The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-02-14
w oman Member
| likes legislature

Raleigh, Feb. 3.-Mrs. Charles
Hatchins, Democrat and choice Of
the majority of Yancey county's IA
1a8 Inhabitants to represent them in
the 1895 general assembly of North
rolina, doesn't feel out of place be-
capse she is the only woman member.
fact, she doesn't mind Bit
and thinks having seat in the house
Of representatives is "simply swell"
se has '.mixed up in business and
ies so long" she confided, she
fr it inst as easy to deal with
NJ Is, with women
Hutchins took the seat Occur
pie IN 1888 by her husband, Burns
attolney, and to prove that she
Il her own mind about legislation,
her iaitial bill in the hopper the sec
os eek of the session provided for
real of a measure affecting Yancey
ceu7ty that Mr.. Hutchins had passed
two ears ago.
Proud OF Campaign
SIZE POINTS with pride" to her cam
paign, which saw her roll up the
largest majority any candidate ever
received in the general election in
Yancey since the county was formed
in 1888, over a century ago. Her Re
publican opponent was chairman of
the county board of commissioners.
s'That shows you how well they
like a woman in politics up there"
she declared with smile.
Mrs Hutchins has something of a
penchant for breaking records. No
mean athlete of the all-round sort
and an excellent tennis player, she
broke the woman's world record for
eross-country hiking in 1927. She
paced the distance from huntsville
to Asheville, a 40-mile stretch in
seven hours and SO minutes.
Fond of "Lawyering"
She likes "lawyering" and has
helped her husband for many years
in his practice in huntsville. It was
there she became interested in poll
tics. Mr.. Hutchins came to the legis-
lature in 1918, returned in 1929, and
again in 1888. Those last two ses-
sions, Mrs. Hutchins came right
along with him and set a record few
legislators can approach. She never
missed single meeting during the
lengthy terms.
She has been a student Of politics
and government, and has read many
books on the subject. While helping
her husband, she engaged in welfare
work in Yancey, and showed interest
in disqualification of many INDECENT
persons.
Aside from this, she found time
to rear two children and serve as
housewife. "I won't say Twas an ex-
pert cook, but l guess l got along all
right" she laughed. anyway, | do
like business better"
Her daughter, Mrs. Hubert Justice,
of Canton, was born when Mrs. Hut
chins was only Is year of age. Her
son is Edwin Hutchins, now at Bre-
ward college.
Mrs. Hutchins won't tell her age,
retaining her woman's prerogative,
but she flashed broad smile in re-
fusing.
Will Talk Later
Later on, she said, she will have
"plenty to say along with quite
few new bills,' but right now she
prefers to keep her own counsel, and
she's doing that in a rigid sort Of
way, almost sphinx-like.
"Pm5 not going to tell you how |
stand" she said pleasantly as she
kept to herself her attitude toward
proposed liquor bills. Sure, I've
made up my mind!' And as to the
schools, her answer was, "I'm in
favor of schools and more schools
and / want to see them get all they
need, whatever that Isl
Mrs. Hutchins is keeping busy.
what with being a member of six
committees and chairman Of one. She
heads the public welfare group Of the
house, and besides is on the appropri-
atoms, education, health, enrolled
bills, and library committees. She
never misses meeting though she
does find conflicting conferences. She
solves that by dividing her time.
Her business-like demeanor has
won for her the respect of her 119