Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
Many Factors Responsible
For Mrs. Langley's Victory

Inherent loyalty of the Kentucky
mountain folk to their own, ancient
resentment against "revenuers" and
the new tendency to recognize a sort
of dover right in public Office all are
credited with playing part in the
nomination of the wife of John w.
Langley to succeed to his seat in
Congress, while he serves a term in
prison for violating prohibition laws
Mrs. Langley will be Kentucky's
woman member Of Congress. as nomi-
nation is equivalent to election in her
Republican district.
Replying to some commentators
who seem to regard the nomination
OF Mrs. Langley as popular vindica-
ton of her husband, assuming the
normal Kentucky feeling toward the
prohibition law to have been the domi-
mating factor" the Philadelphia Eve
ming Bulletin independent Repub-
lawless and 1t would, at least. be more
charitable to credit her people with
sympathy for the unfortunate spouse.
If Mrs. Langley succeeds to his seat
in the House, she will be able to give
it the benefit of practical experience
in any matters having to do with
childhood, as she is the mother of
three, and unless her pictures do her
more than justice, she will be a con-
siderably more ornamental addition
to the House than some who have
been elected
1.-THE plucky fight waged by Mrs.
Langley" says the Louisville Herald
Post independently has been crowned
with a victory that is impressive.
Some people will affect to be shocked.
will toI1
the courts and all that sort Of thing
For ourselves, we like to ponder the
comment Of one of the home folks in
an earlier day. john he observed,
wore the breeches. The lady had the
brains Now brains Is something Of
which Washington, or the Kentucky
delegation In Washington. cannot
have too much. And SO we take pleas.
ure in felicitating the Representative
from the tenth that is to be. Without
dwelling on the circumstances, we
know that she will amply make good"
AS bearing upon her performance Of
duties. the Charlotte Observer Demo
cratic) directs attention to the fact
that Mrs. Langley. it might be stated
as a matter of North Carolina interest
Is a daughter of the late Representa-
tive Gudger. She Is to become known
as Kentucky's first woman Congress
man., as there is no Democratic
candidate in her mountain district,
and In her case nomination means
election" The Observer feels that the
primary result lis to be taken as de-
termination on the part of Kentucky
Republicans in the direction Of vindi-
cation"
The Lexington Leader Republican,
is convinced that 1.-The result, In great
degree, may be traced to the inherent
loyalty of the mountain folk, the thick
and-thin friendship which overlooks
many defects and condones many Of
lenses. John Langley. it must be re-
membered," continues the Leader.
served his district through nine
terms Of Congress and was reelected
for the tenth. That he was able, in a
region where politics Is an industry,
time after time to ride down opposi-
ton Is an indication Of the strong per-
sonal attachment that his constituents
had for him. In the tenth district
there are thousands of voters who be-
lieve that the convicted Representa-
tive was the victim Of political con-
spiracy. while other thousands are
equally as certain that he, at most.
was overtaken by misfortune in an
innocent effort to serve a friend or
friends"
The triumphant wife's word of
thanks to her supporters. especially
the mountain women" Is viewed as
significant by the Brooklyn Eagle Din
dependent Democratic), which goes
back to the days following the Civil
War, when Union supporters In that
region resented the revenue tax and
their spirit vas one of defiance, the
defiance that rebukes inggatitude. So