The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-20
this will apply to the negro woman as
 DECIDING VOTE

That the women voters will cast the deciding vote was demonstrated m the last presidential election, when tae women voters of California cast the majority of votes for President Wal son. If the democratic legislatures do not raEfy the amendment. they will meet with the disapproval of the wo- men of the west, who have just been given the vote and who have not yet affiliated themselves with any party.
 With a large number of prominent men and women present, the meeting last night was one of the most en- thusiastic ever held in Birmingham in the interest of equal suffrage Mrs John D. McNeel presided. addressing the gathering as fellow citizens us 1920" Mrs. McNeel made a brief talk In which she stated that all arguments against the ratification of the sui. frage amendment were closed and every argument for the cause rings true today She read a message re- ceived from Attorney General ]. .. Smith of Montgomery, who was sched- ulcd to speak, stating he was engaSed in court and would be unable to bs present. However, he expressed thr wish that the legislature would ratify the amendment, so as to allow the women to vote in Alabama.
 IN WEES NAME D. b. McLendon, tax assessor of Jef- ferson county, made a short talk, in which he expressed pleasure at being present. During my 16 years exper ence in office I have seen men, women, foreigners and negroes come in to as- sess property,' said MT. McClendon ''All are, sworn alike and 40 per cent of the men in the county have their property in their wives names If they have no confidence in the judS- ment of their wives, why place their property in their hands. The women of Alabama are as capable of voting as the men, and 1 certainly hope the legislature will ratify the amendment and give the women ot Alabama the ballot
 Judge Samuel D. weakley made d speech in favor of the ratification cf the suffrage amendment "Only one simple thing is accomplished by the nineteenth amendment" said Judge Weakley, "and it takes woman and raises her. as to the right of suffrage, to the level of men and puts her Le- side him as his equal in participatirn in the government, so far as voting is concerned. That is where she be- longs.
 The amendment will not change ex- isting provisions of the constitution and laws of Alabama, except in 'i.e matter of discrimination on account pf sex, and that being removed all other provisions will remain in effect and will be applicable to women upon the same terms as they will to men"
 WRITING ON THE WALL
 Mrs. D. E. French of Knoxville was present and made brief talk, wishing the Alabama suffragists success j:f their fight. She said she hoped tEe legislators would see the handwriting on the wall and soon change in favor of the ratification of the amendment.
 Commissioner J. R. Hornady de- clared he was looking forward wish much interest to the time when the women of Alabama could vote, for he believed many problems would De solved by them. He predicted that great progress would be made along educational as well as other lines when the women were given the bal- lot. sa
 Mrs. James Drakeford of Colorado was introduced and made brief talk telling of the things the women in her state were doing. She wished the wo- men success in their fight and assured them it was coming whether in July or littlen later.
 Miss Margaret Antwine sang Beau tiful Ohio," Little Gray Home in the West" and .The Rose of No Mans Land,' while music was furnished by an orchestra composed of Miss Jessie Turner, piano. Mrs. A Hall, fluto: Frederick Hard, violin, and Mrs W. NJ Glass, cello.