The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20
JESS|CA FINCH
 ON FRANCHISE Work of the Equal Franchise Society of America MRS. CLARENCE MACKAY Is the Leader and Organizer of the Movement Through Which She
 Hopes to Secure Votes
 for Women
MRS. CLARENCE MACKAY
Fly MRS. JEssICA G. FINCH

 New York, February 19.--(Special.) )-In the wave of enthusiasm over woman suf- frage which is sweeping over the country the work of the Equal Franchise society, started in New York city in the middle of 1909 by Mrs. Clarence Mackay, and now organizing all over the country, is of unique character and is especially in- teresting on that account
 In the first place 1t is unique in the character of its founder. Most of the leaders in the suffrage movement have been older women-women who have turned to this solution of the political and economic injustices which they have found in their own experience or in their philanthropic lobars. Mrs. Mackay brings 10 the cause the enthusiasm and charm of youth, and of youth which has been endowed with all the advantages of beauty, wealth and social position.
 Mrs Macsay is a lineal descendant of one of the most picturesque and attrac- tive of the pre-revolutionary women in New York. Lady Kitty Duer. All the Duers have brains, ambition and dis tinction, and many of them have beauty. Mrs. Mackay has all three of these quail ties, and she has thrown all the power that they give her Into this new phase of the cause of woman suffrage.
 To her it is absolutely spiritual and ethical movement. She believes that women need the ballot to give them a deeper sense of social responsibility and to take the place of the useful and broadening activities that economic changes have taken from the home, in order that she may preserve that home. and influence the conditions under which her children are brought up. She be- lieves that men need her vote to supply the feminine factor which has been omit ted from the political decisions of man kind and which omission may be the cause of so much that is admittedly wrong in OUT political and economic sys- tems.
 She believes that as this is becoming mora and more the age of the child, the mothers of the country, who surely know and care most about the conditions that affect the education, recretation, ex- emption from work correction and health of these children, should nave something to say in the framing of, such laws.
 Mrs. Mackay first invited few of her friends and acquaintances to join her in forming the society which should devote itself not to political measures, as other societies are doing that; not to militant measures, which fortunately are not nec- essary in this country but purely to ed- ucational work, believing that in the case of most women a simple statement Of the sane womany reason which unlies the desire for equal suffrage will be sufficient to make converts.
 The society has grown steadily more democratic and wider in it's influence, and while it still remains the suffrage organ ization which contains the largest num- ber of society men and women, its scope has constantly enlarged and a special eff fort has been made to interest teachers, nurses and business women.
 Last year the meetings of the society were held in Mrs. Mackay's home, but this year it has been found necessary to engage the Garden theatre to accom- modate the increasing numbers, and many well known men and women have spoken there on alternate Thursdays. After each meeting there have been many applications for membership in the so- ciety, showing that Mrs MaclSay's theory that education is al lthat is needed to make converts is well founded.
 In order to prove the proper surround ings for business-like administration of the societys affairs. the president has taken offices at No. 1 Madison avenue, on the twenty-ninth floor of the Metropoli- tan Life tower. The publication commit tee also has it's offices there and pamph- lets are issued, inquiries answered; and general business transacted in in- creasing volume day by day.
 Such a movement as this marks new era in the history of woman suffrage The cause, It's adherents and it's op- ponents both admit, has never lacked logic and argument so much as popular ity. Connected in peoples minds by car toonists and comic supplement jokes with haps naturally been unpopular with many the surface, and who took it for granted that women were demanding the right to be like men instead of asking for the opportunity to help men with all the quail tiles which are peculiarly feminine and cannot be duplicated by them, just be- cause men and women are so different That woman of such undoubtedly fem inc charm and intelligence as Mrs Mackay should espouse the cause, rallying many women like herself to her standard means more for the movement-so much does the personal element count with all of us--than many closely reasoned argu- ments or carefully prepared speeches.
 In New York city. where the agitation is at it's height, most people concede that success will soon be achieved, and when the success comes all women will owe 8 great debt to Mrs. Mackay and the Equal Franchise society.