"CLAIM RATIFICATION OF 19TH AMENDMENT WAS NEVER COMPLETED"

TENNESSEANS TRY TO BLOCK WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the evening of September 13, 1920, New York's "Evening World" reported in a front-page story that a Tennessee delegation was on its way from Nashville to the Nation's Capital to persuade Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby to rescind his recent ratification proclamation of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution giving women the vote.

The delegation, headed by Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Seth W. Walker, planned to "assert that ratification was never completed in the first instance."  If this tactic did not succeed, the delegates, joined by other "Antis" in the Washington area, would take their case to the courts in hopes of blocking voting by women in the November 1920 election.

SOURCE

"Tennesseeans Try To Block Suffrage," The Evening World, New York City, September 13, 1920, www.loc.gov/

 

The Evening World

May 12, 1917

Library of Congress Image

"AUGUST 26TH WILL BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE GREAT DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF WOMEN"

SECRETARY OF STATE SIGNS PROCLAMATION GRANTING WOMEN RIGHT TO VOTE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) At 8 p.m. Eastern time, August 26, 1920, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the proclamation granting women of the United States the right to vote.

The Secretary signed the proclamation, legalizing the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, at his home "with a single steel pen."*

President Woodrow Wilson said...

"August 26th will be remembered as one of the great days in the history of the women of the world and the history of this republic."

The movement to achieve passage of the Susan B. Anthony (19th) Amendment began in Seneca Falls, New York in July 1848 where the "Declaration of Sentiments" was signed. 

In 1972, President Richard Nixon, by Proclamation 4147, designated August 26 as Women's Rights Day.  The date was designated by Congress in 1973 & is proclaimed annually by the POTUS.  

*The Proclamation reads...

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote should not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." 

SOURCE

"August 26, 1920," by David Dismore, Turning Point, Suffragist Memorial, www.suffragistmemorial.org/

 

 19th Amendment (1920)

by Clerk of the House

NARA Image 

"TENNESSEE CAN LEGALLY VOTE ON SUFFRAGE"

TENNESSEE GOVERNOR MAY CALL SPECIAL SESSION TO VOTE ON SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 24, 1920, The Evening World of New York City published a front-page article titled "Tennessee Can Legally Vote on Suffrage." 

The article states that Acting Attorney General William L. Frierson* informed Tennessee Governor Albert H. Roberts** that he "could legally call a special session of the State Legislature to act on the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment."  The AG acted on behalf of President Woodrow Wilson.

The information provided by Mr. Frierson was necessary because the Tennessee Constitution provided a legislature ratifying a federal amendment must be elected after passage of said amendment.  This provision, however, was nullified in a recent decision of the United States Supreme Court.

*William Little Frierson (1868-1953) was born in Shelbyville, TN & graduated from SW Prebyterian University.  He practiced law before serving as mayor of Chattanooga, TN & U.S. Solicitor General.  WLF was president of the TN Bar Association 1920-1923.

**Albert Houston Roberts (1868-1946) was born in Overton County, TN & educated at Hiwassee College.  AHR, Governor of Tennessee 1919-1921, was instrumental in securing his state's ratification of the 19th Amendment.

SOURCE

"Tennessee Can Legally Vote on Suffrage," The Evening World, New York, N.Y., Final Edition, June 24, 1920, www.loc.gov/

William L. Frierson

Department of Justice Photo

I REGARD EXTENSION OF SUFFRAGE TO WOMEN AS ESSENTIAL

WILSON FAVORS AMENDMENT GRANTING WOMEN THE VOTE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) A century ago, September 30, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson gave an address to Congress in support of the proposed 19th Amendment* which would guarantee the right to vote nation-wide for women.

The 19th Amendment had been approved by the House of Representatives, but at the time of Wilson's speech had not yet been approved by the Senate.  In his first term, the President had been perceived as ambivalent on the issue of woman suffrage and the White House had been besieged by pickets protesting Wilson's lack of support.  Many suffragettes were arrested and sent to jail.

On September 30, 1918, however, the President's support had been won.  He said to the Members of Congress...

"I regard the concurrence of the Senate in the...extension of suffrage to women as vitally essential....Both of our great national parties are pledged...to equality of suffrage for the women of this country."

*19th Amendment (1920) prohibits states & the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex.

SOURCE

President Woodrow Wilson: Address to the Senate of the 19th Amendment, September 30, 1918, www.public.iastate.edu/

President Wilson Speaks to Congress

Library of Congress Photo

ONE MORE PERSON DOING THE RIGHT THING CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

RIGHT TO VOTE EXTENDED TO 27  MILLION AMERICAN WOMEN

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the thirty-sixth and deciding state to ratify the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.  The United States Constitution requires two-thirds of the states to ratify a proposed amendment before it can become law.  The 19th Amendment* was formally adopted by the proclamation of Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby on August 26, 1920.

With one vote to be cast on August 18, 1920, passage in the Tennessee legislature was deadlocked.  Up stepped one congressman, the youngest in the chamber, 24 year old Harry T. Burn** of East Tennessee.  His single vote enfranchised 27 million American women.

Later, Burn explained the reason for his vote.  He carried a letter he had received before the voting from his mother Febb Burn***.  She had advised him to vote for woman suffrage.  

The letter read as follows...

"Dear Son,

...Hurrah and vote for suffrage and don't keep them in doubt.  I've been watching to see how you stood but have not seen anything yet..don't forget to be a good boy and help.....

With Lots of Love, Mama."

According to the Burns Memorial in downtown Knoxville, the governor called in the National Guard to protect Harry Burns after his vote and a grand jury was convened to "investigate the motive for his last minute change of vote."

Words on one side of the Burns Memorial reads that it stands as a reminder:

"EVERY VOTE COUNTS, EVERY LETTER OR PHONE CALL COUNTS, ONE MORE PERSON DOING THE RIGHT THING CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE."

*19th Amendment (1920) The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.

**Harry T. Burn (1895-1977) was born in Niota, TN & served in the TN House of Representatives 1918-1922 & TN Senate 1948-1952.

***Febb Ensminger Burn (1873-1945) graduated from U.S. Grant University (TN Wesleyan) & became a teacher.  

SOURCES

"Burn Memorial", Suffrage Coalition, www.suffragecoalition.org/

"The Burn Memorial", Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Burn Memorial
Knoxville, Tennessee
Photos by John White 
August 18 2018

WOMAN TO GRACE $10 BILL IN 2020

WOMAN WILL GRACE $10 BILL ON 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ADOPTION OF 19TH AMENDMENT

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Ninety-five years ago today, August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing the right to vote for women became the law of the land as Tennessee's ratification resulted in the necessary two-thirds, or 36 of 48, of the states to approve.  The year 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of that adoption.

According to UPI, one of the leaders, or suffragettes, of the movement to grant women the right to vote nationwide "could land on the upcoming redesign of the $10 bill."

In June 2015, the Treasury Department announced that on the 100th Anniversary of the adoption  of the 19th Amendment, "a historic female will grace the $10."  Currently, the first Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, is depicted on the bill.

UPI speculates that the choice to replace Hamilