The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-06
M E N, " Q M EN
 A ND T HIN c s

| I can well sell why some politicians were against woman suffrage. for they had the practical common sense of their tribe to know that when women got in public life they would start something.
 never took much stock in the male dictum that women were not capable to be trusted with the ballot. It was mere camouflage, the thing which really gave alarm was the fear of their cspability, and that when they did get chance to vote they would change things for the better.
 | Now, I am aware that there were many who never played the great American game of politics who were opposed to suffrage on other than self ish grounds. but the ones I am now talking about are the fellows who were wise enough to foresee that when women began to so about making po- litical speeches that they would prove formidable to the old style ringsters.
 
 I was led to think along these lines by hearing a debate at the Woman's college. Fred Jackson urged me to be sure and be there to hear it, as he felt that it would be the best feature of the commencement exercises I ad- init that was bit lukewarm on the proposition for I had never been great ly stirred or interested at college de- bates between boys, and I had my mis- givings about girls being able to hold my attention.
 I went expecting to sit 1t through without enthusiasm, and when the sub ject was announced I was confident that I was in for a sad hour. Do you wonder? reckon you won't when I say it was, Resolved, That the Sem ate Should Have Ratified the League of Nations" I had been fed up on it dur ing the war and surfeited in postwar times. It had glared at me from every secular and religious paper, looked out on me from the pages of every maga- zine and faced me when opened cer- tain books.
 
 I had way to dodge the printed matter about it. It was easy just to skip it, but there was no way to side step the question at dinners. open air gatherings and conventions without be- ing impolite and leaving the speakers in the midst of their orations. I grim ly took my seat with mind made up to show, the Methodists that there was at least one Baptist who had grit and grace enough to stick it out without attempting a getaway.
 The music ceased. the announcements were all made, and the fateful hour for the debate arrived, for saw the young woman who was to preside and the two timekeepers walk up on the stage followed by the four maidens who were to compete. A brief statement about tho time which each side was to take In the opening and closing was made, together with short history of the three societies, and then the contes- tants were turned loose upon us.
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 I bowed my head. built wasn't dropped for long. as the young woman. Miss Ann Stone. who was pleading for ratification was talking intelligently earnestly and interestedly, and knew the subject all the way through. It was a truly marvellous opening. l never in all my life saw | speaker moro possessed. can't give even a resume of her points, but will say that it was a keen and clear presentation of the facts. She sat down amidst great applause, when up rose her op- ponent. Miss Rosalie walston. and be- lieve me she was whirlwind speaker and swept the audience off its feet. and had me sroggy before she had gone five minutes.
 Then came the two short speeches of Miss Virginia Barclay and Lucia May Gidden, and both were really fine in every way; but the crowd was keyed to hear the close of the first two speak CTS It was realised that they had had the chance to commit to memory the ones already delivered, but that now each one would have to be able to think on their feet. I'll never forget the quick firing of the negative speak CT, Miss Walston, who compressed into five minutes an hours talk. The af- firmative. Miss Stone, while making . wonderful opening, was not quito so happy in her ciose. The decision went to the negative by the unanimous de- cision of Judges Anderson, Thomas and Merritt.
 acted once as . judge at the all- southern contest, I have heard numer- ous intercollegiate contests and de- bates between members of the same university; but never have I heard any which was in the same class with tho one staged by the four contestants at the woman's college. After the de- cision talked with the judges and each one of them was filled with won- der ana surprise, saying that in an hour they had learned more about the League. of Nations than they had ever known or expected to know. I was of the same opinion. Having heard them debate, it's small wonder that the average politician does not care to match his wits on the stump with tho modern woman.
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