The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-07-20
WOMAN SEEKS
!: SENATEPLA
FROM TEXAS
Minnie Fisher Cunningham
Has Good Chance to Win in =
Lone Star State
MAKES REAL CAMPAIGN
Promises to Vote for Lower
Tariff on Commodities
Farmer Buys
BY RODNEY BUTCHER

d NUN 4 ~ XNLIAN
Washington, July 20.-1f the state
Of Texas doesn't do its stuff, the
Seventy-first Congress will start off
without q woman in the Senate just
as every other Congress has done.
All other women who had sena-
torial thoughts or candidates. have
been led or pushed off to one side
and the only remaining candidate is
Mrs. Minnie Fisher Cunningham,
who is competing with several
large, leather lung men in Texas for
the Democratic nomination which so
surely means election.
No one can say Mrs. Cunningham
hasn't . chance of becoming the first
woman senator, owing to the some
what unusual Texas election system.
Under that system the senatorial
candidates will be voted upon come
July 20 in the first primary, after
which the two candidates with the
highest vote will settle everything
in . run-off primary on August Is.
There are 20 many candidates that
the vote will be divided over the
field and history has shown that al
most anyone is consequently likely
to land in the run-off.
Works Hard
II Mrs. Cunningham happens to
land first or second place she will
have earned it. She has been fliv-
vering from 126 to 200 miles day
for several weeks, addressing the
voters as often as she can get
crowd. She has been as far west
% Ell Paso, as far south as Browns
vile, a far north as the Panhandle
and has lately been leaving clouds
Of dust along the roads of East
Texas with the intention Of winding
up her campaign in Galveston.
One or two other women. volun-
teers, are generally with her to do
special talks on particular issues
dear to Mrs. Cunningham. Mrs.
Dorothy Kirchwey Brown Of Bos-
ton. the wife Of former Assistant
Attorney General La Rue Brown,
went on the road with Mrs. Cum
nineham after the Democratic con-
vsntion and was kind enough to tell
your correspondent about the Cum
ningham campaign while returning
through Washington.
Owing to illness in the family,
Mrs. Cunningham had to make a
late start. She found her oppo-
nents making mean remarks
about each other, as political op-
ponents sometimes do, and decided
there was little nourishment for her
in such tactics. But as she mounts
improvised platforms. court house
steps and other promontories, she
generally begins her talks with ref
erence to the abusive ways Of the
other candidates, illustrated by the
hydrophobia story.
Tells Story
There was, according to Mrs. Cum
ningham, man who went to doc
tor with symptoms. The doctor ad-
vised him that he had hydrophobia.
The patient grabbed pencil and pa
per and began to write feverishly.
The doctor hastily advised him that
there was no need to make a will
that he would doubtless survive.
"Hell!" said the patient, although
Mrs. Cunningham does not quote
him just like that. This amt no
will. I'm making q list Of the peo-
pie / want to remember to bite!"
Mrs. Cunningham speaks most
earnestly on prohibition enforce
ment, implying that she would like
70 see some Of it. She is almost
unique % . candidate in that she
does not follow up such pleas by 60
jug out afterward for q few drinks
with members of the local commit
tee.
For Farmers
She then tackles farm relief and
promises to vote for lower tariff on
the commodities the farmer buys.
She Rets this over rather we'll by
showing how much less some things
cost in Canada than they do under
the protection system and demon
stratss that she knows all about
freight rates.
Her third main theme is the
spower trust" Having watched the
agents Of the "trust" operate in
Warrington, she has plenty to tell
the voters about that. Furthermore,
she q for fairer treatment to Gen.
tral and South American republics,
world peace and full cooperation
with the League Of Nations.
"Don't," says Mrs. Cunningham,
s'turn me down just because I'm q
woman. Don't elect me just because
I'm . woman, either"
Appeal Hits
The Senate seat sought by Mrs.
Cunningham is now held by the Hon.
Earle B. Mayfield, who was elected
through support Of the khan and
wants to hold his job. Others after
the job include Congressman Tom
Connally and Tom Blanton and Col.
Alvin Owsley. Under ordinary cir
eumStauces Mayfield and Connally,
one hears, would win the run-off
rights. They may. despite the COM
petition, but you never can tell.
Although Mrs. Cunningham is
making no sex appeal campaign,
she - fair enough to herself to adj
NIT publicly that, in case Of election,
she win be the first woman senator
and that, - such, she will have .
certain prestige and certain amount
Of influences to use for her people
that the ordinary new senator has to
70 without.
which II perfectly true. Also,
ahe would provide . flock Of very
fine 1eaturo stories for the Wash
inGtpn correspondents.
Ttxas, do your stuff!
I. 8. or n. MEETING
ojeuw Fails, &. D., July 20.-R-
1890 4oe tho first time in South