Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08
ALABAMA SOCIETY
j: ORGANIZED IN 1919
n4t..
Mardi Gras Ball and State
., ~, Day Always Feature
~ Social Program.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.

The State whose motto is Here
We Rest" has possessed a local So
clety for many years, but the pres
ent successful and we'll orga nized
body was formed in the Autumn of
1919 and 1t met for the first time to
celebrate the centennial of the COM
monwealth's entrance into the Union
December IA, 1919. Frank F. Conway
may be given the honor of being it's
organizer and he was the first presi-
dent.
J. c. Davenport was elected the
first vice president, Grady p. Oakley.
secretary, and Miss Sadie Doyle the
treasurer. There are about 100 char
ter members and from this nucleus of
devoted and loyal citizens of the State
the membership has grown into sew
eral hundreds. Almost 900 attend
the annual ball and the celebration
of Alabama day, December IA, is
always attended by at least 500 res,
dents of Alabama, either actual or
of the past. Maj. Thacker j. Walker
veteran of three wars and the COM
Inander of the George Washington
Post of the American Legion, sue
ceeded Mr.. Conway as president He
In turn was succeeded by Representa-
tive William B. Bankhead and he by
John McDuffie.
Aim of the Society.
Alabamans have for the purpose
Q: their society the usual one of social
intercourse between the citizens of
The State temporarily or permanently
residing In Washington. and their aim
Is to provide for the young people
wholesome amusement combined with
the opportunity to learn about the
history. traditions, the institutions
ana the general progress of that sec
non of the Union which they call
home. Meetings are held from Octo-
her until June. land these vary in
character SO greatly that every age
and condition in the membership may
ind entertainment
There are literary gatherings fire.
quently addressed by Senator Under
wood, who has given spirited accounts
OF the state, from it's beginnings with
tie invasion of the wilderness by the
Spaniards under fernando de Soto
and the subsequent chronicles which
deal SO largely in wars and treaties
with the three leading tribes of In
dians, Muskogees, Choctaws and
Chickasaws. Many musical evenings
have been given in the past six years.
with card parties, dances, picnics and
q few moonlight excursions. One of
these last was an ideal evening in
early June, 1922. when, with Mai.
Walker in charge, three other State
societies, New York, New Jersey and
Tennessee. were the guest of the Off
GERS at Indian Head
President Harding Guest i'm 1921.
Alabama day, 1921, is an outStand.
ing event in the history of the society.
for the late President and Mrs. Hard
ing were the guests of the ASsocia-
ton, which chose as it's medium of
entertainment a day of recreation and
amusement for the soldiers Of Walter
Reed Hospital. Alabama soldiers in
shat institution had frequently shared
the bounty of other State societies, so
that when this club was ready to
commemorate 101 years as a sovereign
State. every patient in the hospital
was invited to partake of the good
things provided and to hear the adj
dress of President Harding The
Executive and Mrs. Harding visited
all patients who were unable to leave
their beds and assisted in their enter
tainment for almost an hour.
At the October meeting the business
affairs OF the society are transacted
for the year and new officers are
elected Dates are selected for the
son, including the ball which is al
ways given at Mardi GraS time and
which Is the most brilliant affair that
the society attempts. Other than on
special occasions the meetings are
held on the last Thursday of each
month. and last year the assembly
room of Meridian Mansions was used
IN early years most of the meetings
were held in the Wilson Normal School
and few were in the homes of the
first presidents, Frank f. Conway,
Maj. Walker. Representative Bank
head and Mr.. McDuffie.
From its inception the Alabama So
Ciety has been cordially supported by
its leading representatives in public
and private life. One achievement
VAS to obtain the consent of the mem
bers TO commemorate Decorat ton day
on May 80 as proclaimed by law. in
stead of the old Southern Decoration
day. which is in November and which
differs in various States south of the
Mason Dixon line. This permitted the
officers of the society to take part in
the decoration of Southern graves
when all other graves were being
adorned and it also cleared the slate
for them to participate in the