
another the greetings Of her col
es-for-the-moment. It was a
delight to watch her, too, an old
world figure in her simple black
gown with a bit of soft white
about her throat, as she patted
the hands of the younger men,
bers of the Senate or rose to
meet face to face and foursquare
such veterans as Senator Lodge.
Poor little lady, she had her
credentials with her, all neatly
done up in a cardboard roll, but
got no chance to present them
that day. But, as fate would
have it, on the other side of the
Capitol Mrs. winifred Mason
Huck. Representative-elect from
Illinois, arrived sans credentials
she had forgotten them or neg
lected to bring them for some
reason-had almost to annihilate
a doorkeeper before she could
persuade him to admit her-and
was sworn in anyhow.
THIS was the day of the great
''con game"-as one clever
newspaper correspondent put it
congratulations and condolences
coming thick and fast as mem
bers of the Senate and the House
broke up into little groups to
greet one another. And a plain
tive note was voiced by Miss
Alice Robertson, Representative
from Oklahoma. who was defeat
ed in her race for reelection and
will go out when this Congress
dies. IT'S Well. old man. how
are your accompanied by a
hearty slap on the hack" she
said. whenever two or three Of
'em get together, But I don't no.
tice anyone slapping me on the
back or saying, Well. old woman.
we'll hate to lose you"
There was humor in that, but
pathos as well, for Aunt Alice"
tried to play mans politics in a
mans way-and went down to
defeat.
THE absence OF Mrs. Harding
from her accustomed place in
the presidential pew" on both
days was generally commented
upon and with keen regret. She
was most anxious to be present,
of course, when the President
read his message. But, equally
Of course. 1t was quite out of the
question. as she hasn't yet left
her sick room. However. she
sent Mrs. Edward Beals Mclean