Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-10

High praise for her public service is
offered the first woman member Of the
United States Senate as death ends the
career of Mrs. Rebecca Latimer FELTON,
at the age Of 81. Her long career, which
included support of both suffrage and
prohibition, brought her to the public
platform at time when such activity
was rare among women.
It Is the regret of the Des Moines
Tribune Capital that her service In the
Senate was not longer, for she deserved
more substantial recognition as bril-
liant woman"
Mrs. FELTON, had better credentials
than her occupancy Of few hours in
the Senate" declares the Savannah
Press, emphasizing the fact that in
association with her husband, DR.. VIII
liam H. FELTON,, who was in Congress for
many years, elected as an independent,
she was Ibis companion and adviser"
and possessed a shrewd talent for
politics." The Press recalls that she
was vigorous writer" and that "her
printed communications were salty and
cogent." The Savannah paper con-
tinues: "She was persistent and vigor-
Gus in her appeals, and, whether one
agreed with her or not, one was always
impressed with her articles. It was
Lucian Lamar Knight who said Mrs.
FELTON, had written some of the most
brilliant letters which have appeared in
the newspaper print upon current and
general topics since the war;"
y X X y
Agreeing that "she was q writer and
lecturer Of more than Statewide fame, "
the Charlotte Observer recalls: Mrs.
FELTON, got her first taste OF public life
back in 1875, when her husband was
elected a member of Congress. She &C
came an active figure in social life at
the Capital, incidentally acquiring a
taste for politics. On her return to
Georgia after IL years of life at WASH
ington she developed into a political
factor that had to be taken into ac-
count by the State politicians. Georgia
now mournS her as the grand old
lady,"
A reference to. her appearance in the
Senate as "a breath Of lavender and
lace from the old South" is quoted by
the Albany Evening News, with the
statement that "She held Office exactly
% hours. but in that short time she
made dramatic speech from the floor
which 'blazed the way for womanhood
In the Senate But her work went be-
yond politics" continues the News.
She was q devout church member,
temperance lecturer. pioneer in women's
club work and suffrage, advocate of
school improvement and social welfare
work. Mrs. FELTON, was one of the most
distinguished women the South has pro-
duced since the Civil War. The whole
South has good reason to mourn her
passing"
y \ X 4
"Ablest politician in Georgia and
wisest and shrewdest" is the estimate
Of the Columbia State, which refers to
her as solitary, bizarre and marvel
ously endowed" and records: "She was
almost always considered by her adver-
SarieS m controversy or campaigns as
they had been accustomed to consider,
weigh and estimate the force and pre-
pared to meet IN mortal combat the men
of the greatest prowess in whatever field
the combat was to be waged. Her de-
voted adherentS often felt In the mood
Austrian queen-leader and liked shout
ing Long live our King, Maria Teresal'
in q Sullen day when the throne and
power OF salvation Of the people was
denied to woman. And the throne
and power of personal leadership was
long denied Rebecca FELTON,. But genius,
like love-especiall the genius Of q
woman-wil md q way"
Back in the early eighties, when
neither cause was popular with the
masses" states the San Antonio Eve
ming News, MRS. FELTON, was stamping
the State in behalf Of temperance and
woman suffrage. The spectacle Of q
woman on platform was strange, and
did not strike the public fancy. but this
vigorous crusader had something to say,
and said 1t 50 plainly that the people
had to listen. She lived to see both
measures written into the National Con-
stitution. In 1901 the Georgia Legis-
lAture invited her 70 address . joint