The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-10-04
GEORGIA FIRST.
. TO lave WOMAN
: -....O SENATOR
Governor Hardwick Appoints
Mrs. w. H. FELTON, to Sue
ceed Senator Watson.
PROMINENT IN POLITICS
FOR NEARLY so YEARS
Hardwick Announces Senatorial
Candidacy - Seven Can
didates Are in Race.
(ey Tho Associated Rresa.A \


ATLANTA, Oct. 3-A woman from
Georgia today won the. distinction of be-
ing the first of her sex to obtain appoint
ment to the United States senate, when
Mrs. w. H. FELTON,, of Cartersville, Ca,
long known as the Grand old woman
Of Georgia." was appointed by Governor
Hardwick as senator to succeed the late
Thomas z. Watson until the November
elections when a successor will be chos-
en- at the polls. Mrs. FELTON, Is 81 years
Of age and has been prominent in state
politics for nearly helf a century.
Mrs. FELTON, has accepted the office and
Is explaining her gratitude for tile honor,
stated that 1t was going to thrill the ma
ton when the news Is conveyed from the
lakes to the gulf, that a woman has been
chosen to become member Of the Unit
ed States Senate.
England borrowed an American born
woman" said Mrs. FELTON,. "to accept a
seat in the British parliament, but noble
old Georgia experienced no need to bor-
row. and she alone of the forty eight
states in the United States has a govern
or with courage to say so, and confirm
the saying by an executive proclama-
ton"
Before rendering the appointment to
Mrs. FELTON,. Governor Hardwick through
mutual friends offered the office to Mrs.
Thomas E, Watson. widow of Senator
Watson, who, the governor said, declined
1t because of Ill health.
In a statement today, Mrs. FELTON, said
at was eminently fitting that this posi-
ton should have been rendered to the
widow Of the senator"
"For myself" said Mrs. FELTON, in a
communication to. Governor HardwicI.
II wish to thank you. expressly and en-
phatically in the name of thousands of
Georgia women-wives, mothers, grand
mothers, and great. grandmothers-wh
are enthusiastic Georgians and who rep
resent the state IN various lines of noble
philanthropy and endeavors."
Mrs. FELTON, was born in Dekaib county,
Georgia. June 10, 1885. She was the old
est child Of Charles and Eleanor (Swift)
Lattimer. She was married October IL,
1853 to DR.. w. Fl. FELTON,, who died in
1909. Five children were born to this
union, but only one of them, DR.. Howard
e. FELTON,, survives.
Mrs. FELTON, has been one of the pr1n-
cipal exponents Of womans suffrage in
the south. She Is an active member Of
the Daughters of the American Revolu
ton, a member of the Colonial Danes of
America, and one of the earliest MEM
bers of the Atlanta womans club
She was summoned in the spring of
1921, to St Augustine. Fla. for a con-
ference with the then President-elect,
Warren G. Harding. Believing her to be
one of the outstanding representative
southern women prompted Mr.. Harding
to choose her for this mission,
Despite her advanced age, Mrs. FELTON,
is exceptionally active. She has a large
political following in the state and took
an active and positive stand for Governor
Hardwick during his recent campaign for
reelection.
simultaneously IN announcing the ap-
pointment of Mrs. FELTON,. Governor
Hardwick announced himself q candidate
for the unexpired term OF the late sena-
tor.
There are now seven candidates In the
senatorial race, the primary for which
will be held on October II. Besides Gov
ernor Hardwck, others are: John 7.
Ro1eufeillet. member of the state public
service: Judge Walter F. George, former
state supreme court justice; G. H. How
ard. campaign manager for Governor
elect Clifford Walker; Judge Horace Hol-
dan. former state supreme court justice;
Herbert A Clay. president Of the state
Senate and Carl F. Hutcheson, attorney
of Atlanta.