The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-27
WOMEN ARE READY . FOR THE BALLOT, SAYS MRS. JACOBS Noted Suffrage Leader Tells of Women's Strug-
 gles to Secure the
 Ballot >

That the governor of Ala bama would not fail the wom- en of the state in calling an ex- tra session of the legislature to pass measures for the registra- tion of women to enable them to vote in the November cleo tion was the opinion of Mrs. Solon Jacobs given yesterday before the issuance of the call.
 When informed of the call for meeting of the legislature on September IA, Mrs. Jacobs expressed much pleasure at the action of the governor and stated that the women of the state would prepare themselves to vote intelligently on such issues as may come before the people. |.
 Last year. during the term of legis- lature, the women of the state tried to get the legislature to pass laws open ing the ballot to women in case the ether states ratified the amendment. We knew the amendment would be a law before the legislature met again. Virginia and other states prepared this way for, the amendment.
 Women are ready for the ballot. Though we did not know .the exact date of the ratification knew we would be voting in the November, elec- tion. We are not surprised. The wo- men know thefr minds and know what they are going to stand for in the~ elec- ton and the elections to come.
 "The declaration that the ninc-
 teenth amendment Is law is the
 continuation of long struggle on / the part of the women of the na-
 tion," continued Mrs. Jacobs. "The
 work before the women now fs to
 master the technicalities of the
 ballot so as to vote intelliEently.
 "A very small group~o of Birmingham women formed the first suffrage or- ganization in Birmingham in 1911. Leaders in the movement were Mrs. w. l.. Murdock. Mrs. R. F. Johnston, Mrs Oscar R. Hundley, Mrs. Jack Bowron, Mrs. W. N. Wood. Mrs. H. H. Shell, Miss Helen Benners. Miss Amelia Worthing- ton, Mrs. Angus Taylor, myself and others. A call was given for the wo- men to meet in the Chamber of Com merce to form the first suffrage or ganization. Great surprise was evi- denced that thirty women were pres- ent and enrolled as charter members. It has since grown rapidly.
 The women have continued the fight through great prejudice. Some are still opposed to the use of the bal lot, but this number is small and the majority of women will utilize the privilege of franchisement
 The thing now before the women is to learn to vote intelligentiy. Schools will be opened all Over the state and competent instructors, both men and women, will be in charge
 'The League of Women Voters has recently been formed, the Birmingham branch will be formed in few days. This is a non-partisan league and In no sense woman's party. It is form ed to educate. the women to use the vote.
 Now that women have the ballot, they will use it to do welfare work especially relating to women and chil- dren. Women will vote for better schools. better playgrounds and better conditions generally"
 Plans for a statewide jubilation to be held soon to celebrate the ratifica- tion of the amendment is being made. It is not known what form the celebra- ton will take in Birmingham, but ar- are being made.