The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-24

c7F7HE Jefferson county woman's
 committee of the council of
 national defense has been or ganized for comparatively short time and yet under the able leadership or Mrs. J. H. Mccoy it lfas already be- come an important factor in the social and civic life of Birmingham. Its mem bership reaches out into the highways and byways of the city and the county and embraces women of every class and occupation. Its watchword is democ- racy, and it has been organized for the purpose of furnishing medium through which the women of Jefferson county may do their share in helping ''to make the world safe for democracy To it and It's hundreds of members may turn, and do turn, every agency charged with the fulfillment of war work The woman's s committee of the council of defense stands ready to undertake itself. all war work for which there exists no already organized body. In cases where organi- zations have already been formed to carry on certain branches of war work, the woman's committee stands by to help them at the slightest call. It's object is intelligent and efficient war service.
 Because of the fact that the woman S committee in Jefferson county was rather late in being organized, there has been in the minds of some of the active work CTS some slight confusion as to the func- tion of the woman's division of the coun- Gil of national defense. For this req son, the long heralded visit to Birming- ham next Thursday of the national chairman of the womans committee, Dr.. Anna Howard Shaw, has been hailed with delight by the local leaders as an op- portunity of clearing up all confusion and misunderstanding as to the true sphere of the woman's committee.
 As every one knows, the council of national defense is committee com posed of men, and was created by act of Congress shortly after the declaration of war a year ago. It operates under the war department. One of the first acts of the council was the establish ment of a woman's committee, patterned after itself, to aid it in its labors- a sort of Eve made out of Adams rib. The great woman leader, Dr. Anna How ard Shaw, was the unanimous choice as chairman of this woman's committee, and she was appointed by Secretary Of War Baker with the indorsement of President Wilson.
 Since her appointment Dr. Shaw has la bored cedSel6SSly tO peTlcCl elC VI 6eAti zation of branches of her committee i'll every state, county, city, town and ham let in the union, with what splendid success she herself is coming to tell the people of Birmingham. She is now on tour of the southern states, and Birmlng- ham is the only place in Alabama which is to be honored by a visit from her at this time. She will appear under the direction of Mrs. Walter BeasleJ, educational chairman of the state wom- ans committee, council of defense. and of Mrs w D. Smith, who is the educa- tional chairman of the county commlt- tee Mrs w D. Smith Is in charge or local arrangements, and is being assisted by Mrs. Jack Bowron, Mrs. Angus Tay- Tor and Miss Amelia Worthington.
 According to the present programme' pr. Shaw will arrive Thursday morning from Atlanta. She will address a mass meeting at the First Methodist church at o'clock on the aims, purposes and accomplishments of the womans com snittee. There will be many out-of-town women in attendance at this meeting. Epecjal invitations have been sent to all county and local chairmen of defense councils throughout the state, and to all 1vomen,s organizations ih Greater Bir- nojnchan. Mrs. J. F. Hooper Of selma, state chairman of the womans commit fee. will be present, as will many other state officers. The meeting will be open to the public, and Mrs. smith IS congratulating herself upon obtaining