In order to unite the two State associations Mrs. Catt suggested that

they hold their conventions at about the same time in the same city.

The Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association, Mrs. McCormack president,

set its convention for Jan. 5, 6, 1917, and that of the other was

announced for the 9th, both in Nashville. The former was held at the

Hotel Hermitage, large and enthusiastic, with the principal speakers

Clyde Shropshire, Speaker of the House, the Hon. George L. Berry,

Dixon Merritt, editor of the _Tennesseean_, and Miss Laura Clay. Mrs.

Ford was elected president. The latter postponed its convention to

January 30-31, which made the union impossible. On February 22 the

former association offered its services to Governor Rye to be utilized

as he should see fit, should the United States enter the war. Mrs.

Catt called a meeting of the Executive Council of the National

Association for the 23rd in Washington to consider offering its

assistance to President Wilson and Mrs. Ford represented Tennessee.

The suffragists of this State, as did those of every other, rallied to

the colors. Many served in France and thousands at home in every field

of activity where women were permitted, in army and navy, in citizen

service, Red Cross, Government bond sales, etc., and their devoted

service proved a most effective plea for their enfranchisement.

On March 26, 1918, the boards of the two associations met in Memphis

at the Professional and Business Women's Club, with Mrs. Allen,

honorary president, in the chair. A union was effected and Mrs. Leslie

Warner was unanimously elected president of the amalgamated

associations. Mrs. Warner spoke at the State Federation of Women's

Clubs in Jackson and after one session she asked all to remain who

were interested in suffrage. About 90 per cent. did so and an

enthusiastic meeting was held. Her next work was to secure resolutions

in favor of the Federal Suffrage Amendment and protests against

further delay in the Senate. She spoke before nineteen organizations

of various kinds, all of which passed the desired resolutions. It was

also endorsed by the Democratic and Republican State Committees.

As vice-chairman of the Woman's Committee Council of National Defense,

Mrs. Warner introduced Dr. Shaw, its chairman, to an audience of 7,000

people at Nashville in April. In July she called 200 suffragists from

all sections of the State for a hearing before U. S. Senator John K.

Shields, hoping they might convince him that the Tennessee women did

want the ballot, as one of his reasons for voting against the Federal

Amendment was that they did not. Later when pressed by the women for a

declaration during his candidacy for re-election he gave to the press

his correspondence with President Wilson who had urged him to vote for

it, to whom he wrote: "If I could bring myself to believe that the

adoption of the resolution would contribute to the successful

prosecution of the war we are waging with Germany I would

unhesitatingly vote for it, because my whole heart and soul are

involved in bringing the war to a victorious issue and I am willing to

sacrifice everything save the honor and freedom of our country in

aiding you to accomplish that end, but I have been unable to do

so...."

The President said in reply: "I realize the weight of argument that

has controlled your attitude in the matter and I would not have

written as I did if I had not thought that the passage of the

amendment at this time was an essential psychological element in the

conduct of the war for democracy. I am led by a single sentence in

your letter, therefore, to say that I do earnestly believe that our

action upon this amendment will have an important and immediate

influence upon the whole atmosphere and morale of the nations engaged

in the war and every day I am coming to see how supremely important

that side of the whole thing is."

On August 8 the State Bar Association passed a strong resolution

endorsing woman suffrage by Federal Amendment. The president, Colonel

Ed Watkins, in his annual address, included a strong plea for it and

Judge David V. Puryear introduced the resolution. Miss Elizabeth Lea

Miller and Mrs. Ford, the first women members of the association; Mrs.

John Lamar Meek and others worked for it. Col. Joseph H. Acklen gave

his services as attorney for years to the State association without

charge. Urgent petitions which bore the names of all the leading

Democrats of the State, arranged on a large sheet with the photograph

of and a quotation from President Woodrow Wilson, were sent to Senator

Shields. The State board sent petitions to the legislators urging that

they ask him to vote for the Federal Amendment resolution, which

lacked only two votes of passing the Senate, but he opposed it to the

end.

The remainder of Mrs. Warner's régime was filled with efforts in the

Legislature for the Presidential suffrage bill. She began in September

and worked unceasingly until its passage the next April, financing the

campaign with some small assistance from her board. During the

hundredth anniversary of the city of Memphis in June, a notable State

event, a suffrage "victory" celebration was held with addresses by

Mayor Monteverde and leading suffragists.

The eleventh annual convention was held in the Tulane Hotel,

Nashville, June 4, 5, 1919. During the second day's session news came

of the submission of the Federal Amendment by the U. S. Senate and

excitement ran riot. Telegrams of congratulation were sent to Mrs.

Catt, Dr. Shaw, U. S. Senator McKellar and the Tennessee

Representatives who voted for it. It was a dramatic ending of the

long contest--long even in Tennessee, for here too women had grown old

and died in the struggle. Tributes were paid to those who were gone,

among them Mrs. Meriwether who had given her life to the work. The two

pioneers present, Mrs. Allen and Miss Terrett, gave reminiscences of

the early days. Mrs. George Fort Milton was elected president.

A call was issued for the final convention of the State association

and the first convention of the Tennessee League of Women Voters to

meet May 18, 19, 1920, in the House of Representatives at Nashville.

This was signed by the presidents of the following State associations:

Suffrage, Mothers' Congress and Parent Teachers', Woman's Christian

Temperance Union, Federation of Music Clubs, Daughters of the American

Revolution and Press and Authors' Club. Mrs. Milton presided over the

convention and Miss Mary Boyce Temple, regent of the D. A. R.,

presided over the first conference of the League of Women Voters. The

association and the League were merged and Mrs. Milton was elected

chairman.[171]

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 1911. This year for the first time a resolution

was introduced by Senator Walter White of Dayton "to amend the

constitution so as to give women the ballot." It was referred to the

Constitutional Amendment Committee, Alfred A. Adams, chairman, which

reported adversely. The women in charge were Mrs. J. D. Allen, State

president, and Attorney Frances Wolf, legislative chairman.

1915. The suffragists espoused two bills. The association of which

Mrs. McCormack was president worked for a new State constitution

because of the great difficulty of changing the old one. The

association of which Mrs. Dudley was president asked for an amendment.

It received a "courtesy" vote in favor from the first Legislature and

did not come before a second. Mrs. McCormack, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Henry J.

Kelso, Mrs. Hall and Miss Wester were the Legislative Committee.

1917. In March the Legislature passed an Act amending the charter of

Lookout Mountain so as to give the women Municipal suffrage. The prime

mover was Attorney James Anderson and Mayor P. F. Jones, and the other

commissioners voted unanimously for it. Mrs. Ford, the State

president, a lifelong resident, had the previous year registered there

in order to call attention to the injustice of "taxation without

representation" but her name was removed from the records. Early in

1917 Mrs. Ford called on President Wilson at the White House and asked

him to send a message to the Legislature in favor of the pending

Presidential suffrage bill, which he did.

[Mrs. Ford's thorough account of the fortunes of this bill through the

Legislatures of 1917 and 1919 is so largely covered by the report in

Part I of this chapter that it is omitted here.][172]

After the law was enacted Mrs. Kenny and Mrs. Kimbrough appeared at

the office of the county trustee and made a tender of the amount due

as their poll tax. He refused to receive it, acting under instructions

from the county attorney who declared that the laws of the State

exempted women. They then filed a bill in the Chancery Court of

Davidson county asking a decision. Chancellor Newman dismissed it with

an opinion in part as follows: "It will be observed by Section 686 of

the code that those liable for poll taxes are males between the ages

of 21 and 50 years on the 10th day of January the year the assessment

is laid. Women were not liable Jan. 10, 1919, for poll tax and plainly

it was never the purpose or intent of Section 1220 that a qualified

voter as a condition precedent to the right to vote should produce

satisfactory evidence that he had paid a poll tax assessed against him

for which he was not liable.... All women between the ages of 21 and

50 years, otherwise qualified as voters, are entitled to vote in the

November election of 1920 without paying a poll tax for 1919." The

case was taken to the Supreme Court, which ruled that women did not

have to pay in order to vote that year.

RATIFICATION. When the Legislature of Washington in March, 1920,

ratified the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment making the 35th, there

came an absolute stop. The southeastern States had rejected it and it

had been ratified by all the others except Vermont and Connecticut,

whose Governors refused to call special sessions. It looked as if the

women of the United States would be prevented from voting at the

presidential election in November for the lack of one ratification.

There was every reason to believe that the Legislature of Tennessee

would give this one if it were not prevented by a clause in the State

constitution. Meanwhile the ratification of the Federal Prohibition

Amendment by the Ohio Legislature had been sent to the voters by a

recent law, they had rejected it and an appeal had been taken to the

U. S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the referendum law. On

June 1, in Hawk vs. Smith, this court held that a referendum to the

voters on the ratification of Federal Amendments was in conflict with

Article V of the Federal Constitution, therefore null and void, as

this Constitution was the supreme law of the land. The decision said:

"It is not the function of courts or legislative bodies, National or

State, to alter the method which the U. S. Constitution has fixed."

Article II, Section 32 of the Tennessee constitution reads: "No

convention or General Assembly of this State shall act upon any

amendment of the Constitution of the United States proposed by

Congress to the several States unless such convention or General

Assembly shall have been elected after such amendment is submitted."

The presumption was naturally that this clause was nullified by the U.

S. Supreme Court's decision. On June 10, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt,

president of the National American Suffrage Association, telegraphed

Governor Albert H. Roberts, urging him to call an extra session. He,

thereupon, sought the opinion of Attorney General Frank M. Thompson as

to the power of the present Legislature to ratify, who answered that

it would have the power. He said that he had submitted the question to

the U. S. Department of Justice through Solicitor General John L.

Frierson, to whom President Wilson had also appealed, whose answer in

brief was as follows: "The ruling of the Supreme Court in the Ohio

case and the consideration which I gave to this question in preparing

those cases for hearing leave no doubt in my mind that the power to

ratify an amendment to the Federal Constitution is derived solely

from the people of the United States through this constitution and not

from the people or the constitution of the State. The provision of the

Tennessee constitution that no Legislature shall act on an amendment

to the Federal Constitution unless elected after the proposal of the

amendment, if valid, would undoubtedly be a restriction upon that

power.... If the Legislature is called in extra session it will have

the clear right to ratify."

A request was made to President Wilson for assistance, and on June 24

he sent the following telegram to Governor Roberts: "It would be a

real service to the party and to the nation if it is possible for you

under the peculiar provisions of your State constitution, having in

mind the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the Ohio case, to

call a special session of the Legislature to consider the Federal

Suffrage Amendment. Allow me to urge this very earnestly." At the same

time the Governor received a telegram signed by practically every

member of the Tennessee delegation at the National Democratic

convention meeting in San Francisco, impressing on him the advantage

to the party of his calling the extra session. In addition U. S.

Senator Kenneth McKellar, a member of the platform committee of that

convention, secured a plank in the platform, endorsing the amendment

and urging the Democratic Governors and legislators of Tennessee and

other States to unite in an effort to complete the ratification. On

June 26 Homer S. Cummings, chairman of the Democratic National

Committee, informed the Governor that the committee that day by

unanimous vote had directed him to send the following message: "We

most earnestly emphasize the extreme importance and urgency of an

immediate meeting of your Legislature for the purpose of ratifying the

proposed 19th Amendment to the Federal Constitution." On June 8 the

Tennessee Democratic convention had passed the following resolution:

"We heartily favor the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the

Constitution of the United States ... and we demand that the Governor

call an extra session."

Governor Roberts answered President Wilson: "I will call the extra

session in ample time for the women to vote in the 1920 elections."

This he did on August 7, calling the Legislature to convene on the

9th.[173]

The first of July Governor Roberts appointed Mrs. Leslie Warner State

chairman to organize for ratification. She selected a committee of one

hundred, some from each county, recommended by the legislators, and

opened headquarters at the Hotel Hermitage in Nashville and Mrs. James

B. Ezzell was elected vice-chairman, Mrs. Margaret Ervin Ford,

secretary of the committee, which became known as the Democratic

Ratification Committee. On the advisory board were: Miss Charl

Williams, vice-chairman of the National Democratic Committee; Miss

Della Dortch, regional chairman of the National League of Women

Voters; Mesdames A. H. Roberts, wife of the Governor; Guilford Dudley,

third vice-president of the National Suffrage Association; John B.

Gilmore, James S. Fraser and Miss Lutie Jones. Mrs. George Fort

Milton, chairman of the League of Women Voters, appointed Mrs. John M.

Kenny State chairman for ratification with Mesdames John R. Aust and

Claude B. Sullivan chairmen of committees. They opened headquarters at

the Maxwell House. Mrs. James Beasley became chairman of the

Republican committee and ex-Governor Rye of the Men's Committee,

assisted by ex-Governors Albert A. Taylor and Ben W. Hooper and Mr.

Hal H. Clements.

Early in July Miss Marjorie Shuler, chairman of publicity of the

National Suffrage Association, was sent by it to assist. She expressed

gratification at what had been accomplished, saying: "The Tennessee

women have done wonders; they are now well organized and things look

promising for ratification." She joined with the committees in urging

Mrs. Catt to come and direct the work and she came soon after the

middle of July and remained six weeks.[174] Her first move was to

start a series of letters through the League of Women Voters to local

groups urging meetings, deputations to legislators and the return to

headquarters of their signed pledges to vote for ratification, which

later were very useful. With Mrs. Milton and with Miss Shuler in

charge of publicity, a speaking tour began at Memphis and ended in

eastern Tennessee, including all the large cities and creating much

favorable sentiment. During this trip Mrs. Catt did not hesitate to

call attention to the sinister forces which it was discovered were

working against ratification and she sent a message to Senator Harding

and Governor Cox, the presidential candidates, describing them. On

July 24 Miss Esther Ogden, a director of the National Association,

with a deputation of women, appeared before the National Democratic

Committee in session at Columbus, O., presenting a memorial from that

association, signed by Mrs. Catt, urging the committee to assume the

responsibility of achieving the ratification and she brought their

favorable answer to Nashville. The last week in July Mrs. Catt

received the following from Senator Harding: "I am exceedingly glad to

learn that you are in Tennessee seeking to consummate the ratification

of the suffrage amendment. If any of the Republican members should ask

my opinion as to their course I would cordially recommend immediate

favorable action." He sent a similar message to Senator John C. Houk,

State chairman, but later when the Harding-Coolidge League of the

District of Columbia urged him to appeal further for ratification he

answered: "You can understand why I cannot consistently urge Tennessee

legislators to vote for ratification without knowing their reasons for

such commitment as they have made. The situation is being reported to

national headquarters, where it will be given attention at once."

