The Washington times., 1927-07-22
JEAN ELIOT'S NEWS OF CAPITAL SOCIETY
Mrs. Cunningham s Hat In the Ring;
Sister Lets Cat Out of the Bag
Democratic Club Secre-
.tary Will Run for Senate
in Texas in 1928
By JEAN ELIOT

Oy O11fAN GAAOA
p'NIOW it can be told" that Mrs.
IN Minnie Fisher Cunningham,
executive secretary of the Woman's
National Democratic Club, will run
for the Senate in Texas in 1928.
This prospect has been discussed
for some time among Mrs. Cum
ningham's friends. but they were
eworn to secrecy until such times
as she was ready to announce her
candidacy. But now comes word
from Galveston, Tex, that Mrs.
Cunninghan's sister, Mrs. r. M.
Traylur. has let the cat out of the
bag. Just home from a visit in
Washington, she has told the Gal
weston News-and they have "told
the world"-that Mrs. Cunningham
is to run. She is expected in Texas
next month.
Politics and a Sense of HumOr
Tt has been said that politics in
Texas have more pleasant aspects
than in any other State because
they are taken with a sense of
hunor rather than too seriously. So
there will probably be a certain
gayety to mark the campaign,
especially since a good many women
win be helping Mrs. Cunningham
in her fight.
II Take it from me, however, that
MRS. Cunningham's chances are not
ito be lightly regarded. Texas has
had a woman governor already
although it remains an open ques-
ton as to whether or not that
would predispose the Sovereign
State to try out woman Senator.
But at all events Minnie Fisher
Cunningham can count on very
general support not only from the
women of the State but among the
hard.boiled masculine politicians.
Texas Behind Her
It viii be remembered that when
Mrs. Cunningham was named as a
Candidate for Civil Service Commits
eioner, a post which eventually
went to Miss Jessie Dell, she had
the support of the entire Texas
delegation in Congress. Indeed, she
early learned the lesson which so
many women never 1earn-that
there is little use seeking a Federal
job without the backing Of the
political organization of ones State.
It has been frequently suggested
That Mrs. Cunningham's very
strength with the Democratic or.
ganization mitigated against her
being chosen for the Civil Service
post and that she was not dis.
pleased at the way things turned
out since she had more important
political aspirations.
Once vice president Of the
League Of Women Voters, Mrs. Cum
bingham did organization work for
them in Texas, which brought her
into close contact with women all
over the State. And, from all ac-
counts, she has most of them solidly
back of her for any post which she
fancies. The General Federation of
Women's Clubs and, of course, the
Democratic Woman's Club, Endorsed
her for the Civil Service Commits
sion and may be expected to pull
for her again. And whatever hap
pens, it will be lively and inter
esting campaign.
The First Woman Senator
Should Mrs. Cunningham prove
successful, she would be the first
woman elected to the United States
Senate. No, haven't forgotten
Mrs. Rebecca FELTON,, the first petit.
GQated parsonage to fill a seat in
the august upper house.
But the delightful old lady from
Georgia, whose name will thus 20
down to history, was merely ap-
pointed by the governor of Georgia
to fill out the unexpired term of
Senator Tom Watson, who had died.
1t was one Of those graceful com.
pliments that the South likes to
pay to its women-a gesture chival-
rous but meaningless toward the
widow Of a man who had been a
leader in the political life of
Georgia. For Mrs. FELTON, served
but one day, If I remember cor
rectly, although she drew a salary
which continued through the recess
and until the new Congress con-
vened.
y \ II
BRITISH ENVOY
AT SUMNER EMBASSY