The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-30
BY BEN B. LINDSEY.


 l movement for the correction and protec- tion of childhood. Most significant of all, southern women have become wide- ly interested, and are pushing it to fru- ition before state legislatures, in the newspapers, at the women's clubs. and in all the various ways which organize pub lie opinion behind a new movement. l When the writer as president of the h. ternational Court society, recently visited the south, he met large and inspiring au- diences at Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss, Mobile and Birmingham, Ala, New Or leans, La; Oklahoma City and Guthrie, Okla.
 The organized and lively interest of the people of the south in their duty to the children is unquestionable. Indeed, 1t needs only to be crystallized and brought effectively to bear upon legislators and ! officials to enact the laws and establish the work which will solve its problems
 At the National Conference of the Kings Daughtesr at Vicksburg no sub 1 Jects were given more attention than 1 those concerning the welfare of the chil- l dren of the south--everythin pertaining to child labor and child crime, so called 1 Some of the ablest women of the south were in attendance. 1 was told there had been kind of tradition in the south which did not permit women to speak in public men for womenkind. But the l the chivalry and referential respect of southern men for womenkin. But the women of the south like the women of the north, are making the real fight for childhood. In making this fight they are l going to be heard and they will break down any barriers that may stand in the way, however will intentioned.
 Some of the most eloquent and yet sim pie and convincing addresses I have ever heard were by southern women. There Is for instance, Miss Sophie Wright of New orleans. Her self-sacrificing life as 4 teacher since she was a mere child of fl, her work as organizer of night schools and leader of other great philan- thropies Tor children, have endeared her to her entire state. Miss Sophie Wright and that powerful new sentiment of tho south, is so concentrated and synbolized In her work for humanity is going to be power for the child that scarcely can be overestimated
 There is Mrs McLaurin of the distin- gulshed Mississippi family, who is one of the most powerful and convincing l speakers have heard upon any nlatform Before the last Mississippi legislature in a remarkable address she confounded the opponents of child labor laws and blunt ed every argument of the opposition. And then there are Miss Gene Jordan and Inr1n NF AT-.. n--t- amount of msdirected chivalry will still their voices against child labor, and in 1 favor of juvenile courts and detention nome schools in place of jails and prisons.
 In Oklahoma there Is Miss Kate Bar nara, who was elected state commission CT of charities and correction by a vote 1 whlch exceeded by several thousand that l given the governor or any other suc- cessful candidate upon the winning ticket. | MISS Barnard at her own expense visited 1 the juvenile courts of Denver Chicago | and St. Louis. and she has outlined a unique plan for taking to Guthrie this winter some of the best known workers and advocates in the United States in the various departments of philanthropy. l She would have a course of lectures de- | livered to the legislators and others upon child labor associated charities, prison | reform, almshouses, insane asylums. 1 juvenile courts and other matters within the field of her department. Her pro- l posal Is as unique as Oklahoma's brand nev constitution, which MT. Bryan de- sefared to be the most remarkable, serv- iceable and able peoples document yet | devised.
 It is impossible in a brief report to even refer to all of the women in the south who are taking leading parts in this fight for childhood. They are do- l ipe hat al taking up the burden of the child. de- | termined to see that 1t has fair play, a | square deal and justice. Ask any poli- tician down there. especially among those who are recently run over in the fight against the saloons, and they will tell you that if the women have started out after these laws they are likely to come just as suddenly and unexpectedly as the anti-saloon legislation came. in spite of any supposed indifference. There is no longer any question that the sentiment of the south Is on the right side in all of these things.
 There Is no intention to minimize the work and sentiment among the men oi the south in behalf of children. Con- sidering the difficulties and handicaps oi that section their interest and activity have been keen. It was Gov. Robert l. Taylor of Tennessee. now United States Senator, who.. nearly 20 years ago. be came a pioneer in the juvenile cour movement by advocating reforms of thi' kind
 He incurred severe criticism for his prompt pardon to any boy under l6 con victed of crime and sentenced to the pen itentiary. It was not the governors Tn tention to encourage crime. as some peo pie said, but to emphasize his contemp for such method of punishing and de grading children when the state hat | far Incl