The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-24

last 80 years has been flirting with the
votes for women cause and finally has
begun to accede to the demands of
the fair sex for equal rights Dixie land
has held aloof and Snied from the
agitation as something to be feared
on a par with yellow fever in its men,
ace.
But quietly and determinedly the
leaVen has been working, and now
comes the announcement that 1900
women in this state are enrolled in the
| movement and are backing it with the
energy of their northern sisters, de-
spite the prejudice against woman in
politics or public life, that has been a
characteristic of the south since the
beginning of her history. These 1900
women expect to have 10000 followers
| by fall,
And the movement is not confined to
educators or propagandists. Its great
est grip is in the homes of the society
leaders and most exclusive women OF
| this and other large cities of the state,
who have come to look upon the right
to vote as the modern woman's herit-
age and something necessary to her
salvation under the present economic
conditions.
Sweeping with steadily increasing
iotce over Alabama, the equal suffrage
movement presents somewhat unique
distinguishing characteristic in this
section as compared with many others
1t was completely organized and is ao-
lively promoted by women who are
members of old and aristocratic fam
iiles and whose culture high social no
sitlon and wide personal influence
make them powerful factor for sue
cess in any far-reaching undertaking..
The writer states that at the time
OF the formation of the Alabama Equal
Suffrage association the movement wa {
looked upon as a fad but that it is
looked upon very differently now. He
prints photographs of three leaders in
the local organization-Mrs. Oscar
Hundley, its president: Mrs. A. !. Row
ron, the treasurer, and Miss Ethel
Armes. former vice president of the
association. These pictures. all three
most rtistics and exquisite, well rem
resent the types of woman interested
In this far-reaching movement in tee
south.
lie speaks in terms of highest praise
Vi MIS- Soion Jacobs work and of her
uhusual personality, terming her "a
woman of magnetic personality proni-
nent in philanthropic, art and social
life. with genius for well directed ef-
fort"
Ihe president of the Birmingham
Equal Suffrage association is a wom-
an or rare beauty, tact and executive
capacity. She is Mrs. Oscar r. Humid
ley, wife of a wealthy former federal
Judge. He is in thorough sympatbv
"i'h votes Tor women. Mrs. Hundley
mas entered actively on her duties, Wis
rs headquarters daily and Will push
the work for all there is in it,
Meet me at Headquarters" is the slo-
gan showing the large social element
peihg employed for practical results
ne work Is being conducted through
various committees composed of a num-
per OF the most prominent women in
.eilectuaily and socially in Alabama
moiileh n picked fer their personal in
huehce through philanthropic achiav,
,iehts' educational force and social
leadership 'oei"i
among them are: Mrs. joseph O
ihotnpson, wife of a wealthy huIl
! moose leader who was for Years one or
tresluent Roosevelt's spozesmen in
alapaiha affairs of national connecfion.
~ > a. j. Bowron, active in philan
en'oplc undertakings and a member of
one OF Alabama's weaIthiest families.
9lfs' W. l. Murdock. who has devoted
years Oh effective work to the deve1-
opmeht or a broader educational ana
enailty spirit and better civic cond,
tiohs; Mrs Richard T.. Johnston. daugh
tef-ih-law of the late Richard Malcolm
johnston of national fame as a novel
ISL, MRS. William ID. Nesbitt. member of
an old aristocratic Alabama fanoilN
which has figured for generations in
the history OF the state, a social Leader
ana active in the promotion of better
CIVIC conditions; Miss Annie William
who is now in Europe to attend m.
great International equal suffrage con-
ference at Budapest: Miss Ethel Armes
author of several books. including the
story of Coal and Iron in Alabama ."
which is regarded as an authority ~,
the mineral resources and iron and steel
industries of the SOUTH and many
others whose influence in widely felt in
social, humanitarian and uplift fields
CLOSE observers of political condi-
lions in Alabama believe they will get
wrat they are after, because the
movement iS fast ,raipipo tarnr ,,xax...