The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-07-15

have been. abroad. Not. one should
add, that their activities ever have
been regarded as '.insidious". But
they have registered the political
barometer accurately.
New England Societies once were
the Pennsylvania Society and the
Ohio Society. especially the latter
during the Taft administration. came
to the fore.
All that time the Southern Society
filled an inconspicuous place, and
the. few southerners m Washing
ton merely foregathered in lean
times in the faint hope that better
days would come. The new era
dawned with the coming of the Will
son administration. and behold, the
Southern Society proudly lifted its
head from the maze Of readjust-
ment claiming for its own the high
est officials and their families.
Wilson's Honorary Members.
With the President and Mrs. Will
son as its sole honorary members,
and with the Secretary of State and
Mrs. Bryan, the Secretary o; tho
Navy and Mrs. Daniels. Senators ga
lore. and executive officials of the
departments. army and navy officers,
and even distinguished scientific men,
all paying dues and pointing with
pride to their Southern Society atfih-
alton. that society took on new life
and assumed an unexpected leader
ship.
Women have been as active In the
societys regeneration as men, and
one Of those most directly responsible
for its activities has been Mrs. Dun
can U. Fletcher, wife Of the Senator
from Florida. who already had a firm
grasp on the social situation because
OF her connection with the exclusive
Congressional Club. and her mem
bership in the Women's National
Democratic League. - :.
The least lingering doubt about the
status OF the society was dispelled
when. in April, the annual banquet,
hitherto a quiet and inconspicuous
AFFAIR, was held at the Raleigh. The.l
the society showed its hand In its
null strength. Secretary Bryan was
billed for one toast Secretary Daniels
responded to Southern Woman
! n1oo' senator Gore enlarged upon
national affairs" and Gov. Stuart
Of Virginia came to washington TO
sound praises of his State.
women figured prominently in this
banquet. On the banquet committee
were Mrs. Fletcher. Mrs. Josephus
Daniels. Mrs Harriet T. Graves. .IId
Mrs. Ashbury F. Lever. IN addition
to the male members. Clarence j.
Owens. the Rev. George w. Atkin-
son. jr., Senator Hoka Smith, Hilary
A; Herbert, and John Corrigan.
The society has attained its pres
ent eminence and strength in mem
bership (having nearly 800 mem
bers now on its rollsJ under the
leadership of Claude n. Bennett.
The objects Of the society,"" Mr..
Bennett explained. ARE to bring to-
gether Southern people at the Ma
tional Capital to promote fellow
ship and friendship among them:
to aid in interpreting the South to
Itself and to the nation at large;
nected with the South and to cr.ys-
tallize and concentrate the ability
and influence of Southerners toward
the accomplishment Of worthy
achievements extending to all sec
tons. The society Is in no sense
sectional, except in the necessary
fact that it Is made up of South
erners."
Sixteen States are included in the
direct representation of the society.
These States represent a population
OF more than 10000 900. possess a
greater variety Of soil than any
similar sized territory in the world,
and have one crop, cotton, worth a
round billion dollars each year.
Meetings Held Monthly.
Meetings are held monthly by the
society during the winter season.
In keeping with the Southern idea
of hospitality there are no admis-
sion fees charged, and no assess
ments made upon members in addi-
- ~ k@t
ments. and these have been numer-
Gus during the past season. are free.
One OF the most entertaining OF
these was an amateur presentation
of The Melting Pot" and there
were other evenings given over to
short stories. to songs. and to brief
speeches by persons of national note.
The Raleigh Hotel ball room mas
been the scene of most OF these
gatherings.
A series Of educational meetings
will be feature of the clubs work
during the coming year. An effort
will be made to make these OF such
a nature that the National Museum
auditorium. limited to gatherings Of
the scientific or. educational nature.
will be available for them. It Is
planned to have Secretary Bryan
speak on phases OF Southern de-
Velopment, to have Speaker Champ
Clark talk on the South in history.
to have Senator Smith talk on the
growth of the South. and to have
one OF Mr.. Benefits lectures on the
South presented before the society
members.
In order to broaden the scope of
the society the sons OF Southern
parents are eligible. and when one
member Of a family is eligible the
other members of the family become
so by virtue OF relationship.
Besides President Bennett the Of
ficers of the club are DR.. Clarence J.
Owen. secretary: DR.. A. L. Nickel
way. financial secretary; Robert Lee
Montague. treasurer; DR.. William
Tayloe Snyder. chaplain. and Will
lam Kearney Carr. historian. The
vice presidents include Speaker
Clark. Senator Fletcher. Senator
Ransdell. Senator Lea. DR.. T. p.
Chapman. Judge ]. c. Clements.
Major Holmes Conrad. J. ]. Darling
ton, and H. NJ. Jacoway. On the
executive committee are c. c. Cal
houn. J. Henhing helms. E. b. Mer-
rift. Mrs Eli Bamford Smith, and
Mrs. Henry D. Clayton r- ,..-- .