Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-21
Women Work
As Politicians
Continued From Page DIS

SOubluuCu CEOHh a6C II
must be willing to work long
and hard, under direction, and
usually without pay for a few
big campaigns. Be prepared to
accept the fact that men
persist in making so difficult a
woman's assumption Of addi-
tional responsibilities as a full
citizen" which Representative
Bolton noted with some sad
ness. You'll find yourself very,
very popular If you refrain
from any immediate attempts
to organize a third or fourth
party of your own during your
first few months around major
party headquarters.
OF course, it's up to the in
dividual woman to analyZe her
own abilities and offer to do
things that she knows a thing
or two about. For instance. if
she's q whiz at writing cam
paign brochures. at publicity
writing or public speaking.
this Is her entering wedge,
whether she's Is or 48 the
first night she sets foot inside
her local political club.
OF 308 women now serving
In State Legislatures. the Is
women in the House of Repre-
sentatives, and one woman in
the Senate, few have had
as varied and distinguished
q career as Representative
Frances P. Bolton, who was
elected to the House of Repre-
sentatives in 1910 to fill the
unexpired term of her hus-
band. This capable and ener-
getic woman pointed out that
women have not as yet full
filled their potentialities in
politics-nor in the home, the
professions. the arts or the
sciences" In the same breath.
she added, "Fulfillment for
both men and women is a very
long way off,"
Mrs. Bolton is the mother Of
three sons Gone Of whom is
now a Congressman and she
is called Granny" by eight
grandchildren, so she should
know a thing or two about
what this struggle for fulfill
ment" is all about.
Should women be afraid to
get involved with dirty poll
itics?" Not if they are COM
petent. The experts con-
Cured that since women are
comparative newcomers in the
political field, the woman rum
ming for public Office has to be
better qualified than any male
opponent to get elected. She
can't wear her heart on her
sleeve during campaign time
or the morning after, and at
all times her major asset Is
tip-top physical health.
COLLEGE Encouragement
DR.. Rosemary Park explored
the new roles that colleges
can play in training women
for political life. Increases in
college offerings such as the
Wellesley-Vassar inferno pro-
gram, Barnard's practical
politics" course, and Oberlin's
mock political conventions
were mentioned as methods OF
narrowing the gap between
theory and political practice.
Offering more opportunities
for alumnae groups and older
women to acquire political
know-how for participation in
grass roots political movements
or possible grooming schools
for college grads contemplate
ing entering the political arena
as a second career after 40"
are other possibilities.
Politics is a career field that
Is opening up new responsible
tiles to women all over the
world. Here in the United
States, opportunities for in
creased participation in our
political life beckon to women
of all ages. Representative
Bolton whispered one part
ing morsel of advice to would
be women politicians every
where: I'm or out Of politics
remember, first Of all, be a
woman in the full sense OF
The world"