The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-21
Earnest and Conscientious Women Have Taken
 Up the Cause
GIVE REASONS FOR
 WANTING BALLOT
Arguments Against Them Have All Been Answered Satisfactorily and Ladies Expect Movement
 to Spread Rapidly
nx MRYTLls MILES

Fly MRYTLE MILES
 tsrhes. are slaves who fear 10 speak For the fallen and the wear.
 They are slaves who dare not choose Hatred, scoffing and abuse
 Rather than in silene shrink
 From the truth they needs must think. They are slaves who dare hot be
 In the right with two or three.
 Something of the above sentiment oc- CUTS to the members of the Suffrage league upon taking part in a conversation like this
 And so,'s says some prominent busl- mess man, you have joned the Suffrage league. Well, well, there is not ques- lion in my mind but that you are right l hope your organization proves sue cess. Women should have the vote. They kare undoubtedly prepared to assume the Responsibilities of the ballot. I am heart and soul in sympathy with you.r "Then," |Eays the member of the league selecting )a nice sharp pencil and placing Fit in contact with a neat little book, let me add your name to our. member- ship list "Oh. no, mo- Don't do that, he says very quickly. ITO tell you the truth. I am not certain yet whether the women themselves want the vote. When they want it they will get it. You may be sure of that. They always get what | |they want,p and smiling polite encourage ment, The raises his hat and passes on. And yet, with all this there are num- Der of Birmingham's most intellectual and in ha sions and in business, who have openly nllied themselves with the Equal Suf- frage organization. Despite tradition and rustom they and a company of the bran- | lest women of the city are concerned that lit is desirable and needful that women le given the privilege of the ballot, There are now ITO members of the league, | and they are making it one of the strong est factors in our civic life. An organi- zation so strong and so representative de- serves the attention of the community of outsiders and as an outsider who finds |them intensely interesting I have gath Iered these potent facts and will present |hhem for the information of The Age-Her- .ald readers:
 Origin and Scope
 ] The Suffrage club has existed since March. It grew out of the meeting of the Child Labor league which brought
 
 3philanthropic and civic lines to this city. During the convention Miss Jean Gordon .of New Orleans gave two addresses la voring the cause of equal suffrage-one public lecture at the Hotel Hillman, the other in a private home. She was, thus, probably the first to speak on equal sui frage in Birmingham. Her views found favor with many of her hearers.
 Realizing that there was much to rec lo urbf Chp af1pntlN sponsored, a group of women who had be- eome interested, either through her or other sources, formed a study club, They met every little while at the home of it's organizer. Mrs. w. l.. Murdoch, to m Vestigate civic problems and laws govern ne women in the state of Alabama. Pa bers were prepared and talks were made, Eometimes by a member, al other times by some leading lawyer, who gave the re- suIts of his research for their assistance md occasionally-as in the case of Miss Elizabeth Johnston, sister of Mary John Eton. the novelist-by a visitor. This vas not suffrage club. No member ol { had declared herself believer. All were however, in a receptive mood, hay ng decided that if, after investigation. Their conviction was for suffrage, they would openly declare themselves.
 Isarnestness, conservatism and dignity
 ave characterized the suffrage organiza- ion throughout it's existence As mem
 ers were added to the list and as inter- f.t grew to conviction. it's principles were rasped with the intelligence which pre- Fails in the other very excellent clubs
 which women are members in this
 ity. and the organizations methods have von the highest respect of the community
 frs Solon Jacobs became it's first presi- enta choice undoubtedly the happiest hal could have been made for not only
 she a fine executive officer, but one
 the best informed women in this eoun- rv on the suffrage question and current
 oltical issues
 The meetings of the league occur semi lonthlv. Tntn recently they assembled
 the council room of the Chamber of commerce. but, it's capacity proving inade-
 mate pr. Evans gave the use of the
 hurch of the Advent parish house au-
 torillm Here the meetings will pro- eed along the lines mapped ont in the ,u for the ensuing year. There will be occasional addresses from well known isiting opponents of the cause. inter persed among talks by local authorities. br. Samuel Ullnan gave splendid talk scently for suffrage; Mrs r. Crozler
 ronch of Knoxville addressed yesterday 2 heotjny, and Miss Sarah Barnwell Elliott
 III appear before the club in a few days
 The growth of the organization is most
 snihcant It has developed naturally. ormally, sanely. It's members are not nose who are given to adopting strange
 ,ds or indorsing new cults because they nance to be the mode. On the contrary. hey are earnest, progressive students