Evening star., 1938-01-30

has been up to the women to make
both ends meet" She believes, too,
that women are more realistic" than
men. particularly when it comes to
public questions" Part of this she
attributes to the fact that, not having
had the vote for as long period
as men, women have not the handicap
Of inherited political buncombe" to
overcome.
Legislative capacity. believes the
senior Senator from Arkansas, is not
matter of sex. but of mental quail
fications and character. Those who
expected her to exploit her Office to
the exclusive advantage of so-called
"women's interests" or feminine legis-
lation," were due for shock. From
the outset she conducted herself just
as any male Senator would have
done, newly come to Washington.
This was doubly difficult in her own
case, for she came to Office burdened
with sadness. recently bereaved by
the death Of her beloved and bril-
liant husband. Thaddeus Caraway.
Even today she cannot speak of that
great loss without her eyes filling with
tears. Thus she took up her new
duties bewildered by tragedy. enter
ing a world strangely unfamiliar
and complex. confronted suddenly
with tremendous responsibilities, and
weighted with the realization that her
State looked to her to carry on the
good work begun by her husband.
She applied herself vigorously to her
new job. determined that she would
make as good Senator as hard
work, keen interest, and determina-
ton to serve could accomplish. She
neither Haunted nor belittled the fact
that she was q woman Senator. con-
ducting her Office as she hoped her
husband would have done, or as any
good Senator, man or woman, must
approve. She never made a speciality
Of legislation affecting women or chill
dren, although she has always been
naturally interested in such legisla-
ton. Rather, she concerned herself
with things vital to the interests Of
her State-agriculture and flood con-
troll and social legislation generally.
What Is good legislation for the
whole country" she said, must neces-
sarily be Of benefit to women and
children, and the men in both houses
Of the Congress are as much con-
cerned in this type OF legislation as
are the women members"
ENTERING the United States Sen
- ate as the first woman Senator
in our history-with the exception of
the one-day Office of Mrs. Rebecca
Felton-Mrs. Caraway might well have
given way to the tremendous tempta-
ton to take advantage of attendant
publicity. But Mrs. Caraway did
nothing of the sort. She entered
Washington quietly, went unobtrusive-
ly to her Offices, refused to lend her
self to colorful publicity stunts" was
seated without fanfare or flourish In
accordance with her expressed desire.
and deliberately Stunned the lime
light.
x1Cl SOlAAuSG AL VIC SASAuoANC AASAA ~
club" whose gate she had crashed"
was marked by that dignity and con-
sideration that are hallmarks Of her
good breeding and appreciation Of the
fitness of things. Instead of loiter-
ing about the cloakrooms, where her
colleagues gathered for chats and dis
cussions between sessions on the floor,
she made use, when she desired. OF
the quarters assigned to the wives OF
Senators on the floor above. She be-
came an unobtrusive little figure, In
her quiet black clothes, but she soon
became q figure whose presence was
felt and whose opinion was respected
and judgment sought.
For one thing she had set herself
to learn all she could about this busi-
ness Of being Senator. She would
leave her home very early in the
morning. arriving at her odices on
Capitol Hill sometimes before 8 o'clock
"A full hour before her office staff
put in an appearance. She would
read every bill, every line in the Con-
gressional Record, and every book she
thought might be helpful. She ap-
piled herself assiduously to the task
of finding out II she could do the
job into which Fate had thrust her.
Il knew when Gov. Parnell ap-
pointed me to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by the death Of my dear hus-
band, that it was meant only as q
tribute to . great and beloved man.
But I made up my mind that II I
couldn't do the Job I would say 20
at once and get out. Al nv two BOYS