Evening star., 1936-06-21

The women OF "a'hh"e nana''
New Orleans present a picture OF
strange parallels and amazing con-
trasts.
I spoke to many of them about
the lack of enforcement of their So
cial legislation. mentioned the
long working hours and the cheap
wage her women receive. And 1 re-
ceived in return a look of surprise
over my concern. She regards en-
ployment as an interluGe between
childhood and marriage. Somehow
the fact that one-quarter of her te-
male population, that $4,000 of her
glamorous Womanhood are working
just doesn't fit in with her vision
of a sheltered and protected life.
In the same easy manner she ac-
cepts the relief, the low wage scale,
the poor housing and the miserable
standards of living among the people
To understand us you must know
that the spirit of New Orleans is the
spirit Of pleasure, says she. We
call New Orleans the city that care
forgot. That's because Of our won-
derful climate. For we are always
outside enjoying ourselves. Our people
don't need warm clothing or heated
houses. Food here is cheap and SO
good. Why, even our women don't
spend a lot of money on clothes for
We still have the old French chic"
A ND even from the most meager
salary there is always money for
pleasure. Il suspect we spend from
80 to 40 per cent of our income on
amusements. 1t does seem a lot, but
I guess it's because of our carnival
tradition" laughingly explained a
typical black-eyed belle, with never a
thought to the future. Her love of
pageantry and her casual acceptances
makes her immune to drive and pres
sure. She is devout, warm, lovable
and happy to be part of her dramatic
city.
Today, however, newer drama has
entered her life. There isn't home
in New Orleans where politics isn't a
major subject of conversation among
the women. For the first time in the
history of New Orleans out of total
registration Of 10000 voters $4,000
are women. And according to the
sages it was this vote that turned the
tide in the battle of Huey Long.
From all quarters of the city women
have attempted to explain this phe-
nomenon to me- 1T isn't that we
are feminists," said they. Our women
don't believe in women holding office.
Take the appointment of Mrs. Long.
That was no triumph for our sex. She
was put in to help tide over an en-
barrasing situation"
Then why such tremendous vote?"
I asked, and everywhere I heard the
amazing reply, Its fear"
It's the Long machine that forced
them out to vote. We could never
catch their interest" cries the small
group of civil workers, who for long
years had been the staunch supporters
of all social legislation They lifted
the poll tax of dollar and saw to it
that the women registered and voted"
Again and again they reminded me
that the State is the largest employer
Of city labor why every fireman.
policeman, dockworker, teacher and
thousands of others, besides our 35 900
families on relief, are dependent on
the Long faction for their jobs" ex-
planned member of the Woman's
Committee, which had fought so hard
and bitterly against the Long machine
controlling the city. These people
wouldn't dare not to obey orders. They
saw that their wives and daughters
voted. 1t meant their jobs"
It's true that the machine has
strongly organized the women's vote
In the wards. It's also true that it
wields heavy ak. For I heard a
hundred stories to prove it.
PERSONALLY I think this very
fear will be the Waterloo of the
machine. Huey Long had built on
something stronger and his spirit still
inspires many feminine heart. He
understood the women of New Orleans.
He knew that the Latin temperament
which makes them so devout and yet
20 ready to dance and be gay would also
make them ready prey to the dema-
gogue. So he gave them good show by
talking about God, the Share of the
Wealth Plan and their wonderful
cooking.
He was our friend" said shy,
soft-voiced Creole mother, while three
little doe-eyed babies tugged at her
skirt. Il voted the way Huey wanted
me to vote. For haven't all my
brothers got jobs from him. Blessed
saint, I burned fresh candle for him
on Sunday" Yes, mothers are still
naming their f1rst-born after Huey
Long
The same Latin temperament is af-
fecting their attitude towards the COM
ing presidential election. The women
who pay taxes are bitterly complain
Ing about Government spending. They