Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-11-21

WASHINGTON, Nov, 20.-Mrs.
w. H. FELTON,, of Georgia, waited, in
vain for an hour and half in the
senate chamber today to learn
whether senate leaders would permit
her to take her seat as the first
woman senator in view of the recent
election of Walter F. George as her
Successor. After much scratching Of
heads over the problem, the senate
managers decided to let decision go
over until tomorrow.
In both senate and house tho gavel
beginning the new session dropped
few minutes after IL o'clock, and
. then in both chambers there followed
the usual formalities which attend
the turning over of a new page In
congressional history. The program
= on both sides was so arranged as to
permit adjournment after these cere'
monies until tomorrow, as mark OF
respect for the late Senator Watson.
tive Nolan, of California.
Mrs. FELTON, took the most direct
method to impress upon senate lead
ers that if she did not succeed in TAX
Ing her seat as the first woman sen.
ator, it would not be through any
fault of hers. &
NJ hn1 hot
gavel was to fall. opening the special
session o. congress, she entered the
senate chamber on the arm of for
mer Senator Hoke Smith, of her
state, sent her bonnet and cloak to
,be hung up in the Democratic cloak
room, and took up a position on a
sofa on the Democratic side, with
her senatorial commission in her
lap.
Leaders Perplexed
Meantime, senate leaders, perpleX-
ed whether to allow her to take her
seat in view Of the election of Walter
F. George as successor at the recent
election, continued their conferences
Z on the subject and indicated they
night delay a decision until tomor-
row. They laid out a program for
today which provided for adjourn.
nent almost as soon as the session
opened, as mark of respect for
the late Senator Watson, Of Georgia,
to whose place Mrs. FELTON, was ap-
pointed by Governor Hardwick.
Mrs. FELTON, appeared undisturbed
kept her vigil l.. the chamber she
tod inquirers that when oppertuni-
ty offered, whether it was today or
tomorrow, she would present her
credentials and then, if they were
not honored, she would make a
speech. AS a former senator, even by
appointment, she would have the
privilege Of remaining on the senate
floor, but could not take part in the
proceedings.
There was a demonstration in the
galleries half an hour before the SEN
ate convened when former Senator
Smith escorted Mrs. FELTON, down the
center aisle of the chamber to the
vice presidents room and introduced
her to Mr.. Coolidge. The galleries,
filed mostly with women, applauded
ana the dSSo WOI1llll olOppSu
lust before the chair of the presid-
ing officer, turned and threw kiss
to those who had greeted her, as the
first woman ever to be appointed to
the senate.
From a place in the rear of the
seats on the Democratic side Of the
chamber, the hty-seven-year-old
"grand old woman of Georgia" peer
ed out through her spectacles upon
the opening formalities of the spe-
cial session and then, without a men
ton of her name having gone into
the senate record saw an adjourn
ment taken until tomorrow as
mark of respect for the late Senator
Watson, to whose place she hao
been appointed by Governor Hard
wick.
The senate was in session only
thirteen minutes, adjournlng with
out giving an opportunity to Mrs
FELTON,, or any other new senator's
to take the oath Of office.