I’ve used three university libraries and two local libraries so far in my research. I also need to go to the Library of Congress before too long to get some missing microfilm holes taken care of (crosses fingers).
Thankfully, with my job I have access to the University of Missouri libraries. I requested a article from a journal called State Government where Hattie Caraway wrote an article that was published in October 1937. At that time, she was probably making the decision about whether or not to run for a second full term in the fall of 1938 (SPOILER: she did run and she won–by a smaller margin than in 1932, but still). Here are a few tidbits that I thought were interesting, but not relevant to my current research:
“I am asked quite often if I specialize in legislation affecting women and children. Naturally, I am keenly interested in any legislation pertaining to them, but not to the exclusion of other things vital to my state, especially agriculture and flood control… What is good legislation for the whole country must necessarily be of benefit to women and children, and the men in both houses of the Congress are as much concerned in this type of legislation as are the women members.”
“The women are doing this work with courage and dispatch. They are accepted and respected by their colleagues, and returned by their constituents. What more is there to this life of statesmanship? The toga of a Senator, or the mantle of a Representative is a garment of responsibility tightly fitted to each of us. To be becoming it must be embroidered by thought, hard work, idealism and a real love for humanity. To be comfortable, it must be worn as an armor of courage, honesty of purpose, and patriotism. Whether women or men are statesmen depends entirely upon the manner in which they buckle on their armor and assume their responsibilities.”
The first quote I think is still relevant. There are some senators and representatives who have aides that work on “women’s issues.” I think that is a crock. What is a “woman’s issue”? Education? Nope, that’s an everybody issue. Hmm. Healthcare? *Buzzer* Wrong again. Like Caraway said in 1937, good legislation for the country will be good for women.
“What more is there to this life of statesmanship?” – I’m sure she felt a lot of pressure being the only woman in the Senate. What more was there for the women in the House and the Senate to do than have the respect of others? As my research shows, Caraway was in a damned-if-she-did and damned-if-she-didn’t situation, especially regarding speaking on the floor, asking questions in committee. The one place I’ve found in the Congressional Record where she does as a question in a hearing the other senators dismiss her opinion and possibly rudely “correct” her. She and the ladies serving in the House were doing the best they could. They knew the eyes of the Nation were upon them, and they did their best to be both the early 20th century’s definition of “respectable ladies” and “respectable public servants.”
KRISTIN HODGES 