The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-29
Not Aggrieved at Congress-
mans AIIusiOns to Suf-
fragists as "Cranks"
APPARENTLY LITTLE
CHANCE OF DEBATE
Mrs. Hundley Says in Her Letter,
1--WE Realize Your Enthusiasm
Got the Better of Your
Good Taste

The proposed debate between Con-
gresham J. Thomas Heflin and mem
ber of the Birmingham Equal Suffrage
association has not materialized and
for the present the matter is ended
Mrs. Hundley did not receive Congress
man Heflins declination until Sunday
and late last night gave out her an
swer to him. The following eorrespon-
dence is self explanatory:
''Washington. D. c.. July %, 1913.
Mrs. Oscar r. Hundley, Birmingham,
Ala
my dear Mrs. Hundley:-Y let
ter of July Is has been received and
noted. Pardon me for not answering
sooner.
1.-The suggestion of a joint debate
on the subject of woman's suffrage
came about, you will remember, when
Mr. Hobson and l were taking part
in the debate on the suffrage in Wash
ington. | still desire to meet Mr., Hob
son or any other member of Congress
from Alabama who favors woman S
suffrage in joint debate at Birmingham
or other place in the state. The Age
Herald reporter here interviewed me
yesterday on the subject and | stated
you here.
"Owing to the position that l have
heretofore taken upon this matter,
must decline your invitation unless you
can induce a member of Congress from
Alabama TO meet me in joint debate
on thte subject of womans suffrage
If you can succeed in doing this, and |
trust that you will put forth your
very best efforts to Go SO, it Will give
me a great deal of pleasure to arrange
a date for a discussion of the subject
of womans suffrage at Birmingham.
with best wishes for you and yours,
/ am, Yours very cordially,
81. THOMAS HEFLIN.r
Mrs. Hundley's answer was as follows:
Birmingham, Ala, July 2S, 1918.
'11on. j. Thomas Hefiin, Washington,
d. c.
MY dear Mr.. Hehin: l am in receipt
of your very courteous letter declining
to accept the invitation of the BirminS-
ham Equal Suffrage association for joint
discussion of the question of equal suf-
rage with one of it's members and CT
course, / concede to you the right to
decline to discuss this issue with any
person other than such as you may desis-
nate. While conceding you this privi-
lege | cannot permit the matter to pass
by without directing your attention to
your error in assuming that this invita-
ton grew out of any controversy you
may at any time have had with Mr..
Hobson, who is not a member of our
association and who has never spoken
for us.
THE Birmingham Equal Suffrage as
soclation is not partisan political body,
but is an organization which holds as
sacred the principle of human right and
it was with a view of having this prin-
ciple discussed upon it's merit alone and
not with the intention of pitting one
congressman against another congress-
man that the ivitation was extended to
you.
1.-THE press has on several occasions
stated that we felt aggrieved because
of your illusions to us as "old maids,
unhappy married women, cranks or fad
dists," but l trust you will not believe
this, for we realize that your enthusiasm
got the better of your good taste, which,
doubtless, you yourself deplored and we
also know that no issue was ever be-
clouded by vituperation or epithet and
no great cause was ever defeated by
abuse of its advocates.
''Regretting that we are forced to defer
TO your decision i nthe matter of the de-
bate, remain, very truly yours.
"BOSSIE O'BRIEN HUNDLEY,
''President Birmingham Equal Suffrage
Association"