"Dewey" & the Widow Pratt

Potent is the Republican National Committeeman from New York for, above all others, he must know the rich men whose contributions sustain the G. O. P. in campaigns. Potent, too, is his associate, New York's National Committeewoman, for above all others, she must know the wives of the money bags. Charles Dewey Hilles is still the New York committeeman. To fill the committeewoman's post, empty since the resignation of Mrs. Charles Hamilton Sabin to fight Prohibition, New York G. 0. Politicians last week agreed to choose Mrs. Ruth Sears Baker Pratt of Manhattan, New York's first Congresswoman. The fact that Mr. Hilles, out of political step with the Hoover Administration, had been without influence in choosing his political "wife," prompted Frank Richardson Kent, the Baltimore Sun's all-wise political observer, to comment:

"Female members of the national committees are chosen by the male committeemen from their States with the idea of giving themselves two votes instead of one. The most desirable quality in the female politician is docility. . . . Contrary to precedent Mrs. Pratt was not chosen by Dewey [Hilles]. . . . She will not be docile . . . will neither revere nor follow him in the way of her fair predecessor. Last year she exhibited a distressing lack of faith in Dewey's political judgment, refusing to follow him in the 'draft Coolidge' movement, preferring to ally herself with the early effort to nominate Mr. Hoover, seeing eye to eye with the astute Ogden Mills who has the same affectionate regard for Dewey he has for poison ivy and measles. ... If there is any following, Dewey will do it, not she. ... A very charming sensible woman . . . she isn't brilliant but she is clearheaded, understanding, independent, much disposed to do her own political thinking. Being a wealthy widow is no handicap to her. . . . But the days when Dewey had two votes are over."