The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-21


don, the noted phiianthropist. is re-
sponsible for the present conditions of
child labor in that great commonwealth.
Her name and personality carry with
them the insignia of royalty when 1t
comes to the amelioration of conditions
attendant upon this state of affairs, and
rarely in modern times has any woman
made such an enviable reputation when
1t comes to the great field of humanity
as this gentle, lovely South ern woman
has. and wherever she goes the homage
which is due woman of her attributes
Is generously accorded.
When 1 found her at the Hilman
yesterday morning. shortly after her
arrival in the city. she greeted me with
the most cordial of smiles and a hearty
handshake as I said to her:
1T felt very much encouraged in COM
ing to talk with you this morning when
heard your pretty voice over the
phone"
"They tell me 1 actually preach VIII en-
talk over the phone" she 1aughingly
replied, "and speaking OF preaching, l
am due at one of the churches in a
very short time lowell. not to preach,
for I don't like that sort of thing
(which makes it very different
though, If you are asked to talk on
your favorite subject" l suggested.
"oh, yes, and that is what l will
talk to you about for a few moments
before I Co." she replied.
"I've followed you very closely for
the last few months" / observed as
we were comfortably seated for our
little talk. especially since your tre-
mendous speech at Buffalo last Sep
tember on the child labor question"
81 believe my tn eme was the advo-
eating of the better class of women
ton and its attendant branches" said
Miss Gordon. 'Noblesse oblige,' in other
words. You see my whole life is given
to philanthropy, and since filing the
position of inspector of factories for
the parish of Orleans I have come in
contact with SO much that is interest
ing and appealing that It has become
a part of me-"
Then you are not inspector of fac
IOfleS LOT I0e cHtfT6 Sldtc VI LOulS-
lamar" 1 asked.
NO" said Miss Gordon. Although
pra ctically all the factories that amount
to anything in the state are located in
New Orleans. You see, told Governor
BLANCHARD a long time ago that / would
serve in the capacity without any
charge, but not being qualified cleo
tor, could not fill the office. 1t would
have cost the state of Louisiana 5000
to have amended the constitution 50
that woman could have been eligible.
Did you ever hear of such laws? l don't
know how they are in your state
From which l would infer that you
are decidedly in sympathy with woman
suffrage" suggested.
Absolutely" was her quick reply.
Susan B. Anthony, in her most enthu-
siastic days could not> have been 4
more ardent woman suffragist than
am. Why you have no idea the things
that unprotected women and children
of our country are subjected to at the
hands of the lawmakers, many of whom
are not the best type Of men, and who
are not in sympathy with either the
rights of women or children"
I'm Alabama we have very little of
the woman suffrage idea exploited" I
said frankly.
Alabama and Mississippi rank lower
than any OF the states in this cause"
said Miss Gordon. why, do you know
that in our Era club in New Orleans,
which is our equal rights association.
we have more than eight hundred~mem-
bers? Those from the north. of whom
Rev. Anna Shaw Ca close personal friend
of mine), Mrs. Belmont. Mrs Pankhurst,
the English suffragist, and all of them
New Orleans, and I must tell you that
We have had a great fight to make in
our town over this question, for the
conservative French element as we'll as
the Cath olics, who are very conservs-
tive on this point, have had to be
confronted. BY the way, one of the
brigh test women, and certainly one
with the greatest sense of humor / have
ever met was an Alabama woman, Miss
Frances Griffin, who was an ardent
woman suffragist. / remember, In 1903,
met her In New Orleans. / wish you
might have heard a lecture we had In
our town a short time ago. delivered
by Mr.. Clifford @. Roe. states attorney
OF Illinois, on the subject of the white
slave trade, for which, by the way. the
United States spends annually $4,000.
1t was one of the finest things l ever
heard"
They tell US here in Alabama that
the time is not ripe for the agitation
of child labor laws and"
Miss Gordon quickly interrupted me
by saying:
They say that everywhere. Why,
when the improved child labor bill was
passed in Louisiana two years ago, }
sat in the legislative halls for seven
long weeks, while they discussed every
known subject while was waiting for
one of the most important things in
the annals of the history of todayito be
brought up, and every day | was put
on until | almost felt discouraged. The
dividing Of some Louisiana parish took
days and days to be decided. as though
1t bore the weight of the universe on
it's shoulders, while the child labor
question was set aside as though 1t
were of absolutely no Importance what
earth was represented except women
and children. Banking interests. Ash
ermen, merchants. lumbermen, osteo-
paths and all sorts Of things that
thump and bump you, and everything