Evening star., 1936-02-29
Group Is Ornamental,
But Highly Useful
at Same Time.
Bv James Nevin Miller.

By James Nevin Miller.
n VOW that Mrs. Rose Mcconnell
nj Long of louisiana has been
VI made a Senator to complete
/ \ the term of her husband, the
late Huey P. Long, an inventory OF
lady legislators seems to be in order.
Including Mrs. Long there are now
eight "gentlewomen of Congress"
Most of them are ardent Democrats
and rock ribbed New Dealers; all are
widows and most Of them are wealthy,
or at least financially comfortable;
and the large majority were elected to
fill vacancies caused by the death OF
their husbands.
There is no need to review in detail
what the front pages of the various
newspapers have already told us about
the new Louisiana Senator, except to
remind that: The lady's hair is red
and bobbed; that she occupies the
same suite in the new Senate Office
Building as did her late husband; that
she seems to be charming. well groomed
and utterly without affectation; that
she will continue the much publicized
share the wealth" program; that her
salary will be the usual $4,000 year;
that she will be up in April for formal
election to fill Huey Longs unexpired
term, ending next January, and finally,
that she has already been chosen as
nominee for the general election,
which is tatamount to election.
Americas only other woman Senator
is Hattie W. Caraway of Jonesboro,
Ark. She has the further distinction
of being the first member of her sex
elected to the upper house of Con-
gress. Mrs. Caraway was elected, in
January, 1882, to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of her husband.
Thaddeus H. Caraway, and was re-
elected in November, 1882, for the
term ending in 1899.
Her biographical sketch in the new
est Congressional Record takes up only
a quarter of an inch. But this woe
fully underestimate the lady's i'm
portance. Bear in mind that there are
only two Senators from Arkansas and
she has the distinction of being one of
them. The other is the distinguished
Joseph Taylor Robinson from Little
Rock, who holds a choice party post,
majority leader.
What is she like? A typical coun-
try woman in every respect, Mrs. Cara
way impresses you as being reticent,
retiring, somewhat mournful looking
in repose. However, her occasional
smile lights up her face in charming
fashion-in fact, makes her appear an
entirely different person.
Only once during her more than
four years in the Senate has she
made q speech and that was a wee
one, last-January, eulogizing the late
Huey Long.
DESPITE her quiet, almost timid
way, Senator Caraway is highly
regarded by her colleagues as Scrap
per-" Originally regarded as a strict
party sticker" and unswerving New
Dealer, she has let her conscience be
tive occasions. In 1885 she voted to
override the Presidents veto on the
soldiers bonus bill and shortly there
after refused to help Huey Long, her
close friend, fight the $4,000, 900 900
work-relief bill. Huey was furious,
pointing out. that her attitude was
gross ingratitude," in view Of the
fact that he actually had stumped
Arkansas In helping re-elect her. To
which she replied, characteristically:
I am Senator Caraway."
Although Mrs. Caraway rarely
speaks in the Senate chamber, she
claims never to have missed q roll
call. Associates say she's the hard
est working Of all the lady legisla-
tors. getting to work early and re-
manning on the Job late. Yet she
somehow finds time to do most Of
her own housekeeping IN her modest