[Transcriber's Note: Every effort has been made to replicate this
text as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant
spellings and other inconsistencies. Text that has been changed to
correct an obvious error is noted at the end of this ebook.
Also, many occurrences of mismatched single and double quotes remain
as they were in the original.]
[Illustration: MRS. CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT. President of the
International Woman Suffrage Alliance from its founding in 1904 and of
the National American Woman Suffrage Association 1900-1904 and from
1915.
Standing in an automobile on the way from the railroad station in New
York after the campaign for ratification of the Federal Suffrage
Amendment was completed by Tennessee. (See page 652.)]
THE HISTORY
OF
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
EDITED BY
IDA HUSTED HARPER
ILLUSTRATED WITH COPPERPLATE AND PHOTOGRAVURE
ENGRAVINGS
_IN SIX VOLUMES_
VOLUME VI
1900--1920
IN A TRUE DEMOCRACY EVERY CITIZEN HAS A VOTE
NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION
COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY
NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION
INTRODUCTION
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE STATES OF THE UNION
In the preceding volume a full account is given of the forty years'
continuous effort to secure an amendment to the Federal Constitution
which would confer full suffrage on all the women of the United States
possessing the qualifications required of men. Antedating the
beginning of this effort by thirty years was the attempt to
enfranchise women through the amendment of State constitutions. After
1869 the two movements were contemporaneous, each dependent on the
other, the latter a long process but essential in some measure to the
success of the former. There is no way by which the progress of the
movement for woman suffrage can be so clearly seen as by a comparison
of the State chapters in this volume with the State chapters in Volume
IV, which closed with 1900. The former show the remarkable development
of the organized work for woman suffrage, especially in the last
decade, which brought the complete victory.
In Volume IV it was possible to give a résumé of the Laws specifically
relating to women and one was sent with each chapter for this volume.
The space occupied by the account of the work for the suffrage,
however, made it necessary to omit them. It required thousands of
words to record the legislation of the last twenty years relating
especially to women in some of the States and the large part of it to
women in the industries, which they had scarcely entered in 1900. The
same is true of child labor. Every State shows a desire for protective
legislation. Many States provide for mothers' pensions, a modern
tendency. About half of the States now have equal guardianship laws.
There is a gradual increase in those enlarging the property and
business rights of married women. The "age of consent" and the age for
marriage have been raised in most States where they were too low. In
every State for a number of years the large organizations of women
have made a determined effort to obtain better laws for women and
children and Legislatures have yielded to pressure. In every State as
soon as women were enfranchised there was improvement in laws relating
to their welfare and that of children.
The Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment went into effect in August, 1920,
and the following winter there was a greater amount of advanced
legislation in the various States than had taken place in the
preceding ten years collectively, and the résumé of existing laws that
had been prepared for this volume was soon at least partially obsolete
in many of them. A brief statement of Office Holding was incorporated
but its only value was in showing that in all States this was almost
exclusively limited to "electors." When the Federal Amendment was
proclaimed it carried with it eligibility to the offices. In some
States it included Jury service but in others it was held that for
this special legislation was necessary. In all States the professions
and other occupations are open to women the same as to men. In the way
of Education every State University admits women, and the vast
majority of institutions of learning, except some of a religious
character, are co-educational. A few of the large eastern universities
still bar their doors but women have all needful opportunities for the
higher education. Some professional schools--law, medicine and
especially theology--are still closed to women but enough are open to
them to satisfy the demand, and the same is true of the technical
schools. To meet the lack of space every chapter had to be drastically
cut after it was in type.
Women now have in a general sense equality of rights, although in
every State they have learned or will learn that this is not literally
true and that further effort will be required, but now, as never
before, they are equipped for accomplishing it. It will be a long time
before they have equality of opportunity in the business and political
world but for the majority this will not be needed. Women will find,
however, that in the home, in club life and in all lines of religious,
philanthropic, educational and civic work the possession of a vote has
increased their influence and power beyond measure.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION i
Position of women in regard to laws, office holding, education,
etc.
CHAPTER I.