A letter from Governor Cox to Mrs. Catt said: "I am very much

gratified at the news that you are to remain in Tennessee for the

ratification campaign. It gives me added reason for expressing

confidence that the Legislature will act favorably, which will greatly

please the national Democratic party." In addition he sent Miss Charl

Williams, a member of the Democratic National Committee, to Nashville

with the message that if necessary he would himself come and fight for

it. On August 7 at the request of Will H. Hays, chairman of the

Republican National Committee, Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton,

vice-chairman of its executive committee, came to assist.

Urged by President Wilson, Governor Cox, George White, chairman of the

National Democratic Committee, and Senator Pat Harrison, its chairman

of publicity and speakers, U. S. Senator McKellar came with his

valuable help. Miss Edna A. Beveridge of Maryland and Mrs. Lydia

Holmes, president of the Louisiana Suffrage Association, came to

assist Mrs. Catt. Miss Sue White, Tennessee chairman of the National

Woman's Party, assisted by Mesdames L. Crozier French, Walter Jackson,

Frank Phillips, Miss Anita Pollitzer, Miss Betty Grim, Parley P.

Christensen and others, also opened headquarters and worked for

ratification. Since there were so many committees at work it was

decided to appoint a general chairman and Miss Charl Williams was the

wise choice.

From the time the special session was called anti-suffragists gathered

in Nashville from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico, many of them paid

workers. Everett P. Wheeler, a New York lawyer, president of a

so-called American Constitutional League, formerly the Men's

Anti-Suffrage Association, came and formed a branch composed of men

prominent politically, who used every means known to influence

legislation; sent speakers into the districts of friendly legislators,

promised rewards, used threats, and charges of bribery were so

insistent that Judge D. B. DeBow ordered a grand jury investigation.

There was no depth to which some of the men trying to defeat woman

suffrage did not descend.[175]

Mrs. James S. Pinckard of Alabama, president of the Southern Women's

Rejection League; Miss Josephine Pearson, its Tennessee president;

Miss Mary G. Kilbreth, president of the National Anti-Woman Suffrage

Association, with many of their followers were at work with the

legislators. They were industriously assisted by Mrs. Ruffin G.

Pleasant, wife of the ex-Governor of Louisiana, and by Miss Kate M.

Gordon of that State and Miss Laura Clay of Kentucky, ardent

suffragists but opposed to the Federal Amendment. The presidents or

other officers of anti-suffrage associations in Ohio, Maryland,

Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine and other States joined with the forces

above.

The Legislature convened in extraordinary session Aug. 9, 1920, and

heard the Governor's message, which said in part: "The Legislatures of

thirty-five States have ratified the amendment, only one more being

required to make it effective as a part of the Constitution of the

United States. Its prompt ratification is urgently recommended.

Tennessee occupies a pivotal position and the eyes of all America are

upon us. Millions of women are looking to this Legislature to give

them a voice and share in shaping the destiny of the Republic." He

then quoted the platform declarations of both State and National

Democratic and Republican parties urging ratification. The next day

the Senate was called to order by President Andrew L. Todd, who

introduced the ratification resolution. It was introduced in the House

by the Shelby county delegation, all for it. Both were referred to the

Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

On the night of August 12 a joint hearing was held and able speeches

were made by Senator McKellar, Generals James A. Fowler and Charles A.

Cates, Jr., and Attorney Ed T. Seay. Anti speakers were: Congressman

Finis J. Garrett, Major E. B. Stahlman, Judges S. F. Wilson and G. N.

Tillman. Miss Charlotte Rowe, of Yonkers, N. Y., represented the

National Anti-Suffrage Association. The next day a memorial from

Maryland "antis" urging rejection was read in the Senate. Senator L.

E. Gwin presented the committee report recommending ratification,

signed by himself and Senators M. H. Copenhaver, John C. Houk, C. C.

Collins, J. W. Murray, T. L. Coleman, Douglas Wikle and E. N. Haston.

Senators W. M. Cameron and J. W. Rice presented the minority report.

After many eloquent speeches in favor and two in opposition the

Senate vote was ayes 25, noes 4, two not voting, and a motion to

reconsider was tabled.

On August 17 the House Committee reported in favor of ratification,

saying: "This is the performance of solemn platform promises and we

take great pride in the fact that to Tennessee has been accorded the

signal distinction of passing a resolution which will secure the final

adoption of the 19th Amendment." Speaker Seth M. Walker then moved to

adjourn to gain time, which was carried by 52 ayes, 44 noes. He had

given the suffragists his word that he would not only vote for

ratification but would lead the fight for it in the House. On the

contrary he suddenly underwent a radical change and fought it bitterly

through the entire session.

On August 18 occurred the most exciting and dramatic session ever held

in the House. Speaker Walker moved to table the resolution in an

effort to kill it. R. L. Dowlen, who had undergone a serious

operation, was brought from his bed to the Capitol to vote for it. T.

A. Dodson received a message that his baby was dying and after he had

taken the train it was found that his vote would be needed to carry

it. A member reached the train as it was pulling out, found him and

they leaped off. He cast his vote for the resolution and a man who was

able to do so sent him home on a special train. The Speaker lobbied

openly after clearing the House of suffrage lobbyists. Sitting with

his arm around the shoulder of Banks S. Turner he stopped his voting

when his name was called, but Turner won the honor of all present

when, at the end of the roll call, he threw off Speaker Walker's arm,

stood up and cast his vote for ratification. Harry T. Burn, aged 24,

had been voting with the opposition but had given the suffragists his

word that, as he had voted for the Presidential suffrage bill in 1919

and as his mother wanted him to vote for ratification, he would do so

if his vote should be needed but otherwise he would vote against it,

as his constituency was opposed. When the vote was a tie--48 to 48--he

instantly realized that the resolution would be lost unless he should

vote for it. This he did and the vote stood 49 ayes, 47 noes. Speaker

Walker then changed his vote from no to aye, making the vote 50 ayes,

46 noes, and moved to reconsider.[176]

By the rules of the House Speaker Walker had for three days the

exclusive right in which to call up the motion to reconsider, after

which others could do so. During this time the opponents worked madly

to get one of the loyal 49 to change his vote without avail. They

attempted every unscrupulous scheme known to control legislation. All

failing, as a last desperate move, 36 in the early morning hours made

a hegira to Decatur, Ala., where they remained for about ten days.

On August 23 the seats of the "antis" were conspicuously vacant. As

the Speaker had not asked for a reconsideration, Mr. Riddick moved to

call from the Journal the motion to reconsider. Speaker Walker ruled

this out of order, giving among other reasons that Judge E. F.

Langford of the Chancery Court had granted a temporary injunction

restraining the Governor, Secretary of State and Speakers from

certifying to Secretary of State Colby that the Legislature had

ratified. Mr. Riddick appealed from the decision of the chair and it

was not sustained. He then moved that the House reconsider its action

in concurring in the Senate ratification, which was defeated by 49

noes, 9 present and not voting. He next moved that the Clerk of the

House be instructed to transmit to the Senate the ratification

resolution, which was carried by a viva voce vote. Governor Roberts,

himself formerly a Judge, could not be checked by the devices of the

opposition but asked Attorney General Thompson to place the matter

before Chief Justice D. L. Lansden of the State Supreme Court. He

issued a writ of supersedeas and certiorari, which, taking the matter

out of the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court, amounted to a

dissolving of the injunction. The Governor then mailed the certificate

of ratification to Secretary Colby at noon, August 24, which he

received on the morning of August 26. This completed the necessary

thirty-six ratifications and Secretary Colby immediately proclaimed

the Federal Suffrage Amendment a part of the Constitution of the

United States.

During the weeks of machinations by the opposition, Governor Roberts,

State Superintendent of Education Albert H. Williams, the other

officers of the administration and the efficient Steering Committee,

made up of members of the Legislature, headed by President Todd and

Chief Clerk W. M. Carter of the Senate, were on complete guard night

and day.

After the American Constitutional League had failed in the courts of

Tennessee they planned to secure injunctions against election

officials to prevent women from voting and carried their fight to the

courts of the District of Columbia, losing in every one. They finally

reached the Supreme Court of the United States, which eventually

decided that the 19th Amendment was legally and constitutionally

ratified. [This matter is referred to in Chapter XX of Volume V.]

Meanwhile on September 20 Speaker Walker and other opponents went to

Washington and requested Secretary Colby to withdraw and rescind the

ratification proclamation. Failing in this effort they went on to

Connecticut to prevent ratification by the special session there,

which had at last been called, and this mission also was a failure.

To Tennessee will forever belong the glory of placing the last seal on

the Federal Amendment by which the women of the United States were

enfranchised.

[Illustration: MAP I.

The Suffrage Map from 1869 to 1893. Wyoming as a Territory in 1869 and

as a State in 1890 gave equal suffrage to women.]

[Illustration: MAP II.

The Suffrage Map from 1893 to 1910. Colorado gave equal suffrage to

women in 1893 Utah in 1895, Idaho in 1896.]

[Illustration: MAP III.

The Suffrage Map when Congress submitted the Federal Amendment June 4,

1919. In the white States women had full suffrage; in the dotted

States Presidential; in Illinois, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee

and Vermont Municipal also; in the first three County besides.]

[Illustration: MAP IV.

The Legislatures of all the white States ratified the Federal Woman

Suffrage Amendment; those of the black States rejected it except that

of Florida, whose Governor said it would do so if he called a special

session.]

[Illustration: This is What Tennessee Did to the Suffrage Map

MAP V.

The Suffrage Map after the Ratification of the Federal

Amendment--universal, complete woman suffrage in every State.]

FOOTNOTES:

[164] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. John M. Kenny,

an officer of the State Equal Suffrage Association from 1914 until the

ratification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment in 1920.

[165] Through the combined efforts of the joint chairmen of the

campaign Committee, Mrs. Kenny and Mrs. Milton, and the association of

which Mrs. Dudley was President, a conference was called to formulate

a plan of amalgamation of the two State associations. This was finally

accomplished in March, 1918, when Mrs. Leslie Warner of Nashville was

unanimously chosen as the amalgamation president.

[166] The other congressional district chairmen were Mrs. Ferd. E.

Powell, Johnson City; Miss Sara Ruth Fraser, Chattanooga; Mrs. Sam

Young, Dixon Springs; Mrs. Walter Jackson, Murfreesboro; Mrs.

Kimbrough, Nashville; Mrs. Ben Childers, Pulaski; Miss Sue S. White,

Mrs. Jas. B. Ezzell, Newsom Station; Mrs. M. M. Betts, Memphis.

[167] "W. R. Crabtree, President of the Senate: May I not express my

earnest hope that the Senate of Tennessee will reconsider the vote by

which it rejected the legislation extending the suffrage to women? Our

party is so distinctly pledged to its passage that it seems to me the

moral obligation is complete.--Woodrow Wilson."

[168] Mrs. Frances Fort Brown of Nashville left a bequest of $3,000 to

the National American Woman Suffrage Association and its board of

officers appropriated enough of it to pay the expenses of this suit.

[169] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Margaret Ervin

Ford, president of the State Equal Suffrage Association.

[170] Mrs. C. B. Allen organized the Memphis Woman's Party within the

State Association and became its president and Mrs. Ford organized it

in Chattanooga with over 400 members, was elected president and ward

organization started there. Nashville had the first through ward

organization, due to Miss Matilda Porter.

[171] The lists of the many officers of the association during the

years are unavoidably too imperfect to be used without doing injustice

to those omitted. In Mrs. Ford's strong desire to give full credit to

all the men and women who were actively connected with the work for

woman suffrage in Tennessee she sent lists so long that the lack of

space made it absolutely necessary to omit them.--Ed.

[172] The gold pen used by Governor Roberts in signing the bill was

one used by Dr. John W. Wester when drafting the first anti-liquor

bill ever introduced in the Tennessee Legislature, in December, 1841.

With it also Governor Rye signed the Lookout Mountain Suffrage Bill.

It belongs to Mrs. Ford, grand-daughter of Dr. Wester.

[173] Anti-suffragists from all over the State bombarded Governor

Roberts with threats of defeat for reelection should he persist in

pushing ratification, many of whom were his strongest friends and

supporters. At the special elections during the summer held to fill

vacancies in the Legislature several suffragists were elected, among

them M. H. Copenhaver, who took the seat of Senator J. Parks Worley,

arch enemy of suffrage. T. K. Riddick, a prominent lawyer, made the

race in order to lead the fight for ratification in the House.

Representative J. Frank Griffin made a flying trip from San Francisco

to cast his vote for it.

[174] Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Upton and Miss Shuler did no lobbying in the

State House.

[175] After Mrs. Catt returned to New York she said: "Never in the

history of politics has there been such a nefarious lobby as labored

to block the ratification in Nashville. In the short time that I spent

in the capital I was more maligned, more lied about, than in the

thirty previous years I worked for suffrage. I was flooded with

anonymous letters, vulgar, ignorant, insane. Strange men and groups of

men sprang up, men we had never met before in the battle. Who were

they? We were told, this is the railroad lobby, this is the steel

lobby, these are the manufacturers' lobbyists, this is the remnant of

the old whiskey ring. Even tricksters from the U. S. Revenue Service

were there operating against us, until the President of the United

States called them off.... They appropriated our telegrams, tapped our

telephones, listened outside our windows and transoms. They attacked

our private and public lives. I had heard of the 'invisible

government.' Well, I have seen it work and I have seen it sent into

oblivion."

[176] Burn's vote so angered the opposition that they attempted to

fasten a charge of bribery on him. On a point of personal privilege he

made a statement to the House which was spread upon the Journal. After

indignantly denying the charge he said: "I changed my vote in favor of

ratification because I believe in full suffrage as a right; I believe

we had a moral and legal right to ratify; I know that a mother's

advice is always safest for her boy to follow and my mother wanted me

to vote for ratification. I appreciated the fact that an opportunity

such as seldom comes to mortal man--to free 17,000,000 women from

political slavery--was mine. I desired that my party in both State and

Nation might say it was a Republican from the mountains of East

Tennessee, purest Anglo-Saxon section in the world, who made woman

suffrage possible, not for any personal glory but for the glory of his

party."

[Lack of space prevents giving the names of the immortal 49, which

were sent with the chapter.]

CHAPTER XLII.

TEXAS.[177]

For many reasons Texas was slow in entering the movement for woman

suffrage. There was some agitation of the subject from about 1885 and

some organization in 1893-6 but the work done was chiefly through the

Woman's Christian Temperance Union. In February, 1903, a meeting was

called at Houston by Miss Annette Finnigan, a Texas girl and a

graduate of Wellesley College. Here, with the help of her sisters,

Elizabeth and Katharine Finnigan Anderson, an Equal Suffrage League

was formed with Annette as president. The following month Mrs. Carrie

Chapman Catt, president of the National American Woman Suffrage

Association, lectured in Houston under its auspices. During the summer

Annette and Elizabeth Finnigan spoke several times in Galveston and

secured a suffrage committee of twenty-five there. With this nucleus a

State Woman Suffrage Association was organized at a convention held in

Houston, in December, which lasted two days and was well attended. Dr.

