Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
SOUTHERN SOCIETY TAXES A
Squirt IN CAPITAL; MANY
NOTABLES BECOME MEMBERS
Records Smashed by Organization
Since Claude N. Bennett
Became President.
BY HUGH 3. MILLER.


WASHINGTON. July 5.-For rapid
ny Of growth and for activity in de-
veloping the spirit Of the South at
he National Capital. the Southern
5ociety Of Washington has set a new
record sanoe the DsmoUat1c party
came into power.
Less than a month after the cleo
don Of onosra, which placed CiGuds
n Bennett. Of Georgia, in the presi-
dents chair, the society took I'm $50
new members from the leading South
sners IN private, Congressional and
other OFFICIAL life They included such
new members as Senator and Mrs,
Hoks Smith, OF Georgia; Senator and
Mrs Bryan, Of Florida; Senator and
Mrs Robinson, OF Arkansas; Senators
Swanson, Of Virginia, and Vardamau,
Of Mississippi. Representatives Coz
don Lee, William schley Howard and
Hughes, Of Georgia, Burnett and
Hefin, OF Alabama; Small. Of North
Carolina. and man other Southern
Representatives and their wives.
Georgians Who Join.
Among the prominent Georgtans
who have Joined are Justice and Mrs.
William Bailey Lamar, Paymaster
and Mrs William c. F1te, Mr.. and
Mrs James j Hampton, MT and Mrs
Harry +. Cary, Mr.. and Mrs. SledSe
Tatum. Colonel Neyle COlquitt. Ma
rion c. Howard d. l. HArtsill, Miss
Minnie F. Carroll, Miss Helen II. Har-
din. Colonel John T. Boifeutllet and
Mr.. and Mrs. j. B. Damktn. From
other Southern States there are gen
erals. admirals and others Of note.
The Southern Society Is now en-
loving n success that II never before
attained. Il stands at the very top "
the social organizations In the Ma
tiona Capital. Strangely enough,
while the impetus which has made
the society what II is came in part
from the Georgian who Is It's new
president Il is TO be attributed mainly
to a lively fight which developed in
the society just previous to the last
election.
The Southern Society had been run
ming along for several years as quiet
~ as meadow stream. It's first presi-
dent was Jacob NJ. Dickinson, Secre-
tary Of War in the Taft Cabinet. He
was succeeded as president by Sena-
tor Thornton. OF Louisiana, and he
In turn was followed by Representa-
tive Richmond Pearson Hobson, of
Alabama. Lack OF time had made II
difficult for any OF these executives TO
give the society much personal alton
ton.
Hobson Started Fight.
II was President Hobson who un-
Intentionally precipitAted the fight
which culminated in the unprecedent-
cd expansion of the society. He pro-
posed an amendment which would ex-
tn ~ 90 h.
ciety 20 a. to take in people nom
every section OF the country, provided
they felt an interest in the South and
the general objects Of the organlzA-
ton His amendment was seconded
and ably advocated by Thomas Mel
son Page, Of Virginia, the author and
recent appointsS OF President Wilson
as Ambassador TO Italy Mr. Page
was member OF the executive com
mittee OF the society. He and Cap
tain HobBon argued very ably and
eloquently for broadening the scope
OF the society, particularly with ref
erenoe TO It's membership. They EN-
phasiZed the need Of doing away with
sectionahsm and giving the society a
national character.
Some OF the members OF the society
gathered from their remarks an init
nation that the society amounted to
very little and would never amount to
much so long as II was run under e1-
clusively Southern direction How
ever justified they were IN getting
this impression, the effect was electri-
cal. They communicated their
thoughts 20 others and quickly the
whole society was aroused, The more
II was thought about and discussed
the greater the opposition II created
The rank and file Of the society de-