Evening star., 1937-08-19
Gallant Governor Graves.

Gallant Governor Graves.
Surprising though it is in fact verify
astounding, the proposal of Governor
Graves of Alabama to appoint his
wife as Senator from that State to fill
temporarily the vacancy caused by the
elevation Of Senator Black to the Su-
preme Court demonstrates the fact that
the chief executive II the Cotton State
IS truly gallant gentleman He might
perhaps under the law have appointed
himself through the medium of a resig-
nation and his appointment by his Imme-
diate successor, the Lieutenant Governor.
But his guiding principle is ladies first"
There can be no legal demurrer to his ac-
ton. It was quite within his prerogative
to make member Of his family his
choice for this emergency. There is no
law on the subject Only on the ground
Of obvious and unque5tioned unftness
could the Senate refuse to receive the
Governors appointee as a member. and
tAANsN 10 LiV HNt--t.abINili VI NlAOIl NllIllltSS
on the part Of Mrs. Graves. She is
doubtless quite as competent to sit in
the Senate as are many others who have
worn the toga in the past.
But, Of course, there is the question Of
rropriety. Yet who can raise such a
question effectively? Who indeed could
have raised the question if the Governor
had named himself to fill the vacancy,
through the resignation and appoint
ment-by successor route? The Senate,
It is true. is judge Of the qualifica-
what constitutes those qualifications
is not defined specifically in the Consti-
tuition, save that they must be at least
thirty years of age and when elected
efterward also appointed for the filling Of
a vacanCy-inhabltant of the States for
which they are chosen. The Constitution
originally provided for the election of Sen
ators by the Legislatures Of the States and
for temporary appointments by the Gov
ernor during the recess of the legislature
The 18th amendment to the Constitu-
ton, finally ratified May 81, 1913, provid-
ing for direct election of Senators by
popular vote, also provided that the Legis-
lature of any State may empower the
executive thereof to make temporary ap-
pou1tments until the people fill the va
canCies by election. That is all in the
way of qualifications. On two occasions
Governors have chosen women to sue
ceed' their deceased husbands whose
deaths occurred while serving in the SEN
ate. In addition, Mrs, RebecCa F. FELTON,
of Georgia was appointed IN 1922 to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of Sem
etor Thomas Z. Watson, she being the
widow of one who had served in the
House of Representatives many years be-
fore. She sat in the Senate a very brief
time, during only two sessions Of that
body, being succeeded by Senator Hard
wick who was duly elected. In Novem-
Der, 1881, Mrs. Hattie w. Caraway of
Arkansas was appointed to fill the va
canCy caused by the death Of her hus-
band, and January u, 1892, she was
elected to that Office, being reelected in
November, 1882 The widow of Hucy
P. Long of Louisiana was similarly
appointed to fill the vacancy caused by
her husbands death, but was not a can
ddate to succeed herself
Such is the record of women in the
Senate, three of them. Mrs. Graves will
be the fourth to present herself with Gre
dentials which WILL of course, be recog-
nized and accepted, and she will take her
seat. The Senate cannot question the
right of Governor Graves to name his
wife. 1t cannot go behind the returns
on the score of undue influence exerted
upon the appointing power or on the
score of the proprlety of this action. But
it must feel. as the country will feel. that
regardless of the personal merits of the
eppointee, this selection is unsuitable and
unworthy