Anna Howard Shaw, vice-president of the National Association, was

present at all the sessions, spoke at both evening meetings and took a

deep interest in the new organization. Annette Finnigan was elected

State president and during the following year made an effort to

organize in Beaumont, San Antonio and Austin but the women, although

interested, were too timid to organize for suffrage. Mrs. Charlotte

Perkins Gilman spoke under the auspices of the league.

The second State convention or conference was held in Houston in

December, 1904, Galveston and La Porte being represented. Reports were

given and officers elected, Annette Finnigan remaining president. The

Houston league had a paid up membership of one hundred, regular

meetings were held and the subject of woman suffrage was kept

constantly before the public. An effort was made to get a woman on the

school board but the Mayor refused to appoint one. Among those active

in the work were Althea Jones, Miss Mary W. Roper, Mrs. E. F. and Miss

Ruby McGowen of Houston; Mrs. A. Adella Penfield of La Porte, Mrs. C.

H. Moore and Miss Julia Runge of Galveston. The Finnigan sisters were

the leaders and the league prospered for several years until they left

the State. The movement became inactive and the society formed in

Austin in 1908 with twenty-five members was the only one that

continued.

In 1912 through the efforts of Miss M. Eleanor Brackenridge of San

Antonio and Miss Anna Maxwell Jones, a Texas woman residing in New

York, suffrage clubs were organized in San Antonio, Galveston, Dallas,

Waco, Tyler and San Marcos. Miss Finnigan returned to Texas and the

Houston league was revived. The third State convention was held in San

Antonio in March, 1913. Miss Brackenridge was elected president, Miss

Finnigan honorary president. The convention was spirited and showed

that the suffrage movement was well launched. This was just ten years

after the first club was started. Miss Brackenridge possessed large

means and a wide acquaintance and gave much prestige to the

association. A number of notable speakers were brought to the State

and the subject was introduced in women's organizations. This year

through the San Antonio league a bill was introduced in the

Legislature but never came to a vote.

In April, 1914, the State convention was held in Dallas and Miss

Brackenridge was made honorary president and Miss Finnigan again

elected president. During the year State headquarters were opened in

Houston and the clubs were increased from eight to twenty-one. Miss

Pearl Penfield, as headquarters and field secretary, organized the

State work. The president sent letters to all the legislators asking

them to pledge themselves to vote for a woman suffrage amendment to

the State constitution. None of them had an idea that any of the

others would agree to support it and a considerable number in a desire

to "please the ladies" wrote charming letters of acquiescence. When in

January, 1915, they confronted a large group of women lobbyists,

experiences were hurriedly compared and consternation reigned among

them. "Uncle" Jesse Baker of Granbury, of honored memory, introduced

the resolution to submit an amendment to the electors. The Legislative

Committee were inexperienced but they worked with such zeal that it

received a vote in the House of 90 to 32. It was not considered by the

Senate.

Among those who worked with Miss Finnigan during the three months in

Austin were Mrs. Minnie Fisher Cunningham, president of the Galveston

Equal Suffrage Association; Mrs. Tex Armstrong of the Dallas

association; Mrs. J. O. Creighton of the Austin association; Mrs. Ed.

F. Harris and Mrs. J. H. W. Steele of Galveston; Mrs. David Doom, Mrs.

Robert Connerly, Mrs. L. E. Walker, Mrs. A. B. Wolfe and Mrs. R. H.

Griffith, all of Austin; Mrs William H. Dunne of San Antonio; Mrs.

Elizabeth Herndon Potter of Tyler; Mrs. W. E. Spell of Waco.

On Sunday afternoon, March 28, Dr. Shaw, the guest of Miss

Brackenridge, delivered a great speech in Beethoven Hall under the

auspices of the San Antonio Equal Franchise Society, accompanied on

the stage by its president, Mrs. Dan Leary; J. H. Kirkpatrick,

president of the Men's Suffrage League, the Rev. George H. Badger and

Miss Marie B. Fenwick, a veteran suffragist. Many converts were made.

In April the State convention met in Galveston and reports showed

twenty-one auxiliaries. Mrs. Cunningham was elected president, alert,

enthusiastic and bringing to the cause the valuable experience of work

in it for the past two years. The president and new board prosecuted

the work so vigorously that during the year there was a 400 per cent.

increase in organizations. Miss Kate Hunter, president of the

Palestine league, gave her entire summer vacation to field work.

In May, 1916, the State convention met in Dallas, re-elected Mrs.

Cunningham to the presidency and instructed the executive committee to

ask for suffrage planks in State and National Democratic platforms.

The name was changed from Woman Suffrage to Equal Suffrage Association

and the Senatorial district plan of organization was adopted,

following the lines of the Democratic party. When the State Democratic

convention met in San Antonio this month to elect a national

committeeman there were scores of women in the galleries proudly

wearing their suffrage colors but Governor James E. Ferguson and

ex-U. S. Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey, both of unhallowed memory,

united their forces and woman suffrage had not a remote chance.

Texas women went to the National Republican convention in Chicago in

June and a sufficient number of them to form half a block in the

"golden lane" at the National Democratic convention in St. Louis. At

the latter Governor Ferguson brought in the minority report of the

Resolutions Committee against a woman suffrage plank in the platform,

and let it be recorded that there were only three other men on the

committee who would sign it, the remainder signing the majority report

placing the plank in the platform. In August the Democratic convention

met in Houston to nominate State candidates and prepare the State

platform. Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Helen Moore and Mrs. J. M. Quinnof

appeared before the platform committee and with all the eloquence at

their command urged it to insert a woman suffrage plank or at least to

endorse the National platform. This committee was entirely in the

hands of the liquor ring and Ferguson was czar of the convention, so

woman suffrage was ignored.

Mrs. Edith Hinkle League, the headquarters secretary, shared the

president's ten, twelve and even fourteen-hour days of labor, so that

Mrs. Cummingham was able to leave the office in charge of her and

volunteer assistants while she helped to fill the pressing need of

field workers and organizers. She had the assistance of Miss Lavinia

Engle, one of the National Association's organizers. Despite the lack

of funds when word came of West Virginia's need of Mrs. Cunningham in

its amendment campaign the executive board paid her expenses to that

State and she donated her services. Upon her return to Texas she

devoted July and August to field work, averaging two or three speeches

a day during these insufferably hot months.

When the Legislature convened in January, 1917, the Legislative

Committee were on hand. The following report by Mrs. Cunningham

summarizes the work:

First. Opening suffrage headquarters on the main street at Austin

near the Capitol. Second. A luncheon, at which the attendance

exceeded the capacity of the largest hotel. The program was a

mock legislative session at which the suffrage bill came up for

the third reading and debate, those opposed imitating the style

of the leading "antis" at hearings. Third. A very successful mass

meeting at the Hancock Opera House with good speakers. Fourth.

Introduction of the House Joint Resolution for a suffrage

amendment, signed by twenty members, including some who had

opposed it in 1915. Fifth. Mass meeting in the House of

Representatives the night before the amendment came to a vote,

invitation for this being extended by resolution of the House.

Speaker F. O. Fuller presided and House and gallery were crowded.

Sixth. Introduction of the Primary suffrage bill in the Senate

and House. Seventh. Introduction of the Presidential suffrage

bill. Eighth. Speakers touring the State and keeping the cities

and towns aroused; a constant stream of letters to organizations

and individuals and from them to Representatives. Ninth. Press

work, a weekly news letter to those papers which would reach the

legislators; getting in touch with reporters and editors of the

large daily papers in the State in Austin for the session. First,

last and all the time work at the Capitol, interviewing members

of the House and Senate, Speaker, President, and public men who

could and if asked might help a little here and there. This work

was carried on daily for nearly three months.

It is my judgment that the Presidential suffrage bill could have

been passed (anticipating the Governor's veto though) but for the

fact that the closing days of the session were taken up by the

investigation of the Governor on charges preferred in the House.

On January 31 the Primary suffrage bill was favorably reported by the

Senate committee but was not taken from the calendar. On February 6

the resolution to submit an amendment to the voters received 76 ayes,

56 noes in the House, lacking the required two-thirds. It was not

acted upon by the Senate. On February 19 the Presidential suffrage

bill was referred to a Senate committee and on the 26th was returned

with a favorable minority report but not acted upon.

Early in 1917 the misdeeds of Governor Ferguson culminated and a great

campaign was begun to secure his impeachment. He was the implacable

foe of woman suffrage and of every great moral issue for which women

stood, therefore at the very beginning of the campaign word was sent

to the committee in Austin that the State Equal Suffrage Association

had abandoned all other work temporarily and placed its entire

resources at their command. The offer was accepted at once and the

character and value of the services which the women performed may be

judged from the following statement from D. K. Woodward, Jr.,

secretary of the Central Committee in charge of the campaign:

The impeachment of former Governor Ferguson could not have been

brought about without the cooperation of the women of the

State.... Their work was under the direction of Mrs. Cunningham,

president of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association, who came at

once to Austin and established headquarters. The women were asked

to reach the remote sections, to eradicate prejudice and leave

understanding in its stead.... They did all that was asked of

them and more. The most confirmed skeptic on the question of

women's participation in public life must have been converted had

he witnessed the unselfish, tireless, efficient work of these

hundreds of devoted women and the striking ability of their

leader, whose genius for organization, knowledge of public

affairs and public men of Texas and sound judgment on all

questions of policy were of untold value....[178]

Then came the entrance of the United States into the World War and the

suffragists consecrated time, strength, life itself if necessary to

its demands. The call to the annual convention held in Waco in May,

1917, indicated with what directness and intelligence the women

approached their added responsibilities. It was "a call to the

colors," to work for the war. War and Woman's Service; What can we do?

Our Need of the Ballot to do it; True Americanism, were among the

subjects considered. It voted to ask the War Department to abolish

saloons in the soldiers' concentration and mobilization camps.

Resolutions were passed pledging "loyal and untiring support to the

Government." The convention expressed itself in no uncertain tones in

the following resolution telegraphed to President Wilson: "For nearly

seventy years the women of the United States have tried the State

rights' route with its long and tortuous path. Since the Texas

Legislature has repeatedly refused submission of the suffrage

amendment to the voters, thereby repudiating the State rights'

principle of the Democratic party, the State Equal Suffrage

Association hereby urges your support of the Federal Suffrage

Amendment to enfranchise the women of our country."

Mrs. Cunningham was literally conscripted president again, with a

budget calling for the expenditure of $30,000 and only $66.38 in the

treasury! Other offices were filled and then the women hurried home to

engage in Red Cross work, Liberty Loan work, anti-vice work; to knit,

to sew, to tramp the highways and byways for the various "drives"; to

make speeches before all sorts of audiences--women who a year before

were too timid to second a motion. Following the instructions of the

convention Mrs. Cunningham in June called together in San Antonio the

heads of all organizations of women and out of the conference was

formed the Woman's Anti-Vice Committee. Living in such close proximity

to the training camps, Texas women early learned with sinking hearts

of the unspeakable conditions obtaining there and their efforts to

remedy matters and to arouse the proper authorities were strenuous and

unceasing. Thousands of mothers whose sons were in training in far

away Texas will never know how earnestly the mothers of this State

labored to do by their sons as they would have wished their own done

by.

The Federal Amendment work was not neglected during this time, neither

was State work and organizations rapidly multiplied. The year 1918 is

one never to be forgotten by Texas suffragists. January was given over

to intensive work for the Federal Amendment. Day letters, night

letters and telegrams poured into Congress at such a rate that the

national president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, referred to them as the

"heavy artillery down in Texas." The Executive Committee of the State

Association in session at Austin, on the 23rd authorized Mrs.

Cunningham and Mrs. Hortense Ward to call upon the new Governor,

William P. Hobby, and ask that he submit a bill for Primary suffrage

for women at the special session of the Legislature soon to convene.

A few weeks later the special session was called to consider a number

of important measures asked for by the Secretary of War. On February

24 the suffrage leaders came to Austin and established headquarters at

the Driskill Hotel, determined to secure the Primary law in time for

women to vote in the July elections. While the women were interviewing

the legislators Mrs. Nonie B. Mahoney, prominent in Dallas suffrage

work, called on Judge Barry of that city, who seemed unfavorable and

finally said it would take 5,000 names of Dallas women on a petition

to change him. He dismissed the subject from his mind and returned to

his legislative duties. Four days later Mrs. Mahoney arrived in Austin

with a heavy suit case, opened it and unfolded before the Judge's

astonished gaze a petition containing the names, not alone of the

required 5,000 but of 10,000 of his townswomen!

Mrs. Cunningham and her committee again asked the Governor to submit

Primary suffrage for women to the Legislature but he delayed. So great

pressure was brought to bear on him that he finally consented if they

should present a petition to him signed by a majority of the members

of both House and Senate. After many hours of labor they were able to

comply with this condition and to furnish additional data to prove

that the bill would pass both Houses with large majorities. The

Governor did not submit it but he did submit the Primary Election

bill, and the Primary Suffrage bill was immediately introduced by C.

B. Metcalfe of San Angelo as an amendment to it. It passed the House

March 16 by a vote of 84 to 34 and the Senate March 21 by 17 to 4, and

was signed by Governor Hobby on March 26 in the presence of Mr.

Metcalfe, Captain Sackett, who also labored untiringly in its behalf,

Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Doom, Mrs. Elizabeth Speer and Mrs. McCallum,

members of the Legislative Committee. The handsome fountain pen was

purchased for the occasion by Mr. Metcalfe and after the signing

presented by him to Mrs. Cunningham. Judge A. S. Lattimore drafted the

bill in 1917 and Judge Ocie Speer of Fort Worth the one carried in

1918.[179]

This law gave women the right to vote at all primary elections and in

all nominating conventions and nominations are equivalent to an

election, as there is practically but one party. As Texas has two U.

S. Senators and 18 Representatives it gave the women votes for more

members of Congress than those of any other State possessed, and

consequently for more presidential electors.[180]

The remaining days in March, all of April and a part of May were

devoted by the suffragists to the Liberty Loan. The annual convention

was held in Austin May 29-31. In order to concentrate the entire

strength of the organization on war work the delegates agreed not to

ask the Legislature of 1919 to submit a constitutional amendment for

full suffrage but the women would give whatever time they could spare

to the Federal Amendment. The convention enthusiastically endorsed

Governor Hobby for re-election and he addressed the delegates. It was

resolved to vote only for candidates for the Legislature who favored

ratification and to send greetings and letters of appreciation to the

"immortal six" Texas Representatives in Congress who voted for the

amendment the preceding January.[181] Decisions of importance were to

work out a plan whereby women could be educated as to candidates and

issues and the machinery of voting; to endeavor to bring out a heavy

vote of women in the coming primaries and to organize non-partisan

Women Voters' Leagues. Mrs. Cunningham against her determined protest

was re-elected president.

