Evening star., 1925-07-14

How much sentiment was involved
In the election OF Mrs. Edith NourSe
Rogers OF Lowell, Mass, as New Eng
lands first woman Representative in
Congress? Was 1t merely coinci-
dence that her husband, the late Rep
resentative John Jacob Rogers, was
an efficient and popular official"
was her overwhelming victory an
Endorsement of herr own personal
qualities? These questions are now
being debated in revived discussion
of the growing tendency to elect
widows as successors to their nus
bands in public Office.
This is a spectacle" says the
Duluth Herald, that was but lately
seen for the first time. Who shall
say that this country will not yet see
not now, perhaps, but some time
the crowning spectacle of woman
President? The vote In the NTH
Massachusetts may mean one or all
of several things-that the Republic
an party is very strong now and the
Democratic party very weak; that
Mrs. Rogers has great personal
strength or Mr.. Foss great personal
weakness And one other thing one
would like to know. The vote repre-
sents something less than half the
vote cast last November. Where were
the rest of the men and women who
should have been taking part?
X y
No political meaning is seen by the
Canton News in the election of Mrs.
Rogers. She not only made a senti-
mental appeal as the widow of a for
ner Representative" declares the
News. but the district Is overwhelm-
ingly Republican. Besides, ex-GoV.
Foss, originally a Republican, then a
Democrat when elected CHIEF execu-
tive, more recently has been mug
wump. and Massachusetts Democrats
have recently shown liking for TAX
ing their politics straight"
Referring to the elections or Mrs.
Ross in Wyoming, Mrs. Ferguson III
Texas and Mrs. John Roach as sherltf
in Keutucky, the Louisville Post finds
a new element involved. The tend
ency to console in this way" the
Post remarks, lis proof that what
every woman knows every man no"
knows. too. 1t is recognition or the
part the wife played in the achieve.
ments of her. husband. Capable OF
insniring deeds, she is also likely to
be capable of performing them. The
percentage of fine service from this
source is apt to run as high as in
officers selected on any other basis.
A highly discriminating choice based
on qualifications alone is seldom made
in this democracy" Taking the same
point of view, the Hartford Times sug-
gests that Mrs. Rogers is rated as
woman of character and ability and
is expected by her friends to prove
her fitness for the post.
That Mrs. Rogers is "a force to be
reckoned with in Conress," is the opin-
ion of the Brooklyn Eagle, which
enumerates as her qualifications: She
Is regarded as a capable thinker, she
went overseas with the Red Cross and
she has personally represented Presi-
dent Coolidge in the investigation OF
veterans hospitals"
The new Representative services
to the veterans are lauded by the
Providence Bulletin. "She has not re
ceived much public -~aise for the
work which she has done" the Bull
letin explains, but the veterans them
selves know about 1t and have recog'
niZed her fine service. She has been
a tireless worker in the interest of
the men whose claims have been
held up"
Criticizing the idea of sentiment in
hlling the Office, the st. Paul Dispatch
declares that "a public Office IS not
regarded, as private property in this
country, with any dover rights fc,. the
| widow or inheritance by the eidest
SON. In similar vein. the Fargo
Forum contends that sit is to be hoped
that 1t was not merely because OF