Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
Southern Society Takes a Squirt
+.+ +.+ +o+
Has a Big Field in Washington
+.+ +'* *'+ +s+ F'%
Many NOtableS Become Members
Records Smashed by Organization
Since Claude N. Bennett
Became President.
~ HUCH 6. MILLER.

WASHINGTON. July 5.-For rapid
I ity of growth and 70. activity In de-
yciupiug the spirit pf the South ct
the National Capital the Southern
Society Of Washington has set a new
record since the Democratic party
came into power.
Less than a month after the cleo
ton Of officers which placed Claude
y Bennett Uf Georgia, in the presi
dents chair the society took In $50
new members from the leading South
nruers In private, Congressional and
other official life. They included such
new members as Senator and Mrs
Hoke Smith. oe Georgia, Senator ana
Mrs Bryan, O.. Florida, Senator AMI
Mrs Robinson. Of Arkansas. Senators
Swanson, OF Virginia, and Vardamt1
Of Mississippi, Representatives Co
don Lee. william Schley Howard and
Hughes. Of Georgia; Burnett and
Hcfin. Of Alabama, Small, OF. North
Carolina. and man other Southern
Representative and their wives.
Georgians Who Join.
Among the prominent Georgians
who have Joined are Justice and Mrs.
william Bailey Lamar, Paymaster
and Mrs william G.. F1te, Mr.. and
Mrs. James J. hampton, Mr and Mrs
Harry +. Cary, Mr. and Mrs. Slcdge
Tatum. Colonel Ncyle Colquitt Ma
rion g Howard, d. l.. Hartsill, Miss
Minnie y. Carroll Miss Helen II. Har-
din, Colonel John T. BOifeuiliet and
Mr. and Mrs. J b. Lamkin From
other Southern states there are gen
erals. admlrals and others Of note.
The Southern Society Is now en-
loving a success that IT never before
attained. II stands at the very top ~
the social organizations in the Ma
tional Capital Strangely enough,
while the impetus which has made
the society what II is came in part
from the Georgian who Is its new
president. Il is 10 be attributed mainly
10 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 rs quiet
~ as "a meadow stream. It's first presi-
dent was Jacob NJ Dickinson, SeCrc-
tarv 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
dimcult for any of these executives to
give the society much personal atten-
ton.
Hobson Started Fight
Il was President Hohson who un-
Intentionally precipitated the fight
which eliminated I'm the unprecedent-
ed expansion of the society. He pro-
posed an amendment which would eX-
pand the eligibility clause OF the So
ciety so as to take in people from
every section OF the country, provided
they felt an interest I'm the South and
the general objects Of the organiza-
ton His amendment was seconded
and ably advocated by Thomas Mel
son Page. of Virginia. the author and
recent appointee OF President Wilson
as Ambassador 20 Italy. Mr.. Page
was a member OF the executive com
mlttee of the society. He and Cap
tain Hobson argued very ably and
eloquently for broadening the scope
Of the society. particularly with ref
erenCe to it's membership. They EN-
phasized the need Of doing away with
sectionalism and giving the society a
national character.
Some of the members Of the society
gathered from their remarks an iutl-
nation that the society amounted "a
very little and would never amount "a
much so long as 1t was run under eX-
clusively Southern direction. How
ever justified they were I'm getting
cal They communicated theii
thoughts TO others and quickly tbs
whole society was aroused. The more
II was thought about and discussed
the greater the opposition it created
The rank and file of the society de-
clared that the adoption Of the
amendment would destroy both the
! character and the purpose of the So
Ciety; that II would no longer be a
! Southern society but AN interstate
/ society, the f Pluribus Unum So
| Ciety, the Amalgamated Association OF
! Selected Celebrities-anythi in fact
but that II would not be a Southern
! society.
DR.. Mokelway Is Secretary.
The result was that the amendment
was defeated, President Hobson re.
| signed. and Mr.. Bennett was unaui-
| mousiy elected to succeed him Or
! A. J. NCkelway, well known in At
/ ianta. is financial secretary Of the So
/ Ciety. Speaker Champ Clark is the
/ first vice president
Something of what the Southern
Society is, and what il Is doing. IS
| contained in the following interview
by Mr.. Bennett;
The objects of the Southern So
Low We Unc Plamod O @