The suffrage law did not go into effect until June 26, and, as the

primary election was scheduled for July 27 and registration had to

cease fifteen days before, the women had only seventeen days in which

to register. There was not time to assess and collect the poll tax

requisite for voting and the Legislature added to its good work by

remitting it for the election in case of women. The suffrage

association set to work to assist the new citizens. Omitting only the

words "official ballot," nearly half a million reproductions of the

long, complicated ballot to be used in the July primaries were

circulated; candidates' records were scrutinized; issues were studied;

"schools of instruction" were conducted all over the State. Women

attending the first "schools" held others until practically the city

women in every precinct, ward and block had been given the chance to

vote intelligently if they so desired and the country women had

similar opportunities. All the candidates for Governor who stood for

civic righteousness withdrew in favor of Governor Hobby when it became

certain that Ferguson would again be a candidate and the women

organized Hobby clubs and advertised Ferguson's record. A strong

campaign was also waged in behalf of the suffrage candidate for

Superintendent of Public Instruction, Miss Annie Webb Blanton.

Congressional candidates and those for the Legislature came in for

especial attention. Thousands of women remained in the heat and dust

all summer to help in the campaign. As a result approximately 386,000

women registered in the seventeen days--surely a convincing answer to

the statement that "Southern women do not want to vote." Governor

Hobby was elected by an immense majority, as were Miss Blanton and all

of the candidates who had been espoused by the new voters.

In August women were heartily welcomed into the political conventions,

the men urging their appointment on all committees and even passing

resolutions of pleasure at having them participate! It was reported

that 233 out of 253 county conventions endorsed woman suffrage in some

form. In September, 1918, at the State Democratic convention in Waco

the women carried their demand for an endorsement of the Federal

Suffrage Amendment but not without strenuous opposition. In November

the Executive Board of the State Suffrage Association unanimously

passed a resolution emphasizing the one of its annual convention, that

the Legislature be requested to postpone a State referendum on woman

suffrage until after the war. The thought of one under present

conditions was appalling. A Ratification Committee which included the

heads of practically all of the women's organizations of state-wide

importance was formed. Mrs. Cunningham went to Washington for the

fourth time to assist the National Congressional Committee in the

effort for a Federal Amendment.

In January, 1919, the State Legislature met in regular session and the

poll in both Houses was entirely satisfactory in regard to ratifying

the Federal Amendment. The lawmakers were so gratified at the part

played by the women during the war and the "impeachment" that they

were ready and anxious to grant anything wanted of them, in fact were

disappointed that so little was asked. It was not deemed necessary to

have a large lobby and only Mrs. Jessie Daniel Ames of Georgetown came

to Austin to assist the chairman. A resolution offered by Judge W. H.

Bledsoe of Lubbock county and Senator R. M. Dudley of El Paso county,

which was enthusiastically adopted by both Houses the second day of

the session, after complimenting highly the voting of the women at the

primaries, said: "Resolved, That the United States Senate is hereby

respectfully but urgently requested to act immediately and favorably

upon the woman suffrage amendment, which has already received proper

recognition by the House of Representatives; that such action is in

full accordance with enlightened sentiment which sees no reason for

further delay."

Unfortunately many friends, both men and women, were misled into

believing that it would now be possible to win a complete suffrage

victory in Texas, although 260,000 real American voters were away on

account of the war and thousands of aliens remained at home to vote.

Because of the delay in Congress on the Federal Amendment both Houses

submitted by unanimous vote an amendment to the State constitution. It

was handicapped by a "rider" which required full naturalization by

every foreign-born man before he could vote, instead of merely his

first papers as now. This ensured a negative vote from every alien. A

telegram to Washington summoned Mrs. Cunningham to return immediately

and take command of the campaign, for it would be a Herculean task to

manage one successfully in less than three months' time in a State

consisting of 253 counties and the vote to be taken May 24. It was

impossible for the State association to finance such a campaign and

the National Association, although disapproving of the referendum,

contributed about $17,000.

President Wilson sent a cablegram from Paris urging the voters to give

the amendment their support and the members of his administration used

their influence in its favor. The State officials championed it and

the party organization of the State and many in the counties put

themselves behind it. All of the daily newspapers but one in the four

largest cities advocated it. Almost every minister labored earnestly

for it, many of them preaching in favor of it. Many excellent women

engaged in the campaign, some of them even speaking on the street

corners. The district, city and county chairmen of the State suffrage

association totaled 400 earnest, active women with whom the

headquarters kept in close touch through letters, press bulletins,

telephone and telegraph. These chairmen were the medium through which

3,000,000 fliers and 200,000 copies of the _Texas Democrat_, an

excellent paper edited for the occasion by Dr. A. Caswell Ellis of

the State University faculty, reached the voters. More than ninety

small papers issued a four page suffrage supplement furnished them.

The list of speakers included 1,495 names and almost no meeting or

convention of any importance was held during the latter part of the

three months that did not make room on its program for a talk on woman

suffrage.

On the other hand every nook and corner of the State was flooded with

anti-suffrage literature, a great deal of it emanating from U. S.

Senator Reed of Missouri, of such a vile, insinuating character that

when placed by the "antis" upon the desks of the legislators they

quickly passed protesting resolutions with only five dissenting votes.

These called attention to the splendid work of Texas women during the

war and their suffering at the absence and loss of their loved ones;

declared that this literature was "nothing short of a slap in the face

of these good women and of the members who passed, by a unanimous

vote, the woman suffrage amendment," and said: "Resolved that we go

upon record as condemning the circulation of this character of

literature and opposed to the sentiments expressed therein. We

re-affirm our allegiance to the woman suffrage amendment ... and when

we return to our homes we will do all in our power to secure the

passage of this amendment."

Some of the most vicious literature was from a so-called "Man's

Organization Opposed to Woman Suffrage," with headquarters in Selma,

Ala. Former U. S. Senator Bailey, who had been residing in New York

for some years, made a speaking tour of the State, assailing the

amendment in the most vindictive manner.[182]

The Women's National Anti-Suffrage Association sent Miss Charlotte

Rowe of New York, who spoke and worked against the amendment. Mrs.

James W. Wadsworth, Jr., president of this association, accompanied by

her husband, the U. S. Senator, came into the State during the

campaign and held some parlor meetings. She appointed Mrs. James B.

Wells, wife of the political "boss of the borderland" at Brownsville,

to send out literature, speak where possible, etc. Mrs. Wells had

headquarters in Austin with Mrs. Darden and their work was done from

there. The amendment failed but not because of their feeble efforts.

It was opposed by the strongest political forces in Texas, including

the liquor interests. The vote was 141,773 ayes, 166,893 noes;

defeated by a majority of 25,120.

In eleven days after this defeat--on June 4--the Federal Woman

Suffrage Amendment was submitted by Congress to the Legislatures for

ratification. Both of the Texas Senators--Charles A. Culberson and

Morris Sheppard--and nine Representatives voted for it.

RATIFICATION. Governor Hobby issued a call for a second special

session of the Legislature to convene June 23 to consider other

matters but the opening day found the suffragists on hand ready to ask

for ratification. The "antis" were on hand also and while they were

holding a conference in the Driskill Hotel to devise ways and means of

obtaining a hearing before the House committee, Resolution No. 1 to

ratify the amendment was read the first time in the House and referred

to this committee. The "antis" came in just in time to learn that the

committee had held its meeting, favorably reported the resolution and

it had been made the special order of business for 11 o'clock the next

morning. All of this occurred before noon of the first day.

Speaker R. E. Thomason was one of the most ardent supporters of the

resolution and promptly on the hour it was brought up. As a poll of

the House had shown that it was safe, the leaders decided not to

choose between the dozens who wanted to speak in its behalf but to let

the "antis" do the talking since the "pros" had the votes. The "father

of the House," Representative King of Erath, alone spoke for it but

the opponents talked until 3:55 p. m., when some one moved the

previous question. The vote stood 96 ayes, 20 noes. As the Senate

committee hearing was set for 4 o'clock there could be no thought of

lunch but only to hurry to its room in the far removed wing of the

Capitol. That hearing can never be adequately described.

Ex-Congressman Robert W. Henry and State Senator J. C. McNealus,

fire-eating "antis," almost came to blows over the name of former

Governor Ferguson, and Miss Rowe, the New York crusader, had a

difficult time with questions. The chairman was instructed to report

favorably and in the Senate the real fight was on.

The opposition tried every conceivable method to defer or defeat.

Heckling, threats, fervid oratory had no effect on the favoring

Senators. Filibustering continued all through Wednesday and Thursday,

except when the Senate recessed to listen to Governor Brough of

Arkansas, who touched on the justice of suffrage for women in an

effective manner. Finally their swan song was due and came from

Senator W. A. Johnston of Houston, intimate friend of ex-Senator

Bailey. Senator Paul Page of Bastrop ably led the fight in behalf of

the resolution. On June 27, at 7 p. m., it passed to third reading by

a vote of 18 to 9, with one pair and one absentee. That night the

opposition tried to get enough Senators out of town to break the

quorum but the friendly members and the women "shadowed" the

passengers on all out-going trains. On June 28 by a viva voce vote the

Senate went on record as the ninth State to ratify the Federal

Suffrage Amendment, the actual strength being 19 to 10, with one

absent. Lieutenant Governor W. A. Johnson proved his friendship and

loyalty to the cause of woman suffrage by remaining in the chair

constantly during the four days' contest.

With the women of Texas soon to be fully enfranchised the State Equal

Suffrage Association in October, 1919, merged into the State League of

Women Voters, with Mrs. Jessie Daniel Ames chairman.[183]

[LAWS. An excellent digest of the laws for women and children

accompanied this chapter, showing considerable advance since a résumé

was given in Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage. The writer of

the present chapter insists that they never were so unjust as there

represented. The omission of the laws from this, as from the other

State chapters for lack of space is a loss to the History.]

FOOTNOTES:

[177] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Jane Y.

McCallum, member of the Executive Board of the State Equal Suffrage

Association as chairman of the Legislative Committee, the Ratification

Committee and the Publicity Committee.

[178] It is a matter of much regret that the dramatic account sent of

this remarkable campaign must be omitted because of the pressing lack

of space.--Ed.

[179] See Primary suffrage in Arkansas chapter.

[180] Judge F. G. Chambliss of the 36th District Court, who was

defeated for reelection at this time, claimed that it was due to votes

of women and brought suit in the 79th District Court at Corpus Christi

to test the legality of the Primary Law. Judge V. M. Taylor ruled that

it was unconstitutional. In another case an injunction was sought to

restrain the tax collector of McLennan county from issuing poll tax

receipts to women. The Appellate and Supreme Courts upheld the

constitutionality of the law.

[181] The speech of Morris Sheppard delivered in the U. S. Senate Aug.

5, 1918, was one of the strongest arguments ever made for the Federal

Suffrage Amendment.--Ed.

[182] After women got the Primary vote Mr. Bailey returned to Texas

and announced himself a candidate for Governor. He was overwhelmingly

defeated at the primaries and his comment was: "The women and the

preachers did it."

[183] The following women besides those mentioned have held office in

the association since 1900: Mesdames Tex Armstrong, Anna B. Cade, A.

O. Critchett, John Davis, Walter L. Fordtran, Mary Herndon Gray,

Goodrich Jones, Lindley Miller Keasbey, Helen Moore, Elizabeth

Stribling Maury, Jane Yelvington McCallum, Sterling Myer, Elizabeth

Herndon, Dwight Edward Potter, Ella Pomeroy, E. B. Reppert, L. E.

Walker, Robert Aeneas Watt; Misses Mary Fowler Bornefield, Irelene

DeWitt, Marin B. Fenwick, Kate Hunter, A. A. Stuart, Hettie D. M.

Wallis.

CHAPTER XLIII.

UTAH.[184]

The results of equal suffrage in Utah for fifty years--1870-1920--with

an unavoidable interim of eight years, have demonstrated the sanity

and poise of women in the exercise of their franchise. The Mormon

women had had long training, for from the founding of their church by

Joseph Smith in 1830 they had a vote in its affairs. Although the

Territory of Wyoming was the first to give the suffrage to women--in

November, 1869--the Legislature of Utah followed in January, 1870, and

the bill was signed by Governor S. A. Mann February 12. Women voted at

the regular election the next August and there was no election in

Wyoming until September, so those of Utah had the distinction of being

the pioneer women voters in the United States and there were over five

times as many women in Utah as in Wyoming. The story of how their

suffrage was taken away by an Act of Congress in 1887 and how it was

restored in full by the men of Utah when they made their constitution

for statehood in 1895 and adopted it by a vote of ten to one is

related in detail in Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage. The

women have voted since then in large numbers, filled many offices and

been a recognized political influence for the benefit of the State.

The large and active Territorial Woman Suffrage Association held

annual conventions until after it succeeded in gaining the franchise.

In 1899, during a visit of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt to Salt Lake City,

a meeting was called and steps taken to form a Utah Council of Women

to assist the suffrage movement in other States and Mrs. Emily S.

Richards was made president. This Council, composed of Mormons and

non-Mormons, continued in existence for twenty years. For the first

ten years there were monthly meetings and also special and committee

meetings and prominent speakers addressed the annual gatherings,

eulogizing and commemorating the lives and labors of the suffrage

pioneers throughout the Union. Whenever the National American Suffrage

Association called for financial aid it responded liberally. The

suffrage having been gained it was hard to keep up the interest and

after 1910 meetings were held only at the call of the president for

the purpose of carrying out the wishes of the National Suffrage

Association, at whose conventions the Council was always represented

by delegates. In 1909-10, when the association was collecting its

monster petition to Congress, the Council obtained 40,000 names as

Utah's quota.

The official personnel remained practically the same from 1900. That

noble exponent of the best there is in womanhood, Mrs. Emily S.

Richards, preserved the spirit and genius of the Council, which

recognized no party and whose members cast their votes for good men

and measures without undue partisan bias. She was sustained by its

capable and resourceful secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Cohen, and both

maintained a non-partisan attitude in the conduct of the Council. The

officers were: Emmeline B. Wells, member national executive committee;

Elizabeth A. Hayward, Mrs. Ira D. Wines, Dr. Jane Skolfield and Mrs.

B. T. Pyper, vice-presidents; Anna T. Piercey, assistant secretary;

Hannah S. Lapish, treasurer.

As Territory and State, every county, every town, every precinct has

been served faithfully and well by women in various positions. It

would be impossible to name all who have done yeoman service during

the past years but the three women who have meant more than all others

to the suffrage cause are Mrs. Sarah M. Kimball, who was appointed by

Brigham Young and Eliza R. Snow as the standard bearer of that cause

in the late '60's and who maintained her active hold upon politics

until about 1885, when her able first lieutenant, Mrs. Emmeline B.