ALABAMA 1
Early work -- Progress of organization -- Conventions held,
reports and speeches made, activities of the association --
Officers and workers -- Legislative action -- Campaigns -- Help
of the National Association -- Action on ratification of the
Federal Suffrage Amendment -- Interest taken by President
Wilson, National Committees and party leaders -- Celebrations.
[This form is followed in all the State chapters, with names of
officers, workers, friends and enemies and many incidents; also
results where woman suffrage exists. The chapters are
alphabetically arranged, I to XLIX.]
CHAPTER L.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE TERRITORIES AND THE PHILIPPINES 713
ALASKA 713
Legislature gives suffrage to women -- Privileges to Indian
women --Other laws -- Women in prohibition campaign -- Women's
war work.
HAWAII 715
Congress refuses to let its Legislature control the suffrage
--National Suffrage Association protests -- Its president, Mrs.
Carrie Chapman Catt, at Honolulu -- Mrs. Pitman, of Brookline,
Mass., holds meetings there -- Legislature sends resolution to
Congress -- Senator John F. Shafroth gets Bill through Congress
-- Efforts of Hawaiian women with their Legislature.
THE PHILIPPINES 719
The National Suffrage Association demands franchise for their
women -- Governor General Taft and Archbishop Nozaleda support
the demand --The U. S. Congress ignores it -- Position of
Filipino women --Commissioner's wife describes their efforts
for the suffrage.
PORTO RICO 722
Status of suffrage for men -- They demand their own Legislature
-- National Suffrage Association asks that women may share in
the suffrage -- Senator Shafroth shows that it can not be put
into the Bill -- Efforts of Porto Rican women with its
Legislature.
CHAPTER LI.
GREAT BRITAIN 726
Situation as to woman suffrage at commencement of the present
century -- Status of the Bill in Parliament in the first decade
-- Premier Campbell-Bannerman advises "pestering" -- Strong
hostility of Premier Asquith -- Beginning of "militancy" -- Its
effect on the suffrage movement -- Mrs. Fawcett's opinion --
Constitutional societies repudiate it -- Labor party supports
woman suffrage --Treachery in Parliament -- The Conciliation
Bill -- Women left out of the Franchise Reform Bill --
Deputation to Premier Asquith -- Lloyd George's attitude --
Speaker Lowther kills Bill -- Suffragists go into politics --
Great suffrage "pilgrimage" -- Outbreak of war --Important war
work of the suffrage societies -- Coalition Government --
Conference Committee on Electoral Reform Bill -- Premier
Asquith supports Woman Suffrage -- Lloyd George becomes Premier
-- Suffrage clause in Bill gets immense majority in House of
Commons -- Big fight in House of Lords but goes through --
Royal assent given -- Two women elected to House of Commons --
Oxford University opened to women.
CHAPTER LII.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN BRITISH COLONIES 752
NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA 752
CANADA 753
First Woman Suffrage Society in Ontario -- The gaining of Woman
Suffrage in Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British
Columbia. Efforts of the Women to secure action from the
Legislature of each Province -- Victory in Ontario after long
struggle -- War time Woman Suffrage Act of the Dominion
Parliament -- Granting of complete suffrage in 1918 -- The
Legislatures of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia give Provincial
suffrage -- Quebec refuses -- Women of Newfoundland still
disfranchised.
SOUTH AFRICA 767
The National Parliament persistently declines to enfranchise
women --Their strong efforts for the vote -- Granted in several
of the States -- Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the
International Woman Suffrage Alliance, spends several months in
South Africa conferring with the women.
INDIA 769
CHAPTER LIII.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN MANY COUNTRIES 771
FINLAND 771
NORWAY 774
DENMARK 776
ICELAND 779
SWEDEN 780
THE NETHERLANDS 783
BELGIUM 786
LUXEMBURG 788
RUSSIA 788
GERMANY 789
AUSTRIA 792
HUNGARY 793
BOHEMIA 794
SWITZERLAND 795
ITALY 797
FRANCE 799
GREECE, SPAIN, PORTUGAL, PALESTINE, CHINA, JAPAN, SOUTH
AND CENTRAL AMERICA, MEXICO 802-804
CHAPTER LIV.
THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE 805
Desire of Early Leaders -- International Council of Women --
Miss Anthony and Mrs. Catt call Conference in Washington on
International Suffrage Alliance -- Ten Countries represented --
Proceedings of Conference -- Plan of Temporary Organization --
Declaration of Principles -- Valuable Reports on the Status of
Women.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION IN BERLIN IN 1904 809
Conference and Congress in Copenhagen in 1906 812 Delegates
present, addresses, Memorials for Miss Anthony, reports, social
entertainments, Badge adopted.
CONGRESS IN AMSTERDAM IN 1908 817
Welcome of Dr. Aletta Jacobs, president of the National
Suffrage Association -- Mrs. Catt's president's address --
"Militants" present -- Entertainments -- Victories in Finland
and Norway -- _Jus Suffragii_ established -- A day in
Rotterdam.
THE FIRST QUINQUENNIAL IN LONDON 828
Mrs. Catt's address -- Mrs. Fawcett, president of the British
Suffrage Association, speaks, refers to "militants" -- Mass
meetings in Albert Hall -- In touch with Queens -- Flag and
Hymn selected --Resolutions adopted -- Officers elected -- Dr.
Shaw in the pulpits.
CONGRESS IN STOCKHOLM 838
Honors to Mrs. Catt -- Many delegates and eminent guests -- Dr.
Shaw preaches in State church -- Selma Lagerlöf speaks --
Growth of Alliance -- Non-partisanship declared -- Men's
International League formed -- Beautiful outdoor entertainments
--Tributes to Sweden.
CONGRESS IN BUDAPEST 847
Great number of delegates -- Official welcome in Academy of
Music --Mrs. Catt's president's address -- Dr. Jacobs presents
Banner from women of China -- Royal Opera House opened for the
Congress -- Many excursions -- "Militant" methods discussed --
Resolution on commercialized vice -- Activity of Men's League
-- Rosika Schwimmer, national president, speaks -- Officers
elected.
CONFERENCE IN GENEVA 860
First meeting of Alliance after the World War -- Miss Royden
preaches in National church -- Mrs. Catt uses the War as text
for great speech -- It brought Woman Suffrage to many countries
-- Women present from thirty-six, including five members of
Parliament -- Delegates entertained by the Municipality --
Treasurer's report tells of help of United States -- Congress
votes to continue the Alliance.
APPENDIX 872
Anti-suffrage Manifesto of Nebraska men.
SUFFRAGE MAPS 626-629
ANTHONY MEMORIAL BUILDING _Opp. page_ 442
CHAPTER I.
ALABAMA[1]
In 1902 Miss Frances Griffin of Verbena sent to the national suffrage
convention the following report as president of the State suffrage
association: "Two clubs in Alabama, in Huntsville and Decatur, are
auxiliary to the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The
State president did some aggressive work within the year, speaking in
many different towns before women's clubs and at parlor meetings. She
devoted much time to work of this character in Montgomery, hoping to
bring to bear sufficient influence upon members of the Constitutional
Convention to secure some concessions for women citizens. The results
were bitterly disappointing, for it not only refused to grant suffrage
to tax-paying women but it gave to the husbands of tax-payers the
right to vote upon their wives' property! Women in the larger towns
are taking an interest in municipal and educational affairs. Some have
been placed on advisory boards in State institutions, such as the
Girls' Industrial School, the Boys' Reform School and others. All this
means a gradual advance for the suffrage sentiment, a general
modifying of the anti-sentiment."
There were also short reports for 1903 and 1904, which, while showing
no practical, tangible results of the efforts of that earnest pioneer
worker, are interesting as evidences of the backward, unprogressive
spirit against which the women of Alabama have had to contend. These
reports mark the end of the first period of suffrage activity in the
State, which had been maintained by a few devoted women. The new era
was ushered in by the organization in Selma in 1910 of an Equal
Suffrage Association which was the beginning of an aggressive,
tireless fight. Miss Mary Partridge, after seeing the defeat of a
constitutional amendment for prohibition in Alabama despite the
earnest but ineffectual efforts of the women who besieged the polls
begging the men to vote for it, decided that the time was ripe for a
woman suffrage organization and wrote for advice to Dr. Anna Howard
Shaw, president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association,
who answered in part: "I cannot express to you how happy I am that you
are willing to begin the work in your State where very little has been
done for suffrage because of the great conservatism among the women of
the South. I am very glad if they are now beginning to realize their
absolutely helpless and unprotected position. We have the temperance
agitation to thank for arousing a great many women over all the
country...."
