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 5. MILLER.


WASHINGTON. July 5.-For rapid
ity OF growth and 70. activity in de-
veloping the spirit OF the South II
the National Capital. tho Southern
Society of Washington has set new
record since the Democratic party
came into power
Less than a month after the cleo
ton Of officers, which placed Claude
y. Bennett, OF Georgia, in the presi p
dents chair. the society took in $50
new members from the leading South
erners in private, Congressional and
new members as Senator and Mrs.
Hoke Smith, Of Georgia; Senator and
Mrs. Bryan, Of Florida. Senator and
Mrs. Robinson. Of Arkansas. Senators
Swanson. Of Virginia, and Vardam an,
of Mississippi. Representatives Co.
on Lee, William Schley Howard and
Hughes Of Georgia Burnett and
Helm, of Alabama. Small, Of North
Carolina. and man. other Southern
Representatives and their wives.
Georsisns 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, MT and Mrs
Harry r. Cary, Mr. and Mrs, Sledse
Tatum, Colonel Neyle Colquitt Ma
Ron c. Howard, ID. l. Hartsill, Miss
Minnie r. Carroll Miss Helen II. Har-
din. Colonel John T. Roifeuillet and
Mr. and Mrs ]. y. Lamkin. From
other Southern States there are gem
erals, admirals and others OF note.
The Southern Society is now en-
loving a success that II never before
attained. II stands al the very top ~
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 It's 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
~ as meadow stream. Its first presi-
dent was Jacob NJ Dickinson, Secre-
tary or 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 1t
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 organizR-
ton His amendment was secondt d
and ably advocated by Thomas Mel
son Page. OF Virginia. the author and
recent appoiutee 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
erence TO its membership. They en-
phasized the need of doing away with
sectionalism 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 Il was run under eN-
clusively Southern direction How
ever justified they were 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 il created.
The rank and file OF the society de