Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-25
Widows as Candidates.

The candidacy of Mrs. Robert Quincy
Lee for the seat In the House Just made
vacant by the death of her husband, the
late Representative Lee, in the seven
tenth congressional district Of Texas,
arouses interest in Washington for q
number Of reasons. She is opposing
former Representative Thomas L. Blan-
ton, who tossed his hat In the ring
several days ago. Mr.. Blanton during
his stay in the House was the center OF
numerous fracases, many Of them verbal
and some of them fstic. He did not
hesitate to attack organized labor on
occasion. And as for the District Gov
eminent, it was almost constantly ex-
periencing the criticism Of Mr.. Blanton.
Mrs. Lees candidacy is another link
IN the chain which has brought the
widows Of former members Of the House
into Congress. OF the eight woman
members Of the House today, three are
serving In places made vacant by the
deaths Of their husbands, and one Is
holding seat formerly occupied by
her husband. Mrs. Kahn Of California,
Mrs. Rogers Of Massachusetts,, and Mrs.
Oldfield Of Oklahoma were all nomi-
mated after their husbands had died.
Mrs. Langley of Kentucky was sent TO
the House by her husbands constituents
after he had run afoul of the prohibi-
ton laws. Mrs. Ruth Hanna Mccormick,
now a Republican nominee for the
Senate, is the widow Of former Sena-
tor. The three remaining woman mem.
bers Of the House, the ladies from Flor
ida, New York and New Jersey, never
had husbands who served in the House.
Mrs. Norton of New Jersey has a hus-
band, a manufacturer, who has been
content to allow his wife to look after
the political end for the family while
be attended to business. Mrs. Owen and
Mrs. Pratt are widows.
There Is good reason to believe that
widows of members Of Congress are well
qualified to step into their husbands
places In the National Legislature.
Those now In the House have been re-
elected several times. They have shown
an aptitude not only for politics but
for legislation and for the service OF
their constituents. It would be folly to
argue that the widows Of all members
Of Congress are qualified to hold ONCE
IA place Of their husbands. But those
who have come to the House have made
excellent records. If the reports Of
Mrs. Lee be true, she, too, Is qualified
70 take her husbands seat In the House.
Undoubtedly sympathy plays . part
IA. the election Of widows to Congress
when they are candidates for election
immediately following the deaths Of
their member husbands. It should net.
But In the human equation sympathy
must be reckoned with. These woman
members Of Congress, however, who
formerly had husbands In the House,
are standing on their own feet. They
ore the choice of their constituents.
They have made good.
Mr.. Blanton retired from the House
20 seek nomination and election to the
Senate In 1928. Senator Connally of
Texas was the winner in that contest.
The late Representative Lee was nomi-
mated for the House in place Of Mr..
Blanton and elected. In the past Mr..
Blanton apparently has held the dis
trict in the hollow Of his hand. The
question now is whether, having once
relinquished the right to represent the
district In the House In his effort to
reach the Senate, he may have lost his
grip. In the meantime. it may not be
aniss to recall to Mr.. Blanton that "a
little widow Is q dangerous thing"