THE LADY FROM MONTANA
Follette, Belle Case La
The Lady From Montana By BELLE CASE LA FOLLETTF "HOW about women holding office?" The average objector to woman suffrage generally puts this question to an advocate with the finality of playing...
...But what surprises the visitors in the galleries most is that she is "typical" rather than "different," Slender, young looking, simply but becomingly dressed, Miss Rankin sits at ease or moves about with a poise and grace that makes her presence seem as fitting on the floor of the, House of Representatives as in the drawing room...
...Chairman, the work provided for in this paragraph—such as gathering information, extending and enlarging the news service, and preventing waste—includes activities that we have been accustomed to seeing women engaged in...
...Liberal minded, sympathetic trained in economics, her attitude on public questions represents the progressive and enlightened twentieth century spirit...
...It will bring the home woman into closer co-operation with the Government "Our higher educational institutions have been turning out a large body of women who are trained to deal with fundamentals from a scientific standpoint...
...By using woman officials to aid In this work we will concentrate the attention of all women on the larger bearings of the food problem...
...The Lady from Montana" is a fine type of American womanhood...
...Even if I had believed it possible to elect a woman representative to the 65th Congress, I should hardly have considered it helpful to the cause of suffrage to argue the proposition with a hostile audience...
...Are not women now doing most of the work in minor public offices...
...We have in these women a new source of service which we should not waste at this time...
...They must be individually concerned with the food supply for the whole country...
...The brief pertinent "maiden speech" which Miss Rankin made on this occasion seems to me a most satisfactory answer to the question "How about women holding offices...
...If you call on her at her office, you find the womanly touch there...
...And when these activities are so closely related to the home as is the food question, women are especially well fitted by their training and experience to do this work...
...Miss Rankin has the social gift Her expressive face reflects her changing thought She has had a wide range of experience, is humorous, resourceful and fascinating in conversation...
...IT WAS unanimously adopted...
...At least I am free to confess this is the tack I have usually adopted on the platform and in personal discussions...
...They must now consider the food supply for the year...
...Usually we counter with questions such as these: "Was not Queen Elizabeth a wise ruler...
...Miss Rankin has won the universal respect and esteem of her colleagues in Congress...
...I feel sure that these women will be capable and faithful in doing this constructive work...
...We know that with our unparalleled resources and improved methods of production there is no need that anyone should go hungry...
...If I had done so, it would have been on the theory that such an exceptional event would only happen when an exceptional woman, exceptionally qualified was a candidate, a national figure, such as Miss Addams, Dr...
...Would not Jane Addams make a good mayor...
...It would be to the advantage of the Government to utilize the services of trained women in the place where they would count the most for the country during this present crisis and also in the future...
...And now, as we face this international problem of feeding the people, the responsibility is placed on all of us...
...SINCE the fourth of March Jeannette Rankin of Montana has been a member of the house of representatives...
...It is self evident that women are going to fill many positions that have been filled by men In the past, and this is one of the places where they can be used effectively...
...Food conservation on a national scale is but the natural outgrowth of woman's traditional work...
...When the Food bill was up she offered the following amendment, to the clause providing for a food census: "Provided, That the Secretary oj Agriculture shall, so far as practicable, engage the services of women for the work herein provided for...
...Women in the past have been concerned with the immediate preparation of food from one meal to another...
...It appeared In the congressional record of May 28th as follows: "Mr...
...The average objector to woman suffrage generally puts this question to an advocate with the finality of playing a trump card...
...The furniture is arranged conveniently...
...Women officials, with their understanding and sympathy for homo problems, will inspire a confidence in the home woman, and will encourage her to co-operate with the Government in this emergency...
...Women as housekeepers must learn to think of food in carload lots, in transit, in storage, in the board of trade, and in the national markets as well as in the small portions on the family table...
...How about women school superintendents...
...Shaw or Mrs...
...Catt...
...There are flowers on her desk...
...Women must take an intelligent and responsible share in the world's work if we are to see that all the people are fed all the time...
Vol. 9 • June 1917 • No. 6
