The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-16
SOCIAL RANK OF
CAPITAL WOMEN
NOW in DISPUTE
by CHARLES p. STEWART
NEA Service Writer

Washington, Feb l6.--Does a con-
gresswoman socially outrank the wife
Of cabinet officer?
rms is serious question, now
that women are breaking into Con-
eress IN increasing numbers ALREADY
quarter of dozen strong. 1t needs
to be answered Immediately, but
there's no prospect of it.
The highest authorities disagree.
That cabinet officer outranks a
representative is well recognized
principle Of social law. 1t seems to
follow naturally that his wife out
ranks representatives wife. Pre-
sumably he Ga cabinet officcr) out
ranks congrcsswoman. too. Only.
as between cabinet officers Cat any
rate until some woman gets poll-
foliO) and congresswomen, there isn't
much prospect of a clash.
But, as between cabinet officers
wives and couyrcsswVnscn, there.
such prospcct--or rather, it's right
with us now.
How They Figure
When the present Washington
season" opened the capitals social
arbtcrs' first thought seems to have
been TO class cong resswomcn FLOR
cncc p. Kahn, Mary r. Norton and
Edilh N. Rogers among representa-
tives' wives, as. indeed, Congrcsswo-
men Kahn and Norton (nct Congress
woman Rogers had been.
But the White House dopcs the
situation out differently.
here it's argued that an official
status is binding and that. before it,
a social status has to give way. Well,
congrcsswoman has an offic al
status and cabinet officers wife
has none. She shines only by re-
Elected ligh.. A congrc: woman
shines by her own.
What The White House thinks has
great deal Of weight.
But, after all, there's only one
White House and there arc 10 "cab-
met ladies' not all wives, for there
arc some widowcrs in the cabinet.
This makes social Washington step
and refler..
If it were case Of the White
House versus one cabinet lady" So
cial Washington would make up its
mind in minute lon the White
Houses side. But one against TO-:
That's pretty heavy odds.
The Custom
Now, if anybody imagincs this is
all bosh and that it doesn't really
matter bit who takes precedence OF
whomsocver else in official Washing
ton, let him consider the interesting
fact that the members of Congress
and Of The Supreme Court of the
United States have been received
separately at the White House ever
sir"n President Cievelands day.
What does that signify?
Why, it signifies THAT it never has
been possible to determine since then
whether Supreme Court justice
takes precedence Of senator or a
senator of Supreme Court justice.
Previously the justices and the
senator's had been received by the
president by luck and chance-first
come, first served.
But Chief Justice Fuller raised the
point that he and his associates were
bigger men than senators ANA ought
TO come first in line. The senator's
refused to yield.
How Cleveland Did 1t
Cleveland had to decide the DIS
putc and didn't dare to decide either
way. So he split the receptions up.
He never invited a senator and SUI
premc Court justice to call on MN
at the same time. He was afraid
they'd fall to pulling one anothcr's
hair if he did.
That disputes been pending for
25 or 30 years. 1t looks as II an
other ono was about to start now.