The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-17

discuss the merits of their caus
 The anti-ratificationists took the DO. sition, in lengthy statement read ty Senator Evins, they would be engaging in politics-something they were ask. ing the legislature not to permit them at the joint session
 The joint session took a sensationa, turn when the suffragists had dis. cussed the merits of the amendment for an hour, this time having been allotted them by Nathan L. Miller, rresiding of ficer of the Senate. It was agreed to |. give the suffragists the first hour, the antis one hour and thirty minutes, with the suffragists closing the argument with the last thirty minutes of the three hours permitted under joint resolu- tion of MT. Murphree.
 The suffragists had completed their z arguments when Senator A. H. Car michael of Colbert, leading the opposi. ton in the Senate, informed the mem bers of the House and Senate and the women present that the opposition had decided not to carry out a programme and not to make speeches. He then introduced Senator Evins. who began the reading of a statement signed by prominent ant-suffragists of the state.
 KISSING GREETS STATEMENT
 The first paragraph of the statement signalled for loud hissing from the suf- frage side. The statement said the anti-suffragists were rspresenting so per cent of the white women of Alabama in asking the legislature to kill the suffrage measure. From every location in the large hall, the corridors 's and the lobby came loud laughing and
 hissfg. This offended the anti-ratifi-
 cation f1ation, and likewise the presid- | ing offi5r, who rapped for order and < informag the ''hissers" that they would
 De asksJ to give the opposition the ssame r>lrteous attention the opposi- ton eve them. The suffragists ex- presseG approval of the mild lecture of ! the presiding officer and applauded his remarks. There were no more out bursts from the suffrage side.
 | The House was called to rder at $40 \ o'clock, Speaker Merritt announcing the I House had important business to trans act before the beginning of the joint session. Several bills were introduced. and the clock showed the time to be 10:15 o'clock when Representative Preston arose to a point of order and informed the speaker that the time for the hearing of the women had arrived ]; tlg7+ it. was time to turn the House Mssr <, the women.
 xt s the opinion of the chair that fhs < use already has been turned over 10 tte ladies'" said Speaker Merritt, as lis sianced towards the gallery, where fhere were hundreds of women. many et4naing. In the halls were also saras who could not gain admittance Se tits gallery
 T,S yellow ribbon. emblem of the adtfraglsts, predominated Long before he joint session started the Equal Suf- fcs@s association had given away all fsNsl4 supply of ribbons, and an effort to ss more was made
 En- House members arose to receive ssss Sc nate at 10:30 o'clock Lieutenant EavSErsor Miller announced that one hour would first be devoted to the suf- 1ssgisf arguments. one hour and thirty minutes to the opposition, the last thirty minutes going to the suffragists. Airs Iohn D. McNeel. chairman of the ratification committee, took charge of ths p1ogramme, announcing the speak srs 9 i'd the time they would be allotted.
 EggST SENSATION SPRUNG
 Ine first sensation of the day came when Mrs. McNeel announced that John c. Anderson, chief justice of the Alabama Supreme court, would be the first speaker for the suffrage cause. Many of the naturalization commit tee left the hall. thus showing indig- nation that men should come into the fight which was planned for women only.
 T appear before you with some little hesitancy and diffidence," said Chief Jus tice Anderson. Indeed. when requested by the advocates of this measure. was disposed to decline, as I have always endeavored to preserve the properties ot the high judicial office to which the peo- pie of Alabama have honored me, by sschewing political broils and contests but upon reflection I concluded that the question now under consideration was one beyond an ordinary political issue and involved the sancitity of every home and 1reside in the state. and that have certain duties and rights incident to citi- xenship regardless of judicial position, and 1t has ever been my code in life to meet what I conceived to be my duty re- Eardless of consequenece to me personally or politically. Therefore. appear before you not as judge or representative of the court, but as a native citizen, a husband and father in behalf of more than two hundred thousand white women of Ala hama.
 You have assembled today for the con. alteration of perhaps the most nlomen- tous question that has ever confronted q legislature, one which should elicit your most careful consideration and sacred action. the most important amendment ever proposed to the federal constitution; indeed. more important than any origiEt section of that instrument. it seeks ar Interpretation of that part of the bill of rights which proclaims that all men are born equal, by interpolating therein the word woman This measure is to my mind as important, or more so. than the ordinance of secession of 1861 which car tieds- Alabama out of the union because there were threats of striking the shackles from human chattels Now you are called upon to strike the shaclkles from your wives. your daughters. your mothers and your sistefs.
 Far be 1t from me to criticize our senators and representatives in Washing ton who opposed the submission of this instrument for ratification. No one en. tsrtains a higher esteem for their patrio- tiSm than myself. and number among tho delegation some of my warmest per sonal and political friends. but in my