The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-11-13
CONCRESSWOMAN CLEANS HOUSE
PRACTlCINC FOR STAY IN CAPITAL
I BY Roy ]. Gibbons
NEA Staff Correspondent

Chicago, Nov. 13.-Mrs. Winnifre.
Mason Huck, newly elected congress
woman-at-large from Illinois, is prac
ticing for her job in Washington.
Cleaning house!
When l entered the home Of Mrs
Huck, she met me with dust rag
She had just put the finishin.
touches to the top Of the fami!,
piano. A cloth was tied about hcl
hair and she was dressed just a.
any other housewife during tn,
morning busting.
Mother, politician, wife and house
keeper-all these roles have beer
crowded into her 40 busy years nov
terminating in an honor which neve,
before had been bestowed on wo
man east Of the Mississippi. She is
going to Washington to fill the unex
pired term left vacant by the death
Of her father, William E. Mason
over a year ago.
"You've just come in time" she
greeted me with smile. "1'm prac.
ticing for my job at the capital.
Cleaning! Do you get what
mean?
"But there's one thing, abov;
everything else for which I'm going
to Washington. That is to make the
country safe from war. j My fathe,
was against war. And it is to full.
fill his ideas, suddenly terminated
by death, that l am accepting the
post. >,
"War Up to People"
"War is needless and futile. pur-
pose to have referendum taken on
the subject which will make a
declaration Of war. impossible, ex.
cept in case Of. attack upon this coun-
try. without first submitting the
question to direct vote of the peo-
pie. g.
whatever else I can accomplish
that has far-sighted effect will also
strive for. But to end war. That is
my main mission and purpose"
Politics is no new game for Mrs
Huck. Ever since a girl of 16 she
has been plunging into one campaign
or other. %
With. her father, she went about
the country listening to his stump
speeches. and ons occasions made .ad-
dresses herself in his behalf. r ..e.,.,
Her husband is a civil engineer
They met in Washington while at
tending high school together during
time when her father was serving
as senator.
4 They have been married almost &c
years and have four children, three
boys and girl.
She is "Carrying On
"I will only be in Congress until
next March, when my term expires"
she said. " .v7,
miracles cannot be expected in 50
short time from anyone. But, at
least, I can plant the seed of what l
stand for and what my father stood
for. 81 ..-.
1T is for him that I am carrying
on. My platform is one of open:
mindedness. %
II am a Republican only so far
as my party represents Republic
cans. But IL am a conscience can
didate. sand I will vote with my con-
science. 9 "a"
II will not represent any particu-
lar group, but with the opportunity
afforded, I will be especially inter-
ested in progressive legislation for
women. ....
II am dry and don't care who
knows it. And above all else l am
woman, with the heart and feel
ings and sympathies Of mother.
"And just as you see me cleaning
my house here today, with that same
kind of zeal and earnestness will l
endeavor to discharge my duties to
the people.
"The job ahead Of me is a>greas
one. l take it with fear and tremb-
ling and with a prayer on my lips.
But there are two great incentives
and examples to spur me on and
keep me guided right, l hope. n
"These are my father and his rec
ord. and the voters who sent me
to represent them"
----t