The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-25

itn tGe A0seFICan g Geep-SeaIeQ Q6~ sire for fair play and justice.
 Too, any person who has taken personal interest iy the fight for the abolition of the convict lease system knows that little support has been accorded the small minority which desires to remove the convicts from the mines at the time the lease sys- tenn is abolished. Many persons have been deceived on this matter. The obilition of the convict lease system does not mean the removal of con victs from coal mining. It is within the power of the state to lease coal mine, buy a coal mine or enter into a contract with the owner of a coal mine whereby coal will. be mined by convicts and delivered to the mouth of the mine by convicts at stipulated fee per ton.
 Some of the arguments of the com mittee which prepared the report are ridiculous. For instance: We be- lieve that there is now obtaining an unwh oiesome public sentiment which, if not soon checked. will make prison life so enticing that thousands will seek it IS place of refuge rom work" Such an assertion is no argu- ment. In the first place, those who favor the abandonment of the convict lease system do not favor supporting oonvicts in idleness. They do insist that there is no need for the hiring 
 would for moment consent to the maintenance of conviets in idleness Another instance: We believe that when there is unhealthy and danger ous work necessary to be done there l is no good reason why 1t should De done by good citizens rather than l criminals" All persons who faVor the | abolition of the convict lease system would approve those words, but not | the impression intended to be created Coal must be mined and no one could say that convicts should be kept out of the mines when free men voiun- l tarily go into them, but advocates or l the abolition of the convict system contend that free citizens are able to l establish the conditions under which they work in the mines while con l victs cannot do so and that since the convicts are the servants ol the | state it is the duty of the state to l take the responsibility for the estab- l lishment of proper working condi- tions and at all time to see that such conditions are maintained- Montgomery Journal
 January Citizenship School.
 Mrs. Neil R. Wallace, chairman of the citizenship committee for the i League of Women Voters, announces 1 that a citizenship school will be held l for three days beginning January 2l. i The department of citizenship or the National League of Women voters, 1 vice president of the National ,ie of Women Voters Sddi-.ETAOI l league is to lend their special citi- l zenship instructor, Miss Helen Roe ca, to Birmingham for this school. Miss Rocca is not yet ready to an l is arranging a most comprehensive course Two night sessions for business women will be included.
 The school will be free to mem bers of the league, the membership card serving as admission ticket Non members will be most welcome l but will be asked to pay small fee. This intensive course in citi- zenship will be in connecting with the campaign and registration and payment of poll tax, which will be conducted by the league during the month of January.
 National Board Meets.
 Mrs. Salon Jacobs. second vice president of the national league was recently returned from a meet ing of the board in Washington and reports that more work had actual
 ly been turned out from this office in the month of October than in any one. month in the precedf@g two years. The increase was probably due to the growing demand for l league publlcationS.
 Immediately preceding the board meeting there was three-day ses- sion of the regional directors and i their secretaries on conference with i Mrs. Park and Miss Marguerite l Owen, the organization secretary of the national league. This confer eEce concerned itself more With making plans for building up or ganization throughout the country, than with reporting achievements.
 The regional directors remained for the board meeting and at it's I conclusion Mrs. William G. Hibbard, director of the fourth region, lefJ for the Michigan state convention and Miss Gertrude Ely. director of the second region, for the Maryland convention. The board adopted the following pronouncement on law en- forcement. which together with a flier on the same subject to be pre- pared inm ediately by Miss Sher- wins department. will be widely used throughout the country;
 Believing that work for good gov ernment will have been wasted if legislation secured is allowed to be- come dead letter. and that there
 is no greater incentive to contempt for law in general than the spectacle of law unenforced. the board of directors of the National League of Women Voters advises state and local leagues to do all that lies in their power, by co-operation, and active work for law enforcement to bring about obedience to the constt- tuition of the United States.
 :, From this same meeting there was | also issued startling appeal i signed by Mrs. Harriet Taylor Up- ton. vice chairman, executive com I mittee of the republicaN national committed; Mrs. Emily Newell Blair, vice chairman of the democratic na- tional committee, and Mrs. Maud 1 Wood Park, for the league, which doubtless had a great deal of influ- ence November 6 and will have in- creaslng influence in future elec- tions. The statement is given 4 herewith:
 T The rock upon which this nation I was founded is the principle of self | government. Because this is true, loyal American citizens, whatever their political faith may be, should I join in the effort to get out the vote at every election in order that de- cisions which concern the welfare of town. county, state, or nation shall be made, not by a minority of the citizens, but by the majority.
 A pronouncement not only favor
 ing the participation of women