Evening star., 1922-11-21
MRS. FELTON, TAKES.
0ATHASF|RST US.
WOMAN SENATOR
Ceremony Follows Presenta.
ton of Her Case by Walsh
of Montana.
APPLAUSE on FLOOR
WHEN SHE WINS OUT
Precedents Traced Many Years to
Show Her Right to As
sumo Seat.

SumC HVdts
Mrs. W. H. FELTON,, the grand old
lady of Georgia" won her fight to-
day for a seat for a day as the first
woman senator.
She took the oath of ofiice follow
ing a discussion by Senator Walsh OF
Montana. democrat. Of her right to pre-
sent herself and be sworn in.
Senator Walsh discussed the prece-
dents in cases similar to that OF Mrs.
made by a governor of a state to NIL
a vacancy in the Senate pending the
election of a new senator. Tracing
these precedents from the earliest
days of the republic, Senator Walsh
pointed out that the invariable prac-
tinue in Office the appointee OF a gov.
ernor until the senator-elect should
present. himself and his credentials
and take his place on the floor. Sena-
tor-elect Walter F. George OF Georgia
has withheld presenting himself and
might have an opportunity Of being
sworn in.
Il do not believe there can be any
doubt as to the right of this lady to her
seat on the floor Of the Senate. said
Senator Walsh in concluding his argu-
ment. He said that he had discussed
the matter merely to show Mrs. Eel
toms right to be sworn in. and that 1t
was not merely an act of courtesy or
gallantry on the part of the Senate to
permit her to take the oath of office.
There was scattering applause In
the galleries and on the floor OF the
Senate when Mrs. FELTON, was con-
Quoted by Senator Harris Of Georgia
to the Vice Presidents desk to take
the oath. The oath was administered
by Senator Cummins of Iowa. presi-
dent pro tempore of the Senate. In the
absence of the Vice President.
In her capacity as a former sena-
tor Mrs. FELTON, attended the joint ses-
sion, walking to the House chamber
with senators on the arm Of Senator
Harris.
Surprised by Action.
The move of Senator Walsh. which
was at first interpreted as leading up
to an objection, took the Senate by sur
prise. Senate leaders were prepared
to have Mrs. FELTON, sworn in and did
not expect any objection to be raised.
Senator Harris. in presenting Mrs.
hope that no senator would object to
her being received and added that
Senator-eiect Walter F. George. had
very generously withheld his Gre
dentials so that Mrs. FELTON, might
take the oath" Senator Harris re-
cited the appointment of Mrs. FELTON,
by Gov. Hardwick as the successor
Of the late Senator Watson.
Senator Walsh Immediately arose and
said that he was very sure no senator
desired to withhold recognition from
this estimable and worthy woman the
81, 70 1o or
consistently with sense Of duty"
Wants to BE Sure Of Law.
But it would do very little credit to
bership," said Senator Walsh. ''if the
Constitution, which we all have sworn
to support and to which she must sub
scribe il she takes the oath, forbids 1t.
Silence was profound in the Senate
as Senator Walsh continued with his
composed largely of women. was on
hand, despite the attraction of the
Presidents appearance in the House.
Mrs FELTON, arrived at II 80, and, after
taking her wraps to the democratic
cloakroom, was given seat. amid a
ripple of applause from the galleries.
The eighty-seven-year- woman
wore a black dress with a large lace
collar and black gloves. She was
greeted by a number of senators and
Representative Alive Robertson, the
woman member from Oklahoma.
Credentials Of Senators Pepper and
Reed of Pennsylvania, and Senator
elect Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware
were presented to the Senate before
Senator Harris brought up the case
of Mrs. FELTON,.
Says Doubt Ii Raised.
Senator Walsh. in his address, said
that very grave doubt" had been
cast on Mrs Felton's title by Gov.
statement, and said the precedence
ought to be considered before the
Senate acted in Mrs. Felton's case.
Referring to the election of Sena-
tor-elect George on November z, Sen
ator Walsh said Mrs. Felton's term
might have expired on election day
of which the Senate should take ju-
dicial notice. The case was important
Senator Walsh said, as a precedent
might result. If Senator elect George
had died the day after election, Sen
ator Walsh said, a very serious Ques-
ton would have been presented.
Senator Walsh also referred to the
precedcnts in the rulings of former
Vice President Marshall in similar
cases where it was held that terms
of appointive senators expired on the
election day at which their successors
were chosen.
while Senator Walsh was speaking
Mrs FELTON,, who again had received
applause from the gallery on her ar
rival in the chamber, was an impas-
siyeN listener. She previously had an
nounced that il she were denied q
seat, she proposed to address the SEN
ate. E