Evening star., 1936-04-08
Women i'm Congress.

Senator Hattie w. Caraway of Ar
kansas very properly paid tribute to
women in the legislative field of Gov
ernment in her address in the National
Radio Forum entitled "a Woman Looks
at the Senate" 1t is, she said, no longer
a nine days wonder that women are in
this field. And yet it is only little
more than nineteen years ago that the
first woman took her seat in the halls
of Congress, Miss Jeanette Rankin, a
Representative from Montana. Speak
ing of the women who have since that
time held legislative Office in Washington,
Mrs. Caraway said: mot one of them has
failed to take the responsibility as less
than a sacred trust; while they may bring
some fresh viewpoint to bear on matters
they have displayed that broad vision
and understanding of the problems
which only comes from conscientious
study. Not one has given evidence that
she goes about her legislative duties with
less honesty of purpose and understand
lIlS IIldll OJIlCl UlClIlhS1o'
No one will gainsay this estimate OF
the women who have served and are
serving in Congress. Many of them have
been reelected by their constituents.
Obviously this has not been because they
were women. For, take it by and large,
there has been more prejudice against
women aspiring to hold seats in Congress
than there has been prejudice in their
favor. They have been reelected be-
cause they did a good job and because
their constituents appreciated their work.
Mrs. Caraway is the first woman ever
to have been elected Senator OF the
United States. 1t is an office to which
she has been twice elected by the people
of her State. One woman, Mrs. Re-
becca L. FELTON, of Georgia, bore the title
of Senator before her, but only for
day, Mrs. FELTON, was appointed to MI
the vacancy caused by the death OF
Senator Tom" Watson Of Georgia back
in 1922. Before she had an opportunity
to take her seat, Senator George was
elected to fill out the unexp1red term.
Senator George withheld his credentials
at the opening of the session for one
day. and for that day Mrs FELTON, was
Senator. For five years Mrs. Caraway.
however, has been Senator, con-
scientious. Woodworking and intelligent
Senator. Mrs. Caraway believes in TAX
ing her job seriously, in working at 1t
long hours, and she does both.
1t was nearly fifteen years after the
first woman, Miss Rankin, had been
elected to the House that woman was
elected to the Senate OF the united
States. And it was only few months
ago that second woman Senator, Mrs.
Huey p. Long of Louisiana, took her
seat. The struggle Of women for recognl-
ton and representation by one OF their
sex in the Upper House of Congress
was a long one. Miss Rankin was the
first to make serious contest Tor the
honor. After single term in the House
Miss Rankin sought nomination Tor the
senate, DuI was OCACuGSA AAA WAN
Another woman member OF the House,
Mrs. Ruth Hanna Mccormick simms,
sought six years ago to be elected Senator
from Illinois. Mrs. Simms won lie NOM
nation, but was defeated in the general
election.
The records that women have made
in Congress are acknowledgements
that many men members may envy.
Three sitting women members OF the
House entered Congress in 1e25-Mrs.
Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts,,
Mrs. Florence p. Kahn of California and
Mrs Mary T. Norton of New Jersey. For
more than a decade these women have
ably served their districts and States in
the House Of Representatives. Each has
been elected six times. Mrs. Norton.
Democrat, is now chairman of the House
Committee on the District of Columbia,
in charge of legislation for the Nations
Capital. AS Mrs. Caraway so aptly sald'
the time is past when women are to be
treated 'as set apart by sex from any
.a-;o,,s 1soielotive qualifications"