Wells, took up the work dropped by the aged hands of Mrs. Kimball. She

in turn carried the banner of equal civic freedom aloft, assisted by

Mrs. Richards, until she relinquished it in 1896 and Mrs. Richards

became the standard bearer. Many other splendid women have labored

assiduously in this cause.

In legislative matters a committee from the Council has worked during

every session since 1911 with associated committees from the other

large organizations of women, the powerful Relief Society, the Young

Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association and the Federated Clubs leading

in all good movements. Results in the enactment of welfare laws for

women and children have been very gratifying. The women's committees

of the various organizations meet at the State Capitol during the

legislative sessions and go over very carefully every bill in which

they are interested. If after investigation a bill meets with their

approval it is endorsed and every effort is made to secure its

passage. From 1911 to 1917 the women's legislative committee secured

copies of laws already in successful operation in other States and

framed bills to meet their own needs. These were always submitted to

two young lawyers, Dan B. Shields and Carl Badger, who corrected any

flaws which might jeopardize their constitutionality. Among the women

who comprise these committees are Mrs. Cohen, chairman, Miss Sarah

McLelland of the Relief Society; Mrs. Adella W. Eardley and Mrs. Julia

Brixen of the Y. L. M. I. A.; Mrs. Richards and Mrs. Hayward of the

Suffrage Council; Mrs. C. M. McMahon, president, Mrs. Peter A.

Simpkin, Mrs. A. V. Taylor and Mrs. Seldon I. Clawson, members of the

Federation of Women's Clubs.

In many Legislatures since statehood there have been women members and

their work has been along expected lines. In 1896, the year Utah was

admitted to the Union, Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon was elected to the

State Senate, the first woman in the United States to receive that

honor. Several women were elected to the Lower House then and others

in the years following. Needed reform measures were secured by Mrs.

Mary G. Coulter, who sat in the Lower House and was made chairman of

the Judiciary Committee in 1903. There was a long interim when no

women were sent to the Legislature but in 1913 four were elected, Mrs.

Annie Wells Cannon, Dr. Skolfield, Mrs. Elizabeth Ellerbeck Reid and

Mrs. Annie H. King. They were instrumental in securing the Mothers'

Pension Law and the Minimum Wage Law and through Mrs. Cannon the

bureau of emigration labor was provided with a woman deputy to look

after the women and children workers. Utah already had an equal

guardianship law but largely through the efforts of Mrs. Cannon it was

improved and is now regarded as a model and has been copied by other

States. She is a representative daughter of Mrs. Wells.

In 1915 Mrs. Elizabeth A. Hayward and Mrs. Lily C. Wolstenholme were

elected and to the former the improved child labor law must be

credited. In 1917 she was re-elected and Dr. Grace Stratton Airy and

Mrs. Daisy C. Allen became members of the Lower House. During

1915-1917 laws raising the age of protection for girls to 18 and

requiring equal pay for equal work were enacted. Mrs. Hayward, at the

request of the women's Legislative Council, introduced the resolution

calling on Congress to submit the Federal Amendment. In 1918 she was

elected State Senator. In 1919 Dr. Airy was re-elected and Mrs. Anna

G. Piercy and Mrs. Delora Blakely were elected to the Lower House.

Altogether there have been thirteen women members of the Legislature.

No State has better laws relating to women and children than Utah.

It has been difficult to persuade the women to stand for important

offices. The modern furious pace set by campaigners and the severance

of home ties for long periods are not alluring to wives and mothers

but they find many public activities through which to exercise their

executive abilities. They sit on the boards of many State and local

institutions and serve on committees for civic and educational work. A

considerable number have filled and are now filling city and county

offices. Mrs. L. M. Crawford has a responsible position in the office

of the State Land Board. Mrs. McVickar was State Superintendent of

Schools. In 1917 a new department was added to the office of the

Adjutant General to secure pensions for those veterans who had served

in the early Indian wars of Utah. Mrs. Elizabeth M. Cohen was given

custody of the old Indian War Records and was named Commissioner of

Pensions. In order to prove the claims of these men and women she

cooperated with the Pension Bureau at Washington, D. C. Up to date out

of a possible 1,500 whose claims have merit nearly 700 pensions have

been granted, bringing into the State the sum of $400,000.

When Brigham Young established those monuments to his name, the

Brigham Young University of Provo and the Brigham Young College of

Logan in 1874 he placed women on their boards. Mrs. Martha J. Coray of

Provo served ten years for the former and Professor Ida M. Cook for

the latter. Mrs. Gates was made a trustee of the university in 1891,

which position she still occupies, while her sister, Mrs. Zina Young

Card, has been a trustee since 1914. Mrs. Gates was on the board of

the State Agricultural College 1905-1913. Mrs. A. W. McCune was on

this board ten years, seven of them its vice-president. Mrs. Rebecca

M. Little, Mrs. Antoinette B. Kinney and Dr. Belle A. Gummel have been

regents of the university. Professor Maude May Babcock has been dean

of physical education and expression since 1892 and a trustee since

1897. Her culture and personality have left an indelible impress on

the history of this State.

From the beginning women have allied themselves with the different

political parties, occasionally uniting on a great issue like that of

Prohibition. From the time they were enfranchised by the State

constitution they have received the recognition of the parties. In

1900 women were sent as delegates and alternates to both national

presidential conventions and Mrs. Cohen seconded the nomination of

William Jennings Bryan. A number were sent in following years. In 1908

Mrs. Margaret Zane Cherdron was a delegate and a presidential elector,

carrying the vote to Washington. She was one of the two received by

President Taft and was royally entertained while in the capital. Among

other women who have acted as delegates and alternates since 1900 are

Mrs. William H. Jones, Mrs. Hayward, Mrs. Sarah Ventrees, Mrs. Gates,

Mrs. Lucy A. Clark, Mrs. B. T. Pyper, Mrs. L. M. Crawford, Mrs. Alice

E. Paddison.

Women have their representation on all political committees--Mrs.

Hayward is a member of the Democratic National Committee--and their

participation in politics is accepted without question. There are

about 10,000 more women voters than men voters. As a rule about 90 per

cent. of the women vote and about 86 per cent. of the men, as some of

the latter are in the mines or out of the State for various reasons.

Among the Republican leaders are Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Gates, Mrs.

Cherdron, Mrs. Jannette A. Hyde, Mrs. Cannon, Mrs. Wolstenholm, Mrs.

Loufborough, Mrs. William Spry, Mrs. Reed Smoot; Mrs. Martha B.

Keeler of Provo and Mrs. Georgina G. Marriott of Ogden. The Democratic

party has had among its leading women Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Alice

Merrill Horne, Mrs. Cohen, Mrs. Hayward, Gwen Lewis Little, Mrs.

Piercy, Mrs. S. S. Smith, Mrs. Annice Dee, Mrs. Inez Knight Allen and

Miss Alice Reynolds.

No State exceeded Utah in the proportion of the work done by women

during the World War. Mrs. Clarissa Smith Williams was the unanimous

choice for chairman of the State branch of the Woman's Council of

National Defense. She was eminently fitted for this position through

her long experience as first counsellor to Mrs. Emmeline B. Wells,

head of the Relief Society, and every demand of the Government was

fully met.

RATIFICATION. At the request of the Suffrage Council and without

urging, Governor Simon Bamberger called a special session of the

Legislature for Sept. 30, 1919, to ratify the Federal Suffrage

Amendment submitted the preceding June. The resolution was presented

by Senator Elizabeth A. Hayward and was ratified unanimously by both

Houses within thirty minutes. The Governor signed it without delay.

The women and the Legislature had helped in every possible way to

secure the Amendment and the entire Utah delegation in Congress had

voted for it.

A striking event in the train of possible fruitful activities left

behind was the visit of the great leader, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt,

president of the National American Suffrage Association, with her able

young assistants, who came to Utah for Nov. 16-18, 1919. She was

accompanied by Dr. Valerie Parker and Mrs. Jean Nelson Penfield,

chairmen in the National League of Women Voters, and Miss Marjorie

Shuler, director of publicity for the National Association. The

convention, held in the Assembly Hall, was in charge of the Suffrage

Council, its president, Mrs. Richards, assisted by Mrs. Cohen and Mrs.

E. E. Corfman. A long and valuable program was carried out. Mrs. Catt

spoke in the Tabernacle on Sunday afternoon, introduced by President

Charles W. Penrose with a glowing tribute to her power as a leader, to

the sincerity and womanliness of her character and to the catholicity

of her vision and sympathy. There were banquets, teas and receptions.

At the close of the convention the Suffrage Council, which had

rendered such splendid service for the past twenty years, was merged

into the State League of Women Voters and Mrs. Richards willingly

resigned her leadership to its chairman, Mrs. Clesson S. Kinney.

On Feb. 12, 1920, a jubilee celebration was held in honor of the

fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the woman suffrage bill by the

Territorial Governor S. A. Mann. There was also celebrated the

granting of the complete franchise by the immense majority of the

voters in 1895.

Utah celebrated in Salt Lake City August 30, with a great

demonstration, the triumph of woman suffrage in the United States

through the ratification of the Federal Amendment, which had been

proclaimed August 26. It was introduced with an impressive parade led

by bands of music and the program of ceremonies was carried out on the

steps of the State Capitol. Governor Bamberger, former Governor Heber

M. Wells, Congressman E. O. Leatherwood and Mayor C. Clarence Neslen

joined the women in congratulatory addresses. Mrs. Richards, Mrs.

Hannah Lapish and Mrs. Lydia Alder, veteran suffragists, told of the

early struggles and Mrs. Beulah Storrs Lewis appealed to women to keep

high the standard in order to lead men out of the darkness of war into

the light of brotherly love and make ready for world peace. Mrs. Annie

Wells Cannon and Mrs. Susa Young Gates were appointed to send a

telegram of congratulation to Mrs. Catt. The celebration was under the

auspices of the League of Women Voters, whose chairman, Mrs. Kinney,

presided. The most impressive figure on the platform was President

Emmeline B. Wells, 92 years old, who had voted since 1870 and who had

labored all these years for this glorious achievement. What those dim

eyes had seen of history in the making, what those old ears had heard

and what that clear brain had conceived and carried out only her close

associates knew. She was the incarnate figure of tender, delicate,

eternally determined womanhood, arrived and triumphant.

FOOTNOTES:

[184] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Susa Young

Gates, member of the General Board of the Woman's Relief Society and

editor of the Relief Society's Magazine since it was established in

1913 and historian of the activities of Utah women.

CHAPTER XLIV.

VERMONT.[185]

The first convention to consider woman suffrage took place in Vermont

in 1883, when a State association was formed, and others were held

regularly to the end of the century, with the cooperation of the

Massachusetts association. At the convention held in Waterbury Center

June 12, 13, 1900, Henry B. Blackwell of Boston, editor of the

_Woman's Journal_, was the chief speaker. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt,

the new president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association,

sent a letter of helpful suggestions. Petitions for a Federal Suffrage

Amendment were forwarded to Congress. During this and the following

years the _Woman's Journal_ was sent to members of the Legislature; a

column prepared from that paper was sent to every editor in the State

and much literature was distributed, the Woman's Christian Temperance

Union assisting.

The convention of 1901 met in Rochester June 25, 26. The speakers were

Mr. Blackwell, Professor W. L. Burdick, the Rev. George L. Story, Miss

Eliza Eaton, Miss Blanche Dunham and Mrs. Laura Kezer, president of

the W. C. T. U. The convention congratulated women of the Methodist

Episcopal Church on their admission as delegates to the General

Conference, the Vermont conference having voted for it unanimously.

In 1902 the convention met at West Concord June 18, 19, among the

speakers being Miss Mary N. Chase, president of the New Hampshire

Suffrage Association, and Mr. Blackwell, who never missed a

convention.[186] The State Baptist Association went on record this

year in favor of women voting on license and prohibition and the

Universalist Church convention endorsed equal suffrage.

In 1903 the convention was held at Barton June 9, 10, with Mrs. Ida

Porter Boyer, a national organizer, among the speakers. The convention

of 1904 went to Woodstock, June 22, 23, and was addressed by the Rev.

Harry L. and Mrs. Canfield, suffrage leaders there, and many others.

It was announced that Mrs. Dorcas McClelan of Glover had left a

bequest of $150 to the association. A "composition" entitled Female

Education, written by a pupil in a Woodstock school in 1831, now Mrs.

Harriet Walker of Denver, 90 years old, was read and much enjoyed.

The convention of 1905 took place in Springfield June 7, 8. During the

year 10,000 copies of Opinions on Equal Suffrage by Vermont Men and

Women had been distributed and the _Woman's Journal_ placed in twelve

libraries. A memorial service was held for Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, a

life long suffragist. In 1906 the convention was held at Brattleboro

June 6, 7, with a long list of State speakers, including six

clergymen. A memorial service with tributes of appreciation was held

for Miss Susan B. Anthony.

Burlington entertained the convention June 13, 14, 1907, which had the

privilege of hearing Mayor W. J. Bigelow, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, now

president of the National Association, and State Representative H. H.

Shaw of Burlington. Mr. Blackwell presented a fine portrait of his

wife, Lucy Stone. Four prominent State workers had died during the

year, the Hon. Henry Ballard, C. W. Wyman, Miss Carolyn Scott and Miss

Laura Moore, the latter for twenty-two years secretary of the State

association, its leader and inspirer. She was known at the Capitol as

"the Saint of Barnet" and U. S. Senator Carroll S. Page once said: "If

the cause of equal suffrage should ever prevail in Vermont it will be

largely because of the seed sown by Laura Moore." Miss Scott, her

companion and co-worker, who passed away in her 92d year, left a

bequest of $1,000 to the association.

At the convention in Rutland Oct. 12, 13, 1908, among the speakers

were the Reverend Mary Traffern Whitney and Mrs. Annette W. Parmelee,

State superintendent of press. The association voted to become

auxiliary to the National Association. A letter was read from former

Governor Fletcher D. Proctor, declaring himself in favor of the

movement and willing to assist it. Signatures to the suffrage petition

this year included the names of Governor George H. Prouty, Lieutenant

Governor John Abner Mead and Secretary of State Guy Bailey.

In 1909 the convention held at Barre June 4, 5, decided to concentrate

its efforts on a State constitutional amendment to be voted on in

1910. A press report of the convention said: "Henry B. Blackwell,

although 84 years of age, is a commanding figure and his voice as it

rings forth in tones of conviction is more like that of a man in his

prime than of one who has passed his four-score milestone." It

therefore was a great shock when the news came on September 7 that

this far-visioned leader had passed from earth. The State suffragists

owed him a debt of gratitude which could only be repaid by carrying

forward his life work.

