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


ty Of growth and for activity in de-
veIoping the spirit OF the South at
ne National Capital, the Southern
Society Of Washington has set new
record sanoe the Democratic party
came into power
Less than a month after the cleo
don Of officers, which placed Claude
y. Bennett, Of Georgia, in the presi-
5eut's chair, the society took in 40
new members from me leading South
srners in private. Congregational 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 Vardaman,
OF Mississippi: Representatives Cor
don Lee, William Schley Howard and
Hughes Of Georgia; Burnett and
Hehin, Of Alabama; Small, OF North
Carolina, and man other Southern
Representatives and their wives.
Georgians Who join.
Among the prominent Georgians
who have Joined are Justice and Mrs.
William Bailey Lamar Paymaster
and Mrs. William c. Flte, Mr.. and
Mrs. James j hampton, Mr. and Mrs.
Harry f. Cary. Mr.. and Mrs Sledge
Tatum Colonel Neyle Colquitt, Ma
rion c. Howard, d. l. Hartsill Miss
Minnie e. Carroll. MISS Helen II. Har-
din, Colonel John T. Boifemllet and
Mr.. and Mrs j. r. Lamldn. From
other Southern States there are gem
erals admirals and others or note.
n
loving a success that II never before
attained. II stands at the very top NJ
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. II Is to 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 as quiet
IN as a meadow stream, It's first presi-
dent was Jacob NJ. Dickinson, Secre-
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
difficult for any OF these executives to
give the society much personal atten-
ton.
Hohson Started Fight.
Il was President Hobson who un-
Intentionally precipitated the fight
which eliminated in the unprecedent-
% expansion OF tho society. He pro-
posed an amendment which would ex-
pGnd the eligibility clause OF the So
eiety 20 as to take IN people from
every section OF the country, provided
they felt an interest In the South and
the general objects Of the orgAniLa-
ton His amendment was seconded
and ably advocated by Thomas Nell
son Page. OF Virginia, the author and
recent appointse OF President Wilson
as Ambassador 10 Italy Mr.. Page
was a member Of the executive com
nittee OF the society. He and Cap
tain HobSon 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
sectionalism and giving the society a
national character.
Some Of the members OF the society
gathered from their remarks an intl-
nation that the society amounted to
very little and would never amount to
much so long as II was run under ex-
clusively Southern direction. How
ever justified they we're in getting
this impression, the effect was electri-
cal They communicated their
thoughts to 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-