Evening star., 1961-06-25
Mrs. Smith Runs Up
A Roll Call Record
BY MARY McGRORY
Star staff Writer

BY MARY MCGRORY
Star staff Writer
Margaret Chase Smith, Repub-
hcan of Maine, one of the Sen
ate's two women members, has
probably the least frilly career
Of any member Of the upper cham
ber.
Other Senators may tell them
selves it is important to go home
to see the folks, to dine out with
diplomats, to accept plaques and
plauditS from luncheon guests or
even to rest from their labors.
Mrs. Smith regards it as her stern
and rockbound duty to be in the
Senate and to stand up and be
counted when the roll is called on
all issues great and small.
The result has been that while
many Senators have been out
reaping headlines or reinsurance
or other intangible things, she
has rolled up an unparalleled
record of having answered 1000
consecutive roll calls.
On June IS, the Senate adopted
q resolution commencing her for
"her devotion to duty" Awed,
and restive colleagues paid her a
series of flowery tributes which
Mrs. Smith enjoyed in the fashion
New Englanders sometimes per-
nit themselves when the practice
of virtue is being acknowledged
and rewarded.
A PIoyfuI Suggestion
AS soon as the ceremony was
over, q fellow Yankee Senator,
George Aiken of Vermont, came
over and shook her hand.
Now, Margaret" he said jo-
cosely. II hope you'll go out on
bat and miss 20 votes in a row."
Neither felt it would ever hap
pen.
Don't start on your second
thousand" he warned. TITS like
being in jail"
But she is already launched, and
if it is Imprisonment, it is delib-
crate. Mrs. Smiths conduct is
patterned after two strict rules
she adopted when she was first
elected to the House in 1910. to
the seat of her late husband,
Clyde H. Smith.
Everyone does things differ
emily up here" she said. Every
one runs their offices differently;
they campaign differently. I don't
Judge anyone. I made a pledge
that L would do two things:
would stay on the job and stay
close to the people"
Soys No With FiFmness
Some people in public life re-
gard these two rules as conflict
ing. It is probably only because
they have not learned to say no
with the firmness that Mrs. Smith
can muster.
When the spring invitations
start pouring in, she answers
always on the same day., that
this is the heaviest season for
the Appropriations Committee, Of
which she is a member, and that
she feels she should stick to her
knitting.
There is certain amount of
complaint, particularly if other
members of Congress manage to
tear themselves away.
But Mrs. Smith has been in the
State every month for so consec-
utive months, and every fall the
minute the session is over, she
heads north for an eight-week
canvass of her 700-mile long State.
Any grievances are forgotten as
Mrs. Smith gives her personal at
tention to every person and prob
lem that is brought to her at
tention.
1T depends on where you come
FROM" she sometimes tells a COL
league who is forced by a previous
commitment to leave the chamber
as the roll call begins. II just
think my people would like me to
be here"
Approved in Maine
Whenever they get the chance,
the people of Maine register their
approval. In her third senatorial
campaign last November, she
came out with the 81 per cent of
the vote, the highest percentage
registered by any Republican can
didate.
Mrs. Smith, q trim and hand
some woman of 81, who always
wears flower in little vase on
her lapel, is sometimes wistful as
she watches her colleagues leav-
ing their legislative cares while
she remains at her post.
Some people say you have to
live your life and do your work
in keeping" she said. 81 don't
know but what it makes more
sense I like to go as much as
the other fellow, but I just don't
do it. The Senate, is my life"
She began her perfect record