Evening star., 1940-01-21


pears, the center. of an interested
in her home State have ranged
from participation in the social
gatherings Of the Centennial Club
Of Nashville, one Of the oldest in
the State. to work for enactment
Of certain State legislation as .
member and former president, for
four terms. Of the Tennessee League
Of Women Voters.
Soft-voiced and with a gentle
manner, Miss williams does not
convey the impression Of q tighter" :"
but she proudly declares that when
Tennessee was the battle-ground for
woman suffrage" she was one of
those who fought for votes for
women. AS president Of the League
of Women Voters in 1927, she 'fit,
bled and died." as she laughingly
explained in mountaineer language,
for enactment of the "five-day mar
riage notice BILL" the purpose Of
which was to prevent the child
marriages which were shocking the
Nation as we'll as the majority Of
the people of Tennessee.
Law Repealed, Then
Replaced by Weaker Act.
"The law functioned for eight
years." Miss Williams explained,
land not only cut down child mar
riages but reduced child marriage
cases in the Juvenile Courts. It
was then repealed and for three
years the State was left without any
statute regulating marriage. Then
certain sensational cases came up
and we got through another bill.
Unfortunately, the present bill is
weaker than the first and we hope
for a stronger bill some day." she
added.
Miss williams served for several
terms as president of the Legislative
Council Of Tennessee Women, an
organization composed Of all wom-
ems groups in the State. "The
Legislative Council" she explained,
"chose major bills from each organi-
zation and as a whole backed each
bill"
Sterilization laws for the State
have been advocated by Miss Will
liams since 1926, she declared.
I'VE have never had a system,
she said. whereby we could send
our deficients from institutions
thoroughly rehabilitated. Conse-
quently. when an institution be-
comes crowded and the less severe
cases are released, many deficients
are permitted to go free"
Miss Williams has travelled ex-
tensively both abroad and in the
United States and for many years
accompanied her grandfather, Dr.
Dixon c. Williams. one Of Presi-
dent Wilson's "dollar-a-year men,
during the World War. on business
trips. She is thereby conversant
with the legislative problems Of all
sections and has taken active In
terest in them as well as those Of
her own State. ----- -.
Approves voteless Leagues
Fight for Suffrage.
She heartily approves the efforts
made by the District Voteless
League of Women Voters for Dis
trict suffrage.
II have always felt that Wash
ington should have the VOTE" she
said. "A city Of its size, bearing the
taxation which 1t carries, is certain
" entitled to casting the ballot, with
other rights and privileges"
Miss Williams has many interest
ing hobbies in addition to her seri-
Gus activities. Art, music and
genealogy have occupied much of
her time, as well as work with young
girls.
II have always been interested in
girls" she said, "and at present am
adviser of the Girl Reserves in high
school at home"
Miss Williams is also captain OF
Girl Scouts in Nashville and says
one Of her greatest enjoyments Is
taking her troop on hikes in the
Tennessee hills. She enjoys early
rising and bacon bats" in the great
outdoors. Bacon bats she ex.
planned. is bacon -broiling party
AS delegate to the Conference on
the Cause and Cure of War, Miss