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 8. MILLER.

WASHINGTON. July For rapid
ty Of growth and for activity in de-
veloping the spirit Of the South at
he National Capital the Southern
Society OF Washington has set new
record Enoe the Democratic party
came into power.
Less than month after the cleo
don Of officers, which placed Claude
" Bennett, Of Georgia, in the presi-
dents chair, the society took In 80
new members from the leading South
srners in private, Congressional and
other official life. They incHded such
new members a. Senator and Mrs,
Hoke Smith, Of Georgia: Senator and
Mrs Bryan. Of Florida; Senator and
Mrs Robinson, Of Arkansas; Senators
Swanson. Of Virginia, and Vardaman,
Of Mississippi; Representatives Coz
don Lee, William Schley Howard and
Hughes Of Georgia, Burnett and
Hefiin. 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 G. Fite, Mr.. and
Mrs. James j. hampton, Mr. and Mrs
Harry +. Cary. Mr. and Mrs, Sledge
Tntum, Colonel Neyle Colquitt Ma
rion c. Howard, D. l.. Hartsill, Mise
Minnie r. Carroll Miss Helen II. Har-
din. Colonel John T. Boifeuillet and
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. p. Lamkin. From
other Southern States there are gen
erals. admirals and others OF note.
The Southern Society is now en-
loving success that n 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 It Is came In part
from the Georgian who Is It's new
president, it is 20 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
lv as meadow stream. Its first presi-
dent was Jacob NJ Dickinson, Score
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.
Hobson Started Fight.
II was President HObson who un-
Intentionally precipitated the fight
which eliminated In the unprecedent-
ed expansion OF the society. He pro
posed an amendment which would ex-
pRnd the eligibility clause Of the So
ciety 20 as to take in people rom
every section OF tho country provided
they felt an interest In 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 appointos OF President Wilson
as Ambassador TO Italy. Mr.. Page
was a member OF the executive com
mittee 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
aectionalism 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 lAA1Ae anu NpHAu ANN'A NihNH'AN ~
much so long as II was run under ex-
Clusively Southern direction How
ever justified they were in getting
this impression, the effect was eleCtrl-
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-