Seven

Of about 55 million women, in a country of about 114,000,000 inhabitants, there are but seven who are entitled to appear on the floor of Congress. The Senate, in especial, has jealously guarded its floor. Male secretaries of Senators may enter on business, but no women.

Yet the day of inauguration saw three women at once on the floor of the Senate. The rules of both Houses admit to the privileges of the floor, members, ex-members, the Governors of states. So it happens that Representative Mae E. Nolan, ex-Representative Alice M. Robertson, Governess Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming appeared. Mrs. Ross was the first woman Governor to avail herself of her privilege.

The famous seven consists of:

Ex-Representatives:

Miss Jeanette Rankin of Montana.

Mrs. Winifred Mason Houck of Illinois.*

Miss Alice M. Robertson of Oklahoma.

Mrs. Mae E. Nolan of California.*

Ex-Senators:

Mrs. Rebecca L. Felton of Georgia. /-

Governesses:

Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross* of Wyoming.

Mrs. Miriam A. Ferguson of Texas.

Soon two others will be added to this list, newly elected Representatives Mrs. Mary T. Norton of New Jersey and Mrs. Florence Prag Kahn* of California. (Although the new Senate has met in special session and new Senators have been sworn in, the new House has not yet assembled and these members have not taken the oath.)

Mrs. Nolan, who retired from Congress last week, had a record of never having made a speech during her two years plus in Congress.

*A widow, elected to the office made vacant by the death of her husband.

/- Mrs. Felton, now 89, widow of a former Representative, was appointed by the Governor of Georgia to fill the Senate vacancy caused by the death of Senator Thomas E. Watson, who died in 1922. The Senate did not meet until after the election in the fall of that year. At the election, Senator Walter F. George was chosen for Senator Watson's seat. He withheld his credentials for a few hours at the opening of the ensuing session and allowed Mrs. Felton to "serve."