Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1916 — A WOMAN IN CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

A WOMAN IN CONGRESS.

Everything is so uncertain in these close election days that it is impossible to say at this moment whether Miss Jeannette Rankin of Montana is to be the first congresswoman or not. At present, however, figures indicate that she is to have that distinction. It is a distinction not altogether enviable. The time will come when women will have due representation in the House and the Senate and will attract no more attention there than they attract by their presence in any delegate convention today. But the first woman in Congress will be an object of special interest to all the other members of the great body and to all visitors, while .to newspaper writers she and her-

proceedings will supply endlees ‘.‘copy.”/’ • t ty-r ' It Is much to be feared that her presence will not be entirely welcome to her colleagues in the House for It Is a truth that many men are not fully educated to the active participation of women in politics and secretly resent it. Therefore, as a pioneer in a place hitherto sacred to the brethren, Miss Rankin may occupy a difficult position. She need not fear lack of civility. Her fellow representatives will be polite to her, but some may not be glad she is there; algo they will probably observe her with needless curiosity and a disposition to criticise. She has a difficult role to fill—that of representing all voting women as well as the. state of Montana. Nothing startling or spectacular, however, is likely to result from her presence in the house. Nothing of the kind has ever manifested itself in Western legislatures where women have figured more or less for a number of years with entire satisfaction to their constituents. But feminine pioneering in politics must necessarily have its drawbacks.— Indianapolis Star.

President Wilson in the recent election received the largest vote ever cast for a candidate for the Presidency, and he received nearly 1,000,000 votes more than were cast for both Taft and Roosevelt four years ago. His gain was three times as much as that of any President running for re-election. Wisdom is a valuable asset, when one has horse sense enough to apply it. Some men work themselves thin trying to sidestep the boss and kill time.