The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-18

If you have any criticism to make of me 1 do not want you to go back to your club and make 1t. I want you to come directly to me-
 If there is anything needed to be done, come to me and I will do my best to correct It. It is only when people speak out to one another. di- rectly and frankly. that the best work can be done."
 Her voice was cut short by loud applause. Almost every hand with in the Southern club ballroom, where she spoke, beat a hearty response.
 Impression of Power
 l had never seen Mrs. Echols be- fore, and the first thought that struck me in connection with her was power. I had fancied that she was tiny bit of a woman, and I was unprepared to find her taller than at least dozen of the women in the reception line. She has also what might call a grandeur of presence which suggests at once cool, clear mind capable of giving advice upon any problem.
 l had time only to grasp Mrs. Ech- ols' hand and murmur my name be- fore her eyes were laughing into mine and there came the quick question:
 Did you have a good time that day you were out at my house?"
 She was referring to the occasion when she was in Pensacola and 1 had gone out to interview Mr. Echols who had told me he was the best wife" any city commissioner ever had. could cook to beat the band and was slave to the kitchen--but was unable to prove 1t when l went out, except with a big apron and a tin pan. and the assertion that be fore cooking oysters it Is absolutely necessary to pick the feathers off the backs of their necksr
 He Stays Fnr Away
 To tell you the truth, I found out it is Mrs. Echols and Miss Pauline Echols who are the housewives, and that Mir. Echols is a staid business man. and any time they get him within 40 feet of the kitchen there is trick in 1t.
 q surely did have good timem I answered Mrs. Echols putting em- phasis son the surely" Because the Echols household members had done very many lovely things for my hap riness while I was there, and Mir. f,chols' humor furnished an alto gether delightful break in the busi- ness of a newspaper day.
 The woman city commissioner leaned forward.
 I'm sorry that couldn't have been there to receive you" she de- ciared. and I'm sure she saw in my eyes my own thought of how I wished she had been home. too. For, with her, the occasion could have been only that much more gayly de- lightful.
 I didn't get a chance to say one word more because of 25 eager wom- en right behind me who were rush ing forward to express their happi- ness at meeting the new commis- sioner: that she was elected: that women have on the city's board q representative from their own ranks who is capable of holding down the job.
 Complete Poise
 Never once did there come into Mrs. Echols' face-and watched her close ly-any expression of weariness, lack of consideration of anybody, or un- thoughtfulness Any of these ex- pressions might have been possible under the circumstances, for the af- fair was certainly a crush
 At least 1,500 to 1000 women must have clasped Mrs. Echols' hand be- tween the hours of 3:30 and , o'clock. That so many women called was a delightful surprise, not only to tn League of Women Voters, but to ev- erybody who had the good fortune to attend.
 It was a masterful illustration of just how interested In Mrs. Echols-- and in the city's having a woman missioner-feminimity of Bir- mingham is.
 There were women from Avondale, from Ensley. from Woodlawn, from Edgewood, from Bessemer, from Pratt City and Vivian. Norwood. the South Highlards-and indeed from every suburb and every section in Jones valley.
 There were rich women and poor women women who rode to the Southern club in carriages; in auto mobiles: and women who walked and carried their children. The elevator at the club was called upon to stand up to the onerous task of upward . Id dow nv ard transit-gave up the ef- fort, and when I arrived a huge sign bore the information
 Out of order"
 Rush Went On This did not stop the rush. For, \ seeking out the big stairway, the women filed up and down in con stant stream. When I arrived at 3:30, I judged the affair vas over because of the huge crowds coming out. But when I got upstairs, I found four times as many people assembled, and before I left the greatest crowds 0. the afternoon were coming in. I heard conversation like this: xNEre I'm going to join the Leagu. ot% nen Voters. I know how it IS fighting for everything that is good for Bisn ngham and its people. I'm with you on that vice question, and the disa -mament programme. Here Is my dollar now!"
 At small table one, woman. if seemed had been stopped and several dollars for membership thrust upon her.
 While the reception was given in l. <,l- kol fte