Shortly after the receipt of this letter Miss Partridge sent out a
"call" in the Selma papers and on March 29, 1910, Mrs. Frederick
Watson, Mrs. F. T. Raiford, Mrs. F. G. DuBose, Mrs. F. M. Hatch and
Miss Partridge met at the Carnegie Library and organized the
association. This action was reported to Dr. Shaw and she extended the
greetings of the National Association with "thanks and appreciation."
The Birmingham Equal Suffrage Association was the outgrowth of a small
group of women who had been holding study meetings in the home of Mrs.
W. L. Murdoch. The enthusiasm and earnest conviction resulting from
them found expression in a "call" for a woman suffrage organization
and on Oct. 22, 1911, the association was formed at a meeting held in
the Chamber of Commerce, where the following officers were elected:
President, Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs; first vice-president, Miss
Ethel Armes; second, Mrs. W. L. Murdoch; third, Mrs. W. N. Wood;
corresponding secretary, Miss Helen J. Benners; recording secretary,
Mrs. J. E. Frazier; treasurer, Mrs. A. J. Bowron.
Special mention is made of these two societies because they
constituted the nucleus on which the State organization was formed. An
urgent "call" was sent out by the officers of the Birmingham society
to "all men and women who wish to further the cause of woman suffrage
to unite in a State organization at a meeting in Birmingham Oct. 9,
1912." Selma sent six delegates who met with the Birmingham
suffragists at the Parish House of the Church of the Advent, where the
Alabama Equal Suffrage Association was organized and a constitution
and by-laws adopted. Mrs. Jacobs was elected president; Miss
Partridge, first vice-president; Mrs. Raiford, second; Mrs. Murdoch,
corresponding secretary; Mrs. Julian Parke, recording secretary; Mrs.
C. M. Spencer, treasurer; Miss Partridge, State organizer.[2]
The following delegates were appointed to attend the national
convention in Philadelphia in November; Mrs. Jacobs, Miss Amelia
Worthington, Mrs. O. R. Hundley, Mrs. DuBose, Miss Partridge, Mrs.
Chappel Cory. The new State organization affiliated at once with the
National Association.
The first annual convention was held in Selma Jan. 29, 1913, with
twenty-five representatives from Selma, Birmingham, Huntsville and
Montgomery. Mrs. Jacobs was re-elected president and a splendid
program of constructive work was outlined for the ensuing year. The
association was represented at the meeting of the International
Suffrage Alliance held in Budapest in June of this year by Mrs. T. G.
Bush of Birmingham.
The second State convention, held in Huntsville Feb. 5, 1914, was made
notable by the inspiring presence of three of Alabama's pioneer
suffragists--Mrs. Annie Buel Drake Robertson, Mrs. Humes, and Mrs.
Virginia Clay Clopton. The following local societies were represented
by their presidents, named in the order in which they were organized:
Selma, Mrs. Parke; Birmingham, Mrs. Hundley; Montgomery, Mrs. Sallie
B. Powell; Huntsville, Mrs. Clopton; Cullman, Mrs. Ignatius Pollak;
Greensboro, Miss S. Anne Hobson; Tuscaloosa, Mrs. Losey; Vinemont,
Miss Mary Munson; Pell City, Miss Pearl Still; Coal City, Mrs. J. W.
Moore; Mobile, Miss Eugenie Marks. Mrs. Jacobs was re-elected despite
her wish to retire from office and her report of the past year told of
a great amount of work done by all the members of the board.
In January, 1915, a resolution to submit a woman suffrage amendment
to the State constitution to the voters was for the first time
introduced in the Legislature. It was referred to the Committee on
Privileges and Elections in the House and the Legislature afterwards
adjourned until July. In the meantime the women worked to secure
pledges from the members of the committee to report the bill favorably
and 14 of the 16 gave their promise to do so. Instead of this it was
"postponed indefinitely." The women did not rest until they persuaded
the House to compel a report and then a hearing was granted to them.
