The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-27
SHAPIRO CR|T|C|zES
 THE LEGISLATORS Make No Attempt to Vote Intelligently, He Tells the
 Equal Suffragists

A small but enthusiastic crowd of equal suffrage advocates gathered last night at Cable hall for the first night meeting or the Birmingham Equal Suffrage asso- citation. Perhaps the most interesting talk of the evening was given by lsadore Shapiro. When questioned by several of the ladies In the audience about the legislature, he replied to the effect that the present legislature system should be abolished and would be before many years had past.
 Only two other speakers, both women, addressed the attentive audience. Mrs. H. II. Shell spoke on the growing strength of the woman suffrage cause throughout the union and how the suf- frage associations i'll the various states were handled Mrs. Shell spoke mostly of Michigan. The headquarters are in Detroit and although the association has only the same number of members as the local association. she said 1t raised about twice as mach money and SUD- port from the members as the local women have thus far been able to &C., compish.
 Mrs. Fletcher McQuillian of Los Angeles, Cal, also spoke. She briefly explained the methods of how the women voted in California. The effect of the women's vote and the progress oe the state since the adoption of woman suffrage. Her statement that universal woman suffrage would soon be In effect brought forth general applause.
 MT. Shapiro spoke next and gave a brief resume of all of the educational laws. some 15 In number, passed by the last legislature, of which he was a mem Der. He also explained, in his opinion, some of the funny" laws that were passed. "The legislature appropriated $2b000 for the use of state officials in stamping out the hog cholera" he said Several organizations fought bravey for the passage of such worthy bills as the child labor laws. the anti-tuberculosis ap- propria ton bill and numerous other bills that concerned the welfare of the people or the state.
 When MT. Shapiro was questioned by a woman in the audience as to his views on the value of the legislature he re- piled: During my service in the legisla- ture the last term, I got a good idea of the value of Alabama's legislature system. I feel that 1t is practically WCftLleSS dlu lnal III Ilne IL Will De entirely abolished and a good form, modelled after some progressive state, be set up. The members of the past legis- ature scoff at the idea of representa- tive understanding what he is voting for or against.
 "To thoroughly explain my point, the following incident occurred: About P amendments had been made to a certain bill and wishing to vote intelligent1y on the subject and since I could not re- member all of the amendments, offered 8 resolution to the effect that the amendments be printed and distributed among the members. Immediately sev- eral members arose and with jeers from the remainder of the assembly con- demned my wish to understand what I was voting for. That example will carry for almost every question. On the child labor law debate, I never heard of such a powerful lobby attending any Alabama legislature in an effort to keep a law from passing. The system is bad and I hope there will be a remedy.'
 The meeting was a success from every viewpoint and officials of the associa- tion were much encouraged. Mrs. A. M. Taylor. local president, presided aver the meeting. Over half of those present were men.