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 HUGE s. MILLER.


ity Of growth and 70. activity in de-
veloping 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
y. 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 as Senator and Mrs.
Hoke Smith, Of Georgia. Senator and
Mrs BRYAN, Of Florida, Senator AMI
Mrs Robinson. of Arkansas. Senators
Swanson, of Virginia, and VardamaH,
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.
Georaians Who Join.
Among the prominent GeorEians
who have Joined are Justice and Mrs.
william Bailey Lamar. Paymaster
and Mrs William G. F1te, Mr.. and
Mrs. James J. Hampton, Mr.. and Mrs
Harry r Cary. Mr.. and Mrs Sled4e
Tatum, Colonel Neyle Colquitt, Ma
rion c. Howard, u, /. Hartsill, Miss
Minnie f. Carroll, Miss Helen II. Har-
din Colonel John T. 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 a success that IL never before
attained II stands at the very top pf
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 its new
president, IL Is to be attributed mainly
Ia lively fight which developed In
the society Just previous to the last
election.
The Southern Society had been run
ming along for several years s quiet
lv as a meadow stream. Its first presi-
dent was Jacob NJ Dickinson, Secre-
tary Of War in the Taft Cabinet lie
was succeeded AS president 10y Seua
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 Hohson who I'M
intentionally precipitated the hght
which eliminated I'm the uu9recedent-
ed expansion Of the society. He pro
posed an amendment which would eN-
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 appQintee 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 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 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 TO others. and quickly the
whole society was aroused. The more
II was thought about and discussed
the greater the opposition 1t created
The rank and file Of the society de-