In the early days, before Capitol Hill knew buxom Mary Teresa Norton as "Battling Mary," a Congressman gallantly offered to yield the floor to "the lady from New Jersey." Snapped Mary: "I'm no lady. I'm a member of Congress and I shall proceed accordingly."
For 25 years she had proceeded with a firm political tread, earned labor's solid gratitude (as chairman of the House labor committee) by forcing a vote on the Wages & Hours act in 1938, mechanically piled up election majorities by her loyalty to her Jersey City (13th) district and to State Democratic Boss Frank Hague.
Last week, as four...
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