02-01-1995 Women of Achievement and Herstory If you are tired of hearing affluent, white men debate issues that control/affect women's lives, now is the time to let the networks know. Recent "dialogues" on national shows on abortion, breast cancer, and health problems had NOT one single woman discussing the issue as an authority ... women were only shown as 'victims.' ABC: 212-456-1000, CBS: 212-975-4321, NBC: 212-664-4444, CNN: 202- 898-7900, and FOX: 212-452-5555. You know, of course, that the right wingers have special mailing teams that deluge the media and elected officials with thousands of letters and phone calls (as well as try to disrupt every feminist email network on InterNet) in an effort to make their opinions the only view that can be expressed. It's your future - start writing, phoning, emailing ... Anniversaries -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- B. 02-01-1878, Hattie Wyatt Caraway, first woman elected to US Senate and co-sponsor of the Lucretia Mott Equal Rights Amendment. She served 13 years, having been appointed to fill the seat of her late husband; she was elected in 1932 and was re-elected on her own right. Many historians denigrate her service in the U.S. Senate, but this little lady got to the office every day at 8 am riding a streetcar and read EVERY bill and EVERY word of the Congressional Record. She seldom spoke on the floor of the Senate, explaining, "I haven't the heart to take a minute away from the men. The poor dears love it so." She never missed a committee meeting where, she said, the real work of the Senate occurred. From the forestry and agriculture committees, her home state of Arkansas received a great deal in federal aid. (Check the map for national forests, man-made lakes, etc., etc.) One day she filed 43 bills. Her usual costume of plain dark clothes had replaced her usual brightly colored costumes for her first re-election campaign, and she continued wearing them, playing the sweet little-old widow to the hilt. In 1944 at 67, she declined to campaign seriously and was defeated. She was appointed to the Federal Employees Compensation Commission. B. 02-01-1905, Doris Emrick Lee, artist and illustrator with works in permanent collections of major art museums. B. 02-01-1906, Hildegarde, song stylist. "Darling, je vous aime beaucoup" was her signature song. Quote du jour -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "...there's no sound reason why women, if they have the time and ability, shouldn't sit with men on city councils, in state legislatures, or in the House and Senate ... Women are essentially practical because they've always had to be. From the dawn of time it's been our job to see that both ends meet. And women are much more realistic than men, particularly when it comes to public questions. Of course, having had the vote for such a short time is a distinct advantage, for we have no inheritance of political buncombe." -- Arkansas' Senator Hattie W. Caraway, first women elected to the U.S. Senate. (C) 1995 Irene Stuber, PO Box 6185, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71902, irenestuber@delphi.com. Distribute verbatim copies freely with copyright notice for non-profit use. Don't let anyone tell you there weren't notable and effective women throughout history. They were always there, but historians failed to note them in our histories so that each generation of women has had to reinvent themselves.