In 1910 and 1911 the association so sadly bereft by death held no

convention but the work did not cease. Miss Chase, now a national

organizer, formed new leagues; Mrs. Parmelee sent out 3,057 pieces of

mail, circularized the clergy, conducted thirty-seven debates, wrote

131 newspaper articles, furnished leaflets to ninety W. C. T. U.

units, sent _Woman's Journals_ to every graded school and every

library in the State and circulated literature at the county fairs.

She also prepared a leaflet, Seventeen Reasons Why Women Should Vote,

wrote and superintended the production of a play entitled A Mock

Session of the Legislature and spoke at legislative sessions,

churches, granges and parlor meetings. She was ably assisted in this

work by the secretary, Mrs. Canfield, who had charge of the large

Vermont and New Hampshire tent at the State Fair at White River

Junction, where speeches were made, literature distributed and

signatures obtained. Fourteen speakers were kept busy. The pastors of

all the churches in the State were circularized and as a rule were

sympathetic.[187]

In 1912 the convention was held at Montpelier on June 7, with

Professor George B. Cox of Dartmouth College; Attorney J. H. Senter

and Dr. J. Edward Wright among the speakers. At Woodstock a big

suffrage "rally" was held with Dr. Harvey W. Wiley of Washington as

chief speaker. Mrs. Frances Rastall, recently appointed State

congressional chairman by the National Association, organized a

congressional committee in every county. At the convention in

Rochester June 11, 12, 1913, Mrs. Emily Chaffee of Detroit, Mich., and

many State speakers made addresses. Mrs. Julia Pierce, the State

president, handsomely entertained speakers and delegates at her home.

At St. Albans a successful "rally" with Mrs. Marian Booth Kelly as

speaker was held.

In 1914 the convention was held in Burlington November 4, 5, and the

city hall was crowded at the evening meetings. Mrs. Beatrice Forbes

Robertson Hale of New York and Mrs. Maud Wood Park of Boston were the

out-of-town speakers and Representative E. P. Jose of Johnson headed

the State coterie. Conforming to plans sent out by the National

Association, "suffrage day" had been observed May 1 in Burlington with

an address by Mayor James E. Burke.

The convention which met at Springfield Oct. 20, 21, 1915, received a

royal welcome. American flags and suffrage banners were suspended

across the streets and the stores were decorated with yellow. A

reception and banquet were given by Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Woolson at

Mucross Park. Among the speakers were Miss Alice Stone Blackwell,

Arthur P. Howard, editor of _The Advance_; the Hon. James Hartness,

Dr. Grace Sherwood and Representative H. E. Taylor. Mrs. Pierce,

having served six years as president, asked to be released and was

made honorary president for life. Mrs. Lucia E. Blanchard was elected

in her place. The convention deplored the opposing attitude of

Congressman Frank Greene and of U. S. Senator William P. Dillingham,

who had declared himself "unalterably opposed" to the Federal Suffrage

Amendment, and it commended the stand of Congressman Porter Dale.

Among public officials declaring themselves favorable were U. S.

Marshal Horace W. Bailey, Dr. Guy Potter Benton, president of the

University of Vermont, and J. N. Barss, superintendent of the State

Industrial School.

On March 1, 1916, Mrs. Rastall called a congressional conference in

Burlington. Mrs. Catt, national president, and Mrs. Susan W.

Fitzgerald of Boston addressed a large audience. The day sessions were

at the City Hall and the mass meeting at the Strong Theater. During

the autumn a delegation of suffragists called on U. S. Senator Carroll

S. Page of Hyde Park to urge his support of the Federal Suffrage

Amendment. They were graciously received, entertained at luncheon at

the Inn and reported themselves as "pleased with the interview." In

November the National Association sent Mrs. Augusta Hughston, one of

its organizers, for a month's field work, paying all expenses, and

eighteen clubs were formed with officers and active committees.

In 1917 the convention was held at St. Albans June 27, 28, with the

usual list of good speakers. Mrs. Lilian H. Olzendam was employed as

State organizer. A resolution was passed condemning the methods of the

"militant" suffragists. It was reported that after an address by Mrs.

Rastall at the State conference of the Federation of Labor at Bellows

Falls August 11, 12, woman suffrage was endorsed unanimously.

In accordance with the plans of the National Association to strengthen

the situation wherever there were opposing members of Congress, and to

assist in bringing pressure on Senator Dillingham, Mrs. Halsey W.

Wilson, its recording secretary, was sent to Vermont in July, 1918,

and also Miss Marjorie Shuler, its director of field publicity, who

spent two weeks, speaking, interviewing editors and building up

favorable press sentiment. The convention was held at Burlington July

10, 11 and was addressed by Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. A. L. Bailey, State

president; Mrs. Joanna Croft Read, State secretary, and Dr. Alice

Wakefield. A resolution was adopted thanking Senator Page for his

promise to support the Federal Suffrage Amendment. Senator Dillingham

still remained obdurate and Mrs. Wilson returned to meet with the

Executive Board August 17 at Montpelier, after which Mrs. Bailey, Mrs.

Read, Mrs. Parmelee, Mrs. Olzendam and Mrs. Wilson called on him by

appointment to appeal for his vote. He was very courteous but gave

them no encouragement. Mrs. Wilson remained for three weeks conferring

with and assisting the workers. In November, at the expense of the

National Association, Mrs. Hughston spent three weeks doing valuable

field work.

In January, 1919, Mrs. Wilson again returned to assist the board

during the legislative session, remaining until after the convention,

which was held at Burlington March 11, 12. The speakers were Mrs.

Catt, Mrs. Wilson, Dr. Marion Horton, the new State president; City

Attorney Hamilton S. Peck, Miss Bernice Tuttle, president of the Child

Welfare Bureau; Mrs. Anna Hawkes Putnam, State chairman of the Woman's

Division of the National Council of Defense; Mrs. M. D. Chittenden,

president of the State Y. W. C. A., and others. Mrs. Parmelee gave an

account of the work for woman suffrage in Vermont and its courageous

leaders during the past thirty-six years and the reasons why bills

were voted down in the Legislature.

RATIFICATION. On June 4, 1919, the Federal Suffrage Amendment was

submitted to the Legislatures for ratification and a survey showed

that Vermont's would probably be necessary to make the needed 36. Mrs.

Halsey Wilson returned for consultation with the State leaders and an

intensive effort was begun which continued for more than a year. Mrs.

Olzendam, chairman of ratification, not only obtained enough favorable

pledges from the members to ratify but an agreement by a majority to

pay their own expenses, and give their time for a special session. It

was soon evident, however, that Governor Percival W. Clement was

determined not to call one. Every possible influence was brought to

bear on him but he based his refusal on the ground that it would be

unconstitutional. By March, 1920, 35 States had ratified and it seemed

that the 36th would have to be Vermont or Connecticut, whose Governor

also had refused to call a special session.

An ingenious demonstration was decided on, which was made possible by

a contribution of $1,000 from the Leslie Suffrage Commission. An

interview of Vermont women with the Governor was arranged by a good

friend of suffrage, Major Harvey Goodell, secretary of Civil and

Military Affairs. On April 21, a remarkable deputation of 400 women

arrived in Montpelier, representing twelve of the fourteen counties,

loyal, ardent soldiers, overcoming the obstacles of long distances,

almost impassable roads and poor train service, many coming from towns

where there were no trains and where they must plow through deep snow

and over muddy and rocky roads, one woman walking five miles. Led by

Mrs. Olzendam in a cold, drenching rain they marched through the

streets and up the steps of the Capitol and took their places before

the Governor's chair. One by one, fourteen speakers presented the case

in a few sentences. It was a notable demonstration in size, enthusiasm

and determination. It had been arranged that letters and telegrams

should arrive the day before, the day of and the day following the

visit and his excellency received 1,600 communications in three days.

Governor Clement's only response was that he did not wish to make a

decision at present.

In May, 1920, the State Republican convention, with the Governor

seated on the platform, passed a resolution urging him to call a

special session, saying: "We have full faith and confidence that the

voters of the State, regardless of party affiliation, would cordially

approve and endorse the ratification of the Federal Suffrage

Amendment."

The State suffrage convention met in the roof garden of The Tavern,

St. Albans, July 1, 2, in a rousing convention. Governor John H.

Bartlett of New Hampshire, which had ratified, was the guest of honor,

attending by special request of Will Hays, chairman of the National

Republican Committee. He had consulted Governor Clement about coming,

who answered: "I shall be glad to have you. Regret I shall be unable

to hear you." Miss Katharine Ludington, chairman of the Connecticut

League of Women Voters, and Miss Julia A. Hinaman, its press

chairman, were among the speakers. Mayor Charles A. Buck extended the

freedom of the city and Mrs. Read, acting president, responded. On the

platform were a large number of prominent Vermont men and women. The

report of Mrs. Olzendam described the strenuous efforts of the women

of the State for an extra session, acknowledging the assistance of

Miss Ann Batchelder, Mrs. Vida M. Chase and others and thanking Mrs.

Wilson, Mrs. Raymond Brown, fourth vice-president, and Miss Shuler, of

the National Association; Mrs. Sara Algeo, president of the Woman

Suffrage Party of Rhode Island, and Miss Winifred Brown of Utah for

their help. The delegates expressed in applause and in words their

high appreciation of Mrs. Olzendam's work. A resolution was passed at

an evening mass meeting calling upon Governor Clement to summon a

special session in order that Vermont might have the honor of being

the 36th State to ratify.

Just before the convention the Governor went to Washington and the

press dispatches of July 1 told of a long talk he had that day with

President-elect Harding. Both men admitted in interviews that the

calling of a special session in Vermont had been discussed. Senator

Harding said he told the Governor he would be very glad to see this

done but made plain his desire not to interfere with the Governor's

prerogatives. Governor Clement frankly admitted that he had been urged

by Senator Harding, Chairman Hays and other Republican leaders to give

an early call but made the stereotyped excuses. Nevertheless the press

generally expressed the opinion that he would yield. On the contrary

he returned home and on July 12 issued an official proclamation in

which he made the assertion that "the Federal Constitution in its

present form threatened the foundation of free popular government; the

16th Amendment, providing for a federal income tax, was lobbied

through Congress and State Legislatures by federal agents and the 18th

Amendment for Federal prohibition was forced through by paid agents of

irresponsible organizations with unlimited funds." To what he called

the proposal to "force through the 19th Amendment for woman suffrage

in the same manner," he said: "I will never be a party to any

proceeding which proposes to change the organic law of the State

without the consent of the people." "The National Constitution," he

said, "threatens free popular government alike as it stands and as it

is interpreted by the Supreme Court. Its decision leaves the people at

the mercy of any group of men who may lobby a proposal for a change in

it through Congress and then through the Legislatures."

Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, national president, issued an open letter to

the Governor in the course of which she said:

In order that this generation of your fellowmen and posterity

also may not misunderstand your position, the National American

Woman Suffrage Association urges you to supplement your

proclamation with answers to the following questions: Do you

challenge the fact which has stood unchallenged for 131 years

that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of this land and

supersedes all State constitutions whenever the two are in

conflict? Do you know that on Jan. 10, 1791, Vermont ratified

that Constitution, although she had one of her own, and by so

doing accepted the precedence of the Federal Constitution and by

that act was admitted into the Union? If you do know these facts

of common knowledge why did you throw over your refusal to call a

special session the camouflage of a dissertation about the

alleged conflict between the Vermont and Federal Constitutions

which has nothing whatever to do with the calling of a special

session of your Legislature?... Do you not know that when a

Legislature acts upon a Federal constitutional amendment it draws

its authority from the Federal and not from the State

constitution, and that the Governor has no responsible part in

the transaction except as custodian of the amendment when it

comes from the Federal Secretary of State and returns to him with

the Certificate of Ratification? Then why profess such a burden

of personal responsibility in the matter?

You pretend to fear "an invasion of State's Rights" and take upon

yourself the responsibility of preserving "the foundations of

free popular government." Then why did you veto the Presidential

suffrage bill passed by the Legislature of Vermont in 1919, which

was strictly a State action and conferred the vote upon the women

of Vermont alone?... Your national party convention in 1920

called for completion of ratification in time for women to vote

for the next President. Your party's National Committee in the

interim of conventions took action three times--once asking

Congress to submit the amendment; once favoring early

ratification and once calling upon Republican Governors to call

special sessions in order that ratification might proceed. Your

State party convention, your party's State Committee, your State

Legislature, hundreds of Vermont women, the chairman of the

National Republican Committee and the chairman of your State

Republican Committee, the candidate for President of your

party--all have asked you to call a special session.... You owe

it to the Republican party and to the world to explain your

assumption of an authority that belongs to your party leaders. By

what right do you make this assumption? Governor Clement, tell it

all!"

The total cost of the efforts to secure a special session was $7,442,

of which the National Association paid $2,578 and the Leslie Woman

Suffrage Commission $4,864.[188]

Following the convention of the State association at St. Albans, July

1, 2, 1920, Miss Ludington explained the purpose of the National

League of Women Voters and the association was dissolved and a State

league organized with Mrs. Lilian Olzendam chairman.

The Vermont suffrage association was fortunate in always having the

support of other State organizations, the Woman's Christian Temperance

Union, Grange, Federation of Labor, Teachers' Association, Federation

of Women's Clubs, Young Women's Christian Association and, in the

closing years, of all political parties. Among other noted speakers

from outside the State not mentioned were Professor Charles Zueblin,

Mrs. Florence Kelley and Mrs. Susan S. Fessenden, president of the

Massachusetts W. C. T. U. Over fifty clergymen of various

denominations gave active assistance.[189]

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. From 1884 to 1900 a bill to give Municipal

suffrage to taxpaying women was regularly introduced in the

Legislature only to be defeated.

1902. The Town and Municipal Suffrage bill in the Senate was defeated

by 22 to 6; in the House by 111 to 75. A Presidential suffrage bill

received only six votes. A bill permitting women to vote on the

license question was defeated by 138 to 67. Petitions with 15,000

signatures had been presented for these various measures.

1904. The Municipal Suffrage bill was reported favorably to the House

by C. C. Fitts, chairman of the committee, but was refused third

reading by 99 to 97. On November 17 it was introduced in the Senate,

reported favorably by committee chairman J. Emery Buxton and passed

without debate with three opposing votes. When on December 6 it came

again before the House for reconsideration it was ordered to a third

reading by 112 to 104 but the next day was defeated by 124 to 100.

1906. A bill to substitute the word "person" for "male" in the

statutes came before the House October 24, was ordered to third

reading by 149 to 24 and passed the following day by 130 to 25. This

majority aroused the Massachusetts Society Opposed to the Further

Extension of Suffrage to Women and an officer, Mrs. A. J. George of

Brookline, was sent to try to defeat the bill. She was coolly received

and found it so impossible to convince the members that she was not an

emissary of the liquor interests that she failed to obtain even a

hearing before the committee. Her coming stirred the suffrage forces

and a telegram was sent to the _Woman's Journal_ of Boston asking for

help and Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, the editor, and Mrs. Maud Wood

Park responded. A public hearing was granted by the Senate committee

and people from all over the State were present. Nine legislators and

members of the association spoke for the bill. Not one opponent

appeared. In the Senate it failed by three votes, many who were

pledged to it deserting.