Among those who worked in the Legislature were the legislative
chairman, Mrs. O. R. Hundley; Mrs. Jacobs, the State president; Mrs.
Chappel Cory, president United Daughters of the Confederacy; Miss
Mollie Dowd, representing the wage earners, and Miss Lavinia Engle of
Maryland, field organizer for the National Association. The bill came
to a vote late in the session, when Representative Joe Green, who had
asked for the privilege of introducing it, spoke and voted against it.
The vote stood 52 ayes, 43 noes, a three-fifths majority being
necessary to submit an amendment. As the Legislature meets only once
in four years this was the only action ever taken on a State
amendment.
At the State convention, held in Tuscaloosa in February of this year,
reports were made from 19 auxiliary branches and the organization of
23 non-auxiliary branches was reported. The address of Dr. Shaw, the
national president, gave a great impetus to suffrage work in the
State. Mrs. Jacobs and the other officers were re-elected, except that
Mrs. Frederick Koenig was made auditor.
On Feb. 9, 1916, the State convention was held in Gadsden and the
evidences of the growth of the suffrage movement were most heartening,
26 local associations sending reports. Mrs. Parke was chosen for
president, Mrs. Jacobs having been elected auditor of the National
Association.
The State convention was held in Birmingham Feb. 12-13, 1917, and the
officers re-elected except that Miss Worthington was made recording
secretary. It was followed by a "suffrage" school conducted by
representatives of the National Association, who generously gave the
valuable help that a course of study under such able instructors
afforded. Over 200 pupils attended. It was reported that there were
now 81 suffrage clubs in the State, which were being merged into
political organizations with the county as a unit, and there were
chairmen in 55 of the 67 counties. There were also chairmen in nine of
the ten congressional districts. A paid organizer had been at work.
State headquarters were maintained on the principal street in Selma
and a bi-weekly press bulletin issued which was used by thirty-four
newspapers, while eight published weekly suffrage columns. The
Birmingham _News_ got out a suffrage edition. Four travelling suffrage
libraries were kept in circulation. Automobile parades had been given,
a mass meeting held in Birmingham and street meetings in every part of
the State.
The State convention was held in Selma May 7-8, 1918. The reports made
by local and State officers showed that the suffragists had lent
themselves and all their machinery of organization to every form of
war work. Mrs. Jacobs had been appointed by Mr. McAdoo, Secretary of
the Treasury, State chairman of the Woman's Liberty Loan Committee.
Suffrage work was in no wise suspended but the more active forms of
propaganda were held in abeyance. The Federal Amendment was endorsed
in no uncertain terms and the following resolution was adopted:
"Whereas, the Senate will soon vote on the Federal Suffrage Amendment,
therefore, be it resolved, by the suffragists of Alabama assembled in
their sixth annual convention, that the U. S. Senators, John H.
Bankhead and Oscar W. Underwood, be, and they hereby are, earnestly
petitioned to forward the march of democracy, to carry out the policy
of the Democratic administration and to represent truly the wishes of
the women of their own State by supporting this amendment and voting
for it when it comes up in the Senate."
It was reported that the State association had energetically
cooperated with the National in all its suggestions and plans and
notwithstanding the efforts made to raise money for the purposes of
the war it had collected over $10,000 for State suffrage work and more
than paid its pledge of $1,000 to the national treasury. Thousands of
copies of U. S. Senator Shafroth's speech, the gift of the Leslie
Suffrage Commission, had been mailed to the rural voters. The clergy
had been requested to speak on woman suffrage in their sermons on
"mothers' day" and many responded. Miss Lola Trax, the State
organizer, reported a chairman in all but two counties. Each of the
State's representatives in Congress had been interviewed. Dr. Anna
Howard Shaw, the national president, had lectured in seven places and
Mrs. Walter McNab Miller, national vice-president, in five. The
petitions for the Federal Amendment were being circulated.
