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.
sv HUGH S. MILLER.

WASHINGTON. July For rapid
ity Of growth and foy activity in de-
velopinR 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 Claude
\. Bennett OF Georgia in the presi-
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 Is Senator and Mrs
Hoke Smith. Of Georgia, Senator and
Mrs BRYAN, oe Florida, Senator and
Mrs Robinson. Of Arkansas: Senators
swanson. Of Virginia, and Vardam9a,
Of Mississippi. Repres entaives Co
don Lee, William Schley Howard and
Hughes Of Georgia; Burnett and
Helm. Of Alabama; Small, Of North
Carolina. and man" other Southern
Representative and their wives.
Georsans Who Join.
Among the prominent Georgisns
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 r Cary. Mr.. and Mrs. SledSe
Tstum. Colonel Neyle Colquitt Ma
non C. Howard, -. l.. Hartsill. Miss
Minnie f.. Carroll, Miss Helen II. Har.
din. Colonel John r. Boifeuillet and
Mr.. and Mrs. j. r, Lamkin. From
other Southern States there are gen
erals. admirals and others OF note.
The Southern Society Is now en-
loving q success that IL never before
attained. Il stands al the very top IT
the social organizations In the Ma
tionaI Capital Strangely enough.
while the impetus which has made
the society what Il Is came In part
from the Georgian who is its new
president, IL Is to be attributed mainly
10 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
Iv 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 Scna-
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-
cd 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 or 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 member Of the executive COM
mittee Of the society. He and Cap
tain Hobsou argued very ably and
eloquently for broadening the scope
Of the society, particularly with ref
erence 10 its membership. They em-
phasized the need Of doing away with
aectionalism and giving the society
national character
Some OF the members Of the society
gathered from their remarks an init
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 In getting
this impression. the effect was electri-
cal They communicated their
thoughts 10 others. and quickly the
whole society was aroused. The more
II was thought about and discussed
the greater the opposition il created
The rank and file Of the society de