1908. Legislative committee chairman 1908-1910, Mrs. Annette W.

Parmelee, spoke at the hearing on the Municipal suffrage bill, which

was defeated in the Senate by 16 to 11. During the final debate Mrs.

Parmelee wrote down the disgusting remarks made by some of the

opponents and their consternation was great when these were published.

This bill for years was termed the "football."

1909. The legislative chairman sent an official letter to Frank E.

Partridge, chairman of the Commission to Propose Amendments to the

State Constitution, which can only be done once in ten years, asking

that suffrage for women be among the proposals considered. The letter

was read May 28, 1910, before the commission--Frank L. Greene, A. M.

Fletcher, W. N. Cady and M. G. Leary, but received no attention.

1910. The legislative chairman was assisted by Chaplain A. W. Ford. In

the official record suffrage was spelled "sufferage." The Municipal

suffrage bill was introduced in the House and the suffragists asked

for a hearing but the date was changed three times and the final one

left no time for summoning speakers. At the request of Judge H. S.

Peck the House resolved itself into a committee of the whole and the

Senate came in. The Northfield Cadets, the Burlington High School and

several hundred visitors attended the hearing and gave close attention

to Mrs. Parmelee for an hour. A large number of members spoke for and

against the bill. An anti-suffrage newspaper in referring to it said:

"Its killing will make a Roman holiday for ladies' week." It was

refused a third reading by 113 to 111. A bill permitting women to vote

on the liquor question aroused the stormiest debate of the session and

the Speaker split his desk trying to preserve order. It was definitely

settled that the Legislature would pass no woman suffrage bills.

1912. The legislative committee was Mrs. Frances Rastall, Miss Fanny

B. Fletcher, Mrs. J. B. Estee and Mrs. Parmelee and the bill was to

add the words "and female" in the statutes. On October 24 at a hearing

held in Representatives Hall, which was filled to overflowing, the

following made addresses in favor: Miss Anne Rhodes of New York; Mrs.

Agnes M. Jenks of New Hampshire; Miss Mabel Foster of Washington, D.

C.; Mrs. Rastall, Mrs. Charles Van Patten, Mrs. Parmelee, Senators

Darling, Jose, and the Rev. Clifford Smith, superintendent of the

State Anti-Saloon League. Those speaking in opposition were: Mrs. E.

D. Brooks Brown, who presented an "anti" petition; Miss Minnie

Bronson, secretary of the National Anti-Suffrage Association; Mrs. M.

H. Buckham, Mrs. George W. Wales, Miss Lillian Peck, Mrs. T. J.

Deavitt and Senator D. C. Hawley. It was defeated as usual. A bill

which gave women the same right as men to vote in town meetings on all

matters relating to taxation and the raising and appropriation of

money passed the Senate but was not considered by the House.

1915. Mrs. Amanda Seaver served as the "watchman on the tower," her

husband being a member of the Legislature, and she was assisted by

Mrs. Wyman and Mrs. Taylor. A public hearing on the bill for Municipal

and Presidential suffrage was held January 21. A large audience in

Representatives Hall listened to a convincing address by Mrs.

Antoinette Funk of Chicago, a member of the Congressional Committee of

the National Association. Mrs. Wyman closed the hearing with an

effective speech. Opportunity was given for the opponents but although

a large delegation of them from Burlington was present, no one spoke.

Mrs. George of Massachusetts and John A. Matthews, a member of the New

Jersey Legislature, were the anti-suffrage speakers February 2 at a

largely attended Senate hearing. The vote in the Senate was 19 to 19;

in the House the bill was loaded with amendments and a third reading

was refused by 129 to 100.

1917. Dr. Grace Sherwood was legislative chairman. Six bills giving

various kinds of suffrage to women were introduced and every trick

that legal minds could devise was employed to retard or defeat their

passage but nevertheless one was passed, which was introduced by

Representative Ernest E. Moore. It provided that "a female citizen, 21

years of age, who has taken the Freeman's Oath ... and whose taxes

were paid prior to the 15th day of February preceding town meeting,

shall while residing in such town be a voter in town meeting."

Hearings were held February 6, 15, 16 and March 17, 20. There were 28

speakers in favor, 9 of them women; 21 opposed, 9 of them women. The

Speaker, Stanley G. Allson, instead of asking the usual question

"Shall the bill pass?" put the question "Shall the bill be rejected?"

Several members were caught by the trick and voted the opposite of

what they intended but four changed their votes--Hardy of Guildhall,

Hayden of Barton, Hooper of Hardwick and Bliss of Georgia, just enough

to carry it. It passed the House March 9 by 104 to 100, and the Senate

March 20 by 16 to 11. It was signed by Governor Horace F. Graham March

30. Vermont thus had the honor of leading all eastern States in

adopting a Town and Municipal suffrage bill permitting tax paying

women to vote and hold office.

1919. Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, its recording secretary, was sent by the

National Association to assist the State Executive Board during the

legislative session. A bill introduced by Senator Carr of Caledonia to

repeal the Municipal suffrage act was promptly defeated. Effort was

now concentrated on the Presidential suffrage bill, which was

introduced January 14. The Senate passed it by a vote of 20 to 10 and

sent it to the House, where it was first read on January 28 and

referred to the Committee on Suffrage and Elections, which reported in

favor. The bill was read the second time and several motions to defeat

it were made by Representative Hopkins of Burlington but all were lost

and the third reading was ordered by a vote of 129 ayes, 83 noes. At a

hearing February 4 the following spoke in favor: Dr. Sherwood, Mrs.

Fred Blanchard, Mrs. Joanna Croft Read, Senators Steele, Vilas and M.

J. Hapgood; in opposition, Senators Carr and Felton, Miss Margaret

Emerson, Mrs. Wayne Read, Mrs. H. C. Humphrey, David Conant,

Representatives O'Dowd, Cudworth and Hopkins. On February 5 the bill

passed by 120 ayes, 90 noes. Governor Percival W. Clement vetoed it in

March on the ground of unconstitutionality, though eight Legislatures

had passed a similar bill without question and Illinois women had

voted under one in 1916.

The State suffrage convention was in session at Burlington and

immediately on its adjournment March 12 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the

national president, and fifteen of the delegates went to Montpelier,

where Mrs. Catt addressed the Legislature. The Senate reconsidered the

bill and passed it over the veto. On March 17 the Speaker laid before

the House an extended communication from Governor Clements giving in

detail his reasons for failing to approve the bill. It was then read

and Representative Tracy moved that it be made a special order for the

following Thursday, which was agreed to by 104 ayes, 70 noes. At that

time the question, "Will the House pass the bill notwithstanding the

objections of the Governor?" was decided in the negative by 168 noes,

48 ayes. The next year the women were fully enfranchised by the

Federal Amendment.

FOOTNOTES:

[185] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Annette W.

Parmelee, State Superintendent of Press, State Secretary and State

Historian for the Vermont Woman Suffrage Association.

[186] Among those who addressed the annual conventions during the

years were the Reverends A. M. Smith, J. A. Dixon, F. E. Adams, Verdi

Mack, J. Borden Estee, George B. Lamson, T. L. Massock, E. T.

Matthison, E. M. H. Abbott, C. J. Staples, O. M. Owen, Eugene Haines,

M. T. Merrill, Charles A. Pennoyer; Hon. James F. Hooker, Dr. M. V. B.

Knox, Attorney E. B. Flynn, Colonel G. C. Childs, Professor Cox,

Martin Vilas, Mr. Woolson and F. G. Fleetwood; Mesdames Canfield,

Kidder, Flanders, Julia A. Pierce, C. J. Clark, M. V. B. Knox, Louisa

M. Slocum, Inez Campbell, Mary E. Tucker, Laura Kezer, G. E. Davidson,

M. S. Margum, E. B. Lund, Juliette Rublee, Amanda Seaver, Frances

Rastall Wyman, Frances Hand, Elizabeth Van Patten, L. M. Benedict, O.

C. Ashton, Edgar Moore, H. B. Shaw, Dr. Sue H. Howard; Misses Mary E.

Purple, Grace Robinson, Margaret Allen, Fanny Fletcher, Emilia

Houghton, Eliza Eaton, Carolyn Scott.

[187] This year Miss Lou J. C. Daniels, a liberal contributor to the

suffrage association, her family the largest taxpayers in Grafton,

where they had a summer home, was indignant to learn that the

Representative of her district had voted against the suffrage bill in

the Legislature. She sent a written protest and refusal to pay her

taxes, whereupon an official served papers on her and several shares

of stock in the Bellows Falls National Bank were attached and sold at

auction. The bank declared it illegal and declined to honor the sale.

The matter aroused discussion throughout the State and surrounding

country. When the town elected a Representative who supported woman

suffrage she considered the lesson sufficient and paid her taxes.

[188] Governor Clement retired from office Dec. 31, 1920, and was

succeeded by Governor James Hartness. The Legislature met in regular

session in January, 1921. The resolution to ratify the Federal

Suffrage Amendment was read in the House for the third time on January

28 and passed by 202 ayes, 3 noes, French, Stowell and Peake of

Bristol. On February 8 it passed the Senate unanimously.

[189] Presidents of the State association from 1900 to 1920 not

already mentioned were Elizabeth Colley; C. D. Spencer; the Rev. A. M.

Smith; Mrs. A. D. Chandler; the Hon. James Hutchinson; Mrs. Frances

Rastall Wyman; Dr. Grace Sherwood. Secretaries: Miss Laura Moore

(1883-1905); Mrs. Fatima Davidson; the Rev. Verdi Mack; the Rev. Mary

T. Whitney; Mrs. Annette W. Parmelee; Mrs. Jeannette Pease; Mrs. Annie

C. Taylor; Miss Emilia Houghton; Mrs. Amanda Seaver; Miss Marguerite

Allen; Miss Ann Batchelder; Mrs. James A. Merrill.

CHAPTER XLV.

VIRGINIA.[190]

The earliest record of woman suffrage in Virginia bears the name of

Mrs. Hannah Lee Corbin of Gloucester county, whose protest in 1778

against taxation without representation was answered by a letter from

her brother, Richard Henry Lee ("Lighthorse Harry"), who wrote that in

his opinion under the clause in the constitution which gave the vote

to householders she could exercise the suffrage.

There had been a suffrage organization in Virginia in 1893, of which

Mrs. Orra Langhorne, a pioneer worker, had been president. When the

State Equal Suffrage League was organized, Miss Laura Clay of Kentucky

gave to it a trust fund of $2.50 which had been left in the treasury

and Mrs. Langhorne had requested her to give to a Virginia League when

one should be formed. In November, 1909, a preliminary meeting was

held to discuss organization, followed a week later by the forming of

the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia. Lila Meade (Mrs. B. B.)

Valentine, widely known for her public work, was elected president and

served in this capacity for the next eleven years. State and city

headquarters were opened in Richmond and remained there. Miss Mary

Johnston was greatly interested and used her influence in promoting

the new organization. Miss Ellen Glasgow also was very active. The

league was organized to work for suffrage by both State and Federal

action and early in its existence circulated a petition to Congress

for a Federal Amendment. In 1910 this was presented to the Virginia

members by Mrs. Valentine and the State delegates attending the

national suffrage convention.

In January, 1911, the first public meeting ever held in Richmond in

the interest of woman suffrage was addressed by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw,

president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, with

Dr. Lyon G. Tyler, president of William and Mary College, in the

chair. The first State convention was held this year in Richmond with

delegates present from Norfolk, Lynchburg, Williamsburg and Highland

Springs societies, and individual suffragists from Fredericksburg and

Charlottesville. In 1912 the convention was held in Norfolk with

delegates from twenty-two leagues. In 1913 it met in Lynchburg and the

reports showed that 2,500 new members had been added and Mrs.

Valentine had made 100 public speeches.

An outdoor demonstration was held in Richmond on the steps of the

State Capitol, May 2, 1914, in conformity with the nation-wide request

of the National Association, and the celebration was continued in the

evening. The convention was held in Roanoke, where it was reported

that forty-five counties had been organized in political units and

that the _Virginia Suffrage News_, a monthly paper, was being

published at State headquarters under the management of Mrs. Alice

Overbey Taylor.

In 1915 street meetings were inaugurated and held in Richmond from May

till Thanksgiving, and in Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth, Lynchburg

and Warrenton. For the first time women appeared on the same platform

with the candidates for the Legislature and presented the claims of

the women of Virginia to become a part of the electorate. The May Day

celebration was held on the south portico of the Capitol on the

afternoon of May 1, after a morning devoted to selling from street

booths copies of the _Woman's Journal_, suffrage flags, buttons and

postcards. A band played and the decorations and banners in yellow and

blue, the suffrage and Virginia colors, made a beautiful picture. John

S. Munce of Richmond introduced the speakers, Dr. E. N. Calisch, Rabbi

of Beth Ahaba Temple; Miss Joy Montgomery Higgins of Nebraska and Miss

Mabel Vernon of Washington, D. C. In December the convention was held

in Richmond and the two hundred delegates marched to the office of the

Governor, Henry Carter Stuart, to request him to embody in his message

to the General Assembly a recommendation that it submit to the voters

an equal suffrage amendment to the State constitution. They were led

by Mrs. Valentine and brief addresses were made by Mrs. Stephen

Putney of Wytheville, Mrs. Lloyd Byars of Bristol, Mrs. John H.

Lewis of Lynchburg, Miss Lucy Randolph Mason of Richmond,

great-great-granddaughter of George Mason, author of the Virginia Bill

of Rights; Miss Agnes Randolph, great-great-granddaughter of Thomas

Jefferson, founder of the University of Virginia; Miss Mary Johnston,

Mrs. Sally Nelson Robins of Richmond, author; Miss Elizabeth Cooke of

Norfolk, Miss Janetta FitzHugh of Fredericksburg, Mrs. Kate Langley

Bosher of Richmond, author; Miss Roberta Wellford of University; Mrs.

George Barksdale, Miss Marianne Meade and Miss Adele Clark of

Richmond. He received them courteously but not seriously and paid no

attention to their request. During the year organization of the State

into legislative and congressional districts was begun. Norfolk was

the place of the annual convention in 1916 when 111 leagues were

reported. This was a legislative year and all efforts were

concentrated on the Assembly.[191]

From January 29 to February 2, 1917, a very successful suffrage school

was conducted in Richmond under the auspices of the National

Association. Later when the services of this association were offered

to the Government for war work the league dedicated itself to State

and country and endeavored to carry out the plans of the National

Board. The president, Mrs. Valentine, was the first person in the

State, on request of the Governor, to speak in the recruiting campaign

and other members also took part in it. At the annual convention held

in Richmond in November a resolution not only again endorsing the

Federal Suffrage Amendment but pledging members to work for it was

unanimously adopted. Virginia sent the largest delegation in her

history to the national convention in Washington in December and it

was upon the advice of the returning delegates that emphasis was laid

upon enrollment of those who desired woman suffrage. Because of the

influenza epidemic no State convention was held in 1918.