The Alabama delegates to the national convention in March, 1919,
learned while there that the Federal Amendment was likely to be passed
by Congress in time for action to be taken on its ratification by the
Legislature of the State, which had been called to meet July 8. They
went before the National Board and secured the promise of definite
help, which was to consist of literature, press work and organizers,
and certain obligations were undertaken on the part of the State. The
National Association did more even than it promised and the State
suffragists made heroic efforts to live up to their part of the
contract.
On May 1 the campaign was under way although the amendment had not yet
been submitted. A Ratification Committee was appointed by the
president consisting of Mrs. John D. McNeel of Birmingham, chairman;
Mrs. W. D. Nesbit of Birmingham, vice-chairman; Mrs. Bibb Graves of
Montgomery, resident member, and Mrs. Jacobs, ex-officio member.
County chairmen were appointed in 53 counties and a Men's Committee of
One Hundred was organized. Headquarters were equipped with some paid
and much faithful volunteer help and the distribution of literature
and press work was started. Early in the month Mrs. Albert McMahon,
Miss Edna Beveridge and Miss Josephine Miller, organizers, were sent
by the National Association, to which group Miss Mary Parke London of
Birmingham was added and contributed her services throughout the
entire campaign as an organizer and lobbyist. Press work was
systematically carried on, some of the material sent from national
headquarters but most of it originating in Birmingham. Speakers
covered all important public meetings to which access could be had;
Governor Thomas E. Kilby and other prominent men were interviewed and
a poll was taken of the legislators before they convened.[3] At the
joint hearing, which was arranged almost immediately after the
Legislature met, John C. Anderson, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;
W. D. Nesbitt, State chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee;
ex-Senator Frank S. White; Judge S. D. Weakley, legal adviser of the
Governor, and others spoke for ratification.
RATIFICATION. The Federal Amendment was submitted by Congress June 4
and the Legislature met July 8. For days before the vote was taken it
occupied almost exclusive attention at the capital, many of the
newspapers saying that the opposition were placing the State and the
Democratic party in a grave position. The Republican party was
claiming credit for the submission and Democratic leaders felt it to
be very necessary that the Alabama Legislature should ratify. On July
12 President Wilson telegraphed to Governor Kilby as follows: "I hope
you will pardon me if I express my very earnest hope that the suffrage
amendment to the constitution of the United States may be ratified by
the great State of Alabama. It would constitute a very happy augury
for the future and add greatly to the strength of a movement which, in
my judgment, is based upon the highest consideration both of justice
and expedience."
On the same date Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels sent a long
message to Mrs. McNeel, chairman of the Ratification Committee, and a
multigraphed copy to each member of the Senate, setting forth the
merits of the amendment and saying: "The South has nothing to fear
from the amendment but it would be a loss to southern chivalry and
southern prestige if our section of the country halted this great
reform. I earnestly hope that the people of Alabama will take the lead
of southern States east of the Mississippi and follow the wise
leadership of Texas and Missouri and other progressive commonwealths.
There is no doubt of its ratification. Let Alabama lead and not
follow." Homer S. Cummings, chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, and other prominent Democrats added their earnest appeals
to the Senate for favorable action.
The ratifying resolution was introduced in the Senate by John A.
Rogers and in the House by W. H. Shaw. The date set for the vote in
the Senate was July 17 and a hearing before a joint meeting of Senate
and House was granted on the 16th. Women journeyed to Montgomery from
nearly every county to plead for the amendment but its defeat had
already been planned. The vote was 13 ayes, 19 noes.
The House did not act on the measure until September 17 and during the
interim every possible pressure was made on its members to obtain a
favorable vote. President Wilson sent an urgent telegram to Speaker H.
P. Merritt. Chairman Nesbit convened the State Democratic Committee on
August 21 to consider the amendment. It adopted a resolution by a vote
of 20 to 13, which endorsed the favorable action of the National
Committee the preceding May and said: "We pledge our support in every
proper way to accomplish the result desired." Mrs. George Bass,
chairman of the Women's National Democratic Committee, went to
Montgomery for this meeting and remained several days working for the
amendment. The Central Labor Union of that city at a mass meeting
passed a resolution asking the Legislature to "take steps immediately
to ratify the amendment." A majority of the House were pledged to vote
in favor of ratification but after it had been defeated in the Senate
they considered it useless to keep their promise and the vote was 31
ayes, 60 noes.
