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.
Bv HUGH S. MILLER.


fly OF growth and fo- activity ia de-
yeloping the spirit OF the South at
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 Claud
y Bennett OF Georgia, In the prcsi-
dents chair the society took in $50
new members from the leading South
erners in private, Congressional and
other official life. They Included such
new members as Senator and Mrs
Hoke Smith. Of Georgia. Senator and
Mrs BRYAN. OK Florida. Senator AMI
Mrs Robinson. Of Arkansas: Senators
Swanson. OF Virginia, and Nardama1,
Of Mississippi Repre- sentaives Coz
don Lee, William Schley Howard ana
Hughes. Of Georgia; Burnett and
Heflin, Of Alabama. Small, OF North
Carolina and many other Southern
Representatives and their wives.
Georaans 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, MI and Mrs
Harry r. Cary, Mr.. and Mrs. Sledge
Tatum, Colonel Neyle Colquitt, Ma
rion G. Howard. D. l. Hartsill. Miss
Minnie r. Carroll. Miss Helen II. Har-
din. Colonel John T. Bolfeuillet and
Mr.. and Mrs. j 3. Lamkin. From
other Southern States there are gen
erals, admirals and others OF note.
The Southern Society Is now en-
toying a success that It never before
attained II stands al the very top nf
the social organizations In the Ma
while the impetus which has made
the society what Il Is came in part
from the Georgian who is its new
president, q IS 10 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
Is as a meadow stream. Its first presi-
dent was Jacob NJ. Dickinson, Secre-
tary 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-
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 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 appointee 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
el0quently for broadening the scope
OF the society, particularly with ref
ereuCe TO its 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 were I'm getting
this impression, the effect was electri-
cal They communicated their
thoughts to others. and quickly the
whole society was aroused The more
IL was thought about and discussed
the greater the opposition II created.
The rank and file OF the society de-
clared that the adoption OF the
amendment would destroy both the
character and the purpose 6f the So
ciety, that II would no longer be a
Southern society, but an interstate
society. the z Puribus Unum So
ciety the Amalgamated Association Of
Selected Notwithstanding. in fact
but that # would not be a Southern
society.
Or. MeKelway Is Secretary.
The result was that the amendment
was defeated, President Hobson re-
signed. and Mr.. Bennett was unani-
mously elected 30 succeed him. DR..
4. ]. McKelway, well known in At
lanta, 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
Ciety are TO bring together at the
National Capital Southern people, TO
promote friendship and fellowship
among them. 10 nourish, cherish and
perpetuate Southern ideals and ideas
10 aid in interpreting the South to
itself and TO the nation at large. TO
develop and promote any good cause