The enrollment of 32,000 men and women was accomplished in 1919, Mrs.

Faith W. Morgan, a vice-president of the association, securing the

largest number of names and Miss Ellen Robinson being the first person

to fill her quota. The submission by Congress of the Federal Suffrage

Amendment in June of this year gave great impetus to the work. In

November the annual convention was held in Richmond, with

representatives from all parts of the State. At this time there were

175 suffrage centers. The members reaffirmed with enthusiasm their

determination to carry on the fight for ratification. An important

feature of the year had been the endorsement of the amendment by the

State Teachers' Association, the State Federation of Women's Clubs and

the Women's Benevolent Association of the Maccabees.[192]

On Sept. 9, 10, 1920, the State league met in convention in the hall

of the House of Delegates in the Capitol for the joint purpose of

celebrating the proclamation of the Federal Suffrage Amendment and

planning for the organization of a League of Women Voters. It was an

occasion never to be forgotten, with a welcome extended by Governor

Westmoreland Davis, speeches by Attorney General John R. Saunders,

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Harris Hart and members of

the Legislature who had made the fight for ratification. Mrs. Maud

Wood Park, president of the National League of Women Voters, gave an

inspiring address and extensive plans for future work were made. A

reception was given by the wife of the Governor assisted by the

officers of the league. On November 10, in the Senate chamber, the

State League of Women Voters was organized with Mrs. Valentine

honorary chairman; Mrs. John H. Lewis honorary vice-chairman and Miss

Adele Clark chairman.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. For improved conditions for women in industry,

child labor laws and all welfare legislation before the General

Assembly in the past ten years individual members of the league have

labored assiduously. The league as an organization, however, has

confined itself to work for suffrage, knowing that the vote gained

"all things else would be added."

1900. When the constitutional convention met to draft the present

State constitution, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the

National American Woman Suffrage Association, and a small group of

Virginia and other southern women appeared before it and Mrs. Catt

urged it to embody woman suffrage in the new constitution but this was

not done.

1912. The first resolution proposing an amendment to the State

constitution enfranchising women was introduced in the House by Hill

Montague of Richmond and the hearing granted by the committee created

statewide interest. The speakers were Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. Lewis, Miss

Johnston, Mrs. Bosher, Miss Randolph, Clayton Torrence and Howard T.

Colvin of the State Federation of Labor, later Assistant U. S.

Commissioner of Labor. The vote in the House was 12 ayes, 84 noes.

1914. The resolution for a State amendment was again introduced in the

House and a hearing granted by the Committee on Privileges and

Elections. Mrs. Valentine presided and introduced the following

speakers: Mrs. Desha Breckinridge of Kentucky; Mrs. Kate Waller

Barrett of Alexandria, State regent of the D. A. R.; Mrs. Putney, Mrs.

Lewis, Mrs. Barksdale of Richmond, Miss Mason, Miss Lillie Barbour,

State factory inspector, and Mr. Colvin. The vote was 13 ayes, 74

noes.

1916. The resolution for a State amendment had its first public

hearing before a joint committee of the House and Senate. The speakers

were Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. J. H. Whitner of Roanoke, a vice-president

of the State League; Miss Eudora Ramsey and Miss Adele Clark of

Richmond; the Rev. John J. Wicker, pastor of Leigh Street Baptist

Church, Richmond, and E. F. Sheffey of Lynchburg. The House vote, 40

ayes, 51 noes, marked the third defeat but an increase in suffrage

sentiment.

1918. The Legislative Committee consisted of Mrs. Valentine, Miss

Wellford, Mrs. Frank L. Jobson, Miss Clark, Miss Nora Houston and

Mrs. Munce, all of Richmond. The Federal Suffrage Amendment having now

passed the Lower House of Congress, a resolution urging the U. S.

Senate to take favorable action on the Federal Amendment was

introduced but it did not come out of committee. The Hon. William

Jennings Bryan stopped over trains to pay his respects to Governor

Westmoreland Davis. He was escorted to the Capitol by members of the

Equal Suffrage League and made a brief address to the Assembly in

joint recess, urging ratification of the Federal Amendment if

submitted in time for action at this session.[193]

RATIFICATION. The Legislature assembled August 13, 1919, in special

session for the purpose of meeting the federal appropriation for good

roads. The Federal Suffrage Amendment having been submitted to the

Legislatures for ratification on June 4 was due to be presented by the

Governor. As the special session had been called specifically for good

roads, the State Equal Suffrage League intended to await the regular

session of 1920 to press for action but to test the legislators a

questionnaire was sent to them. Answers proved that it would be

well-nigh impossible to obtain ratification at this time, even though

substantial petitions from all sections of the State were shown to men

representing the localities from which these came. Spurred on,

however, by efforts of the National Woman's Party to secure action at

any cost, the opponents succeeded in having a Rejection Resolution

railroaded through the House without debate ten minutes before

adjournment in the second week of the session. The Senate refused to

sanction such tactics and by 19 to 15 voted to postpone action until

the next session.

1920. The State league's committee on ratification was composed of

Mrs. Valentine, Miss Clark, Mrs. Bosher, Mrs. Jobson, Miss Houston and

Miss Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon.[194] Miss Josephine Miller, an organizer

for the National Association, was sent into the State toward the end

of the campaign. There were in the two Houses 61 new members who had

been elected since the Federal Amendment was submitted. Very strong

pressure to ratify was made upon the General Assembly. President

Wilson sent an earnest appeal and others came from Homer Cummings,

chairman of the National Democratic Committee; A. Mitchell Palmer, U.

S. Attorney General; Carter Glass, U. S. Treasurer; U. S.

Representative C. C. Carlin and other prominent Democrats. Thousands

of telegrams were sent from women throughout the southern States. A

cablegram came from Lady Astor, M. P. of Great Britain, a Virginian.

Urgent requests for ratification were made by presidents of colleges,

mayors of cities, State and county officials and other eminent

citizens.

Before the Governor had even sent the certified copy of the amendment

to the Legislature its strongest opponent, Senator Leedy, also an

opponent of the administration at Washington, introduced a Rejection

Resolution couched in the same obnoxious terms he had used in August.

By urgent advice of the leaders he finally omitted some of its most

offensive adjectives. It was presented in the House by Representative

Ozlin and referred to the Federal Relations Committee, which granted a

hearing. On the preceding evening Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president

of the National Suffrage Association, addressed a mass meeting held by

the Equal Suffrage League in the Jefferson Hotel. The hearing was held

before a joint session of the Senate and House in the Hall of

Delegates at noon on January 21. Some of Virginia's foremost citizens

spoke for ratification, among them Allan Jones, member of the State

Democratic Committee; Roswell Page, State auditor and a brother of the

Hon. Thomas Nelson Page; U. S. Representatives Thomas Lomax Hunter and

Howard Cecil Gilmer; J. B. Saul, chairman of the Roanoke County

Democratic Committee; former Senator Keezel; Dr. Lyon G. Tyler. The

women speakers were Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Valentine, president, and Mrs.

John H. Lewis, vice-president of the State Suffrage League, and Mrs.

Kate Waller Barrett.[195]

Notwithstanding this very able presentation the Federal Relations

Committee reported the Rejection Resolution favorably. On the floor

Lindsay Gordon of Louisa county substituted a Ratification Resolution

and Harry Rew of Accomac a substitute to refer ratification to the

voters. The latter carried on January 27 by a vote of 55 to 39,

supported by Representatives Gordon, Willis of Roanoke, Williams of

Fairfax, Hunter of Stafford, Rodgers, J. W. Story, Wilcox of Richmond,

Snead of Chesterfield and H. W. Anderson, Republican floor leader.

The battle front now shifted to the Senate, where, owing to illness of

the chief suffrage proponent, G. Walter Mapp, consideration had been

postponed. On February 6, the day finally set, proceedings were

similar to those in the House, Senator E. Lee Trinkle's ratification

resolution and Senator Gravatt's referendum being respectively

substituted for Leedy's rejection. The referendum, under Leedy's

coercive method, was voted down. All day the contest raged on the

ratification resolution, with strong speeches in favor by Senators

Trinkle of Wythe, Corbitt of Portsmouth, Paul of Rockingham, Layman of

Craig, West of Nansemond, Parsons of Grayson. Supporting the measure

by vote were also Senators Crockett, Haslinger and Profitt; and

pairing in favor Pendleton and Gravatt. The Ratifying Resolution was

defeated. The Rejection Resolution was adopted by 24 to 10 votes; in

the House by 16 to 22.

One week later the resolution of Senator J. E. West to submit to the

voters a woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution passed the

Senate by 28 ayes, 11 noes; the House by 67 ayes, 10 noes; as it would

have to pass the Legislature of 1921 and ratification of the Federal

Amendment was almost completed, this vote was merely an empty

compliment. A few days thereafter the Qualifications Bill, offered by

Senator Mapp, was overwhelmingly adopted, Senate, 30 ayes, 6 noes;

House, 64 ayes, 17 noes. It made full provisions for the voting of

women if the Federal Amendment should be ratified.

FOOTNOTES:

[190] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Edith Clark

Cowles, Executive and Press Secretary; Miss Adele Clark, Legislative

Chairman, and Miss Ida Mae Thompson, Headquarters Secretary of the

State Equal Suffrage League.

[191] From year to year delegates from the Equal Suffrage League went

to the State political conventions, asking for an endorsement of woman

suffrage. The Republicans, the minority party, always received them

courteously and a few times put the plank in their platform. The

Democrats always treated them with discourtesy and never endorsed

woman suffrage in any way until 1920, when they "commended the action

of the General Assembly in passing the Qualifications Bill contingent

upon the ratification and proclamation of the 19th Amendment."

[192] There were very few changes in officers during the eleven years

of the league's existence. The list was as follows: Honorary

vice-presidents, Miss Mary Johnston, Miss Ellen Glasgow.

Vice-presidents: Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett, Mrs. Louise Collier

Willcox, Mrs. C. V. Meredith, Mrs. T. Todd Dabney, Mrs. W. J. Adams,

Mrs. John H. Lewis, Miss Nannie Davis, Mrs. Stephen Putney, Mrs. Kate

Langley Bosher, Mrs. J. Allen Watts, Mrs. W. T. Yancey, Mrs. C. E.

Townsend, Mrs. W. W. King, Mrs. J. H. Whitner, Mrs Faith W. Morgan,

Mrs. Robert Barton; secretaries, Mrs. Alice M. Tyler, Miss Adele

Clark, Mrs. Grace H. Smithdeal, Miss Roberta Wellford, Miss Lucinda

Lee Terry; treasurers: Mrs. C. P. Cadot, Mrs. E. G. Kidd; auditors:

Mrs. John S. Munce, Mrs. Henry Aylett Sampson, Mrs. S. M. Block.

[193] By act of the General Assembly of 1918 women were admitted to

William and Mary College. They were admitted to the graduate and

professional schools of the University of Virginia by act of the Board

of Visitors in 1920.

[194] Miss Pidgeon was appointed by the National Association in

November, 1919, for organization to prepare for ratification of the

Federal Suffrage Amendment. After its defeat the next February she

continued until June 15, organizing citizenship schools throughout the

State. The expense to the association was $1,792.

[195] The next day, after Mrs. Catt had returned to New York, Harry

St. George Tucker appeared before the Legislature and ridiculed her

and her speech in the most insulting terms. In 1921 Mr. Tucker was a

candidate for Governor and was defeated at the primaries by Senator E.

Lee Trinkle, whose plurality was 40,000. He had been a strong

supporter of woman suffrage and his victory was attributed to the

women.

CHAPTER XLVI.

WASHINGTON.[196]

The period from 1900 to 1906 was one of inactivity in State suffrage

circles; then followed a vigorous continued campaign culminating in

the adoption of a constitutional amendment in 1910 granting to women

full political equality. This victory, so gratifying to the women of

Washington, had also an important national aspect, as it marked the

end of the dreary period of fourteen years following the Utah and

Idaho amendments in 1895-6, during which no State achieved woman

suffrage.

The Legislature of 1897 had submitted an amendment for which a

brilliant campaign was made by the Equal Suffrage Association under

the able leadership of its president, Mrs. Homer M. Hill of Seattle,

but it was defeated at the November election of 1898. The inevitable

reaction followed for some years. Three State presidents were elected,

Dr. Nina Jolidon Croake of Tacoma, 1900-1902, elected at the Seattle

convention; Dr. Luema Greene Johnson of Tacoma, 1902-1904, elected at

the Tacoma convention; Dr. Fannie Leake Cummings of Seattle,

1904-1906, elected at a meeting in Puyallup at which only five persons

were present, the small suffrage club here being the only one

surviving in the State. Dr. Cummings, aided by Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer

Spinning of Puyallup, State treasurer for many years, and Mrs. Ellen

S. Leckenby of Seattle, State secretary, kept the suffrage torch from

being extinguished. Mrs. Leckenby held office continuously throughout

twelve years.

The revival of interest plainly seen after 1906 was due to the impetus

given through the initiative of Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe, who with her

husband, John Henry DeVoe, had recently come from Harvey, Ills., and

established a new home. Mrs. DeVoe was a life-long suffrage worker

who had served many years in many States with Susan B. Anthony and

also was a national organizer. She began by calling on individual

suffragists and suggesting that Washington was a hopeful State for a

campaign and aroused so much interest that in November a large and

enthusiastic convention met at Seattle. Dr. Cummings presided and

inspiring addresses were given by A. W. McIntyre of Everett, formerly

Governor of Colorado; Miss Ida Agnes Baker of the Bellingham State

Normal School; Miss Adella M. Parker of the Seattle Broadway High

School and Professor J. Allen Smith of the University of Washington.

Mrs. DeVoe was elected president.

Conventions were held at Seattle in 1907, 1908 and 1909, Mrs. DeVoe

being re-elected each time. By June, 1909, there were 2,000 paid

members of the State association and afterwards, many thousands of men

and women were enrolled. The executive committee decided upon a

campaign to amend the State constitution for woman suffrage and Mrs.

DeVoe was made manager and given authority to conduct it according to

her own judgment. No other convention or executive committee meeting

was held, only frequent informal conferences, until after the vote was

taken on November 8, 1910. The final executive committee meeting was

held at Seattle in January, 1911, when it was voted to continue the

association until all bills were paid and then disband. It was decided

to present the large silken banner "Votes for Women" to the next State

having a campaign and it went to California the following year. The

unfinished business was completed by the old officers, Mrs. DeVoe,

Mrs. Leckenby and Dr. Eaton.[197]