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor Nathan L. Miller maintained a
neutral position. The mainspring of the opposition from beginning to
end was U. S. Senator Oscar W. Underwood. Senator John H. Bankhead was
equally opposed. Both Senators had voted against the submission of the
Federal Amendment and of the ten members in the Lower House only one,
William B. Oliver of Tuscaloosa, had voted in favor.[4]
Because of the campaign no convention took place in 1919. On April
8-9, 1920, the last one of the State Equal Suffrage Association, as
such, was held in Montgomery. A large "pioneer luncheon" was given in
the Exchange Hotel and a beautiful set of silver baskets was presented
to Mrs. Jacobs. The sessions were held in the Senate chamber of the
historic Capitol and by unanimous consent the association was merged
into the State League of Women Voters. Mrs. A. J. Bowron was elected
chairman.
After the amendment was finally ratified by the necessary 36 States
there was a victory parade in Birmingham in which 1,500 took part. A
brass band headed 36 automobiles, each a mass of banners, flags and
flowers, labeled in the order in which the States ratified. Mrs.
Jacobs and the pioneers led the marchers, followed by professional and
business women, the League of Women Voters, the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union and other organizations. It ended with addresses and
singing in Capitol Park.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Pattie Ruffner
Jacobs, eight years president of the State Equal Suffrage Association,
three years auditor of the National Association and now secretary of
the National League of Women Voters; also to Miss Helen J. Benners,
research chairman of the State League of Women Voters.
[2] Those who held office in the State association during the next
eight years were as follows: Mrs. Milton Humes, Mrs. Frederick D.
Losey, Mrs. Parke, Mrs. Angus Taylor, Mrs. J. D. Wilkins, Mrs. W. J.
Chambers, Miss Annie Joe Coates, Mrs. John Lusk, Mrs. Leon Weil.
[3] On June 17, 1919, Mrs. James S. Pinckard called a meeting of women
of wealth and social standing at her home in Montgomery. With the help
of a constitutional lawyer they organized the Southern Women's
Anti-Ratification League, with Mrs. Pinckard chairman, Mrs. Charles
Henderson, vice-chairman; Mrs. W. T. Sheehan, secretary; Mrs. Marie
Bankhead Owen (daughter of the Senator), chairman of the Legislative
Committee. Members of the Executive Committee were Mesdames Charles S.
Thigpen, Hails Janney, Jack Thorington, J. A. Winter, Ormond
Somerville, W. J. Hannah, Clayton T. Tullis, J. Winter Thorington, E.
Perry Thomas, William M. E. Ellsberry, J.H. Naftel, W. B. Kelly and
Miss Mae Harris. They sent a memorial to the Legislature which began:
"We look with confidence to you to protect us from this device of
northern Abolitionists." They "worked night and day, personally and by
letter," and, after the defeat of ratification in the Alabama
Legislature, Mrs. Pinckard and others transferred their efforts to
those of Louisiana and Tennessee, where they "lobbied" for many days.
[4] Among the men in the State who were especially active and helpful
were: Colonel Bibb Graves and John H. Wallace, of Montgomery; L. B.
Musgrove, of Jasper; Judge W. R. Chapman, of Dothan; H. H. Patterson,
of Atmore; John W. Abercrombie, of Anniston; John D. McNeel, Phil
Painter, Ex-Governor B. B. Comer, James Weatherly, Fred M. Jackson and
John R. Hornaday of Birmingham.
Among those especially active in opposition were: Congressman John H.
Bankhead, Jr., of Jasper; C. Brooks Smith, Judge John R. Tyson and Ray
Rushton, of Montgomery; R. A. Mitchell, of Gadsden; Wiley Tunstall and
Len F. Greer, of Anniston; Judge Joe Evans, Martin Calhoun and Joe
Green, of Selma; W. W. Brandon, of Tuscaloosa; John D. Leigh, of
Brewton; Emmett O'Neal and E. D. Smith, of Birmingham.