The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-02

city; nine national suffrage conventions
have been held here this being the tenth.
Each time we have met with a warmer
welcome, for so runs the history of the
suffrage movement. We have come In
ever increasing numbers, from the small
handful of courag geous pioneers, until now
this great throng is Hospitality received.
Even this has served to increase your
oordiaIity And while we are grateful
for the spirit in which Washington en-
tertains us we know II will not be neces-
sary for us to come back to you another
45 years. we are ready and willing to do
1t, If need be-
Mrs. Jacobs speech follows;
MADAME President. Mrs Allender
Miss Paul and friends: 1t is an es-
peeial pleasure to me to have this op-
portunity to respond to the greetings
from Washington, being southern
suffra gist, and therefore a living re-
futation of the charge which has been
made in no less place than the halls
of Congress that the womanhood of
the south does not want the Suffrage.
1t is an Indictment of the southern
woman's Intelligence which | resent.
Nor is my position original, unique or
lonely: there are thousands of usl
The women of Virginia. Tennessee,
Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, North
Carolina, Alabama--in fact in all the
southern states-are stirring, are real
izng the vote is the only honorable dig
nified and sure means of securing recosS-
milton of their aspirations and of their
needs.
Knows No Section
Il would not have you infer, how
ever that this great national associa-
ton is composed only of southerners;
it knows no section, for it embraces
not only the great white west and the
whitening east, but the grey states OF
the north In it's ranks are women fol-
lowing the vision in the souls from
sweat shop and drawing room, from
factory and office, from school and
home; women who with long hours and
scant pay are yet unwilling to stand
still and let this great world movement
pass them by--for they would see their
daughters have the fighting chance de-
MED them: women of leisure, whose
souls burn TO equalize some of the hide
Gus unfairness of life; vast army of
women awake to the spirit of the age
in which we 1--we, an age vibrant with
social consciousness. These women
would put new significance into de-
mocracy-would interpret motherhood
afreshi
Understand Conference
"They are not bound together by
economic interests, social tie, political
affiliation or creed, yet they under
stand the conference and oneness in ma
ture and relations which makes life
sweet and sane.
TT is a wonderful thing to have con-
nections so strong you must stand up
and be counted. you must so out and
do battle for tehm. 1t is a privilege to
be born to live in such soul stirring
times, to understand that communion
of interests, that mutual responsibility
which the solidarity of the woman suf-
frage movement indicates.
II recall hearing the eminent suf-
fragist, Miss Mary Johnston, speak of
the significance of the fact that no
word in the English language has ex-
actly the same meaning and use for
women as the word fraternal' has for
men, the inference being there has
never been occasion to use 1t, or 1t
would have been supplied.
To-day we need that word and here
in washington where they coin so
many useful and necessary things,
money laws and excuses (sometimes)
may we not coin it in fact, as we have
in spirit?
For. As years advocates of woman
suffrage have been coming to this the
CAPITAL city; nine national suffrage con.
ventions have been held here, this be-
ing the tenth. Each time we have met
with a warmer welcome-for so Rms
the history of the suffrage movement.
We have come in ever increasing num-
bers-from the small handful of cour-
ageous pioneers until this great throng
Is hositably received. Even this has
served to increase your cordiality.
Ready to Return
and while we are grateful for the
spirit in which Washington entertains
us, we know it will not be necessary
for us to come back to you another 40
years--we are ready and willing II do
it, If need be.
ION behalf of the National Ana lean
Woman Suffrage association let me
express our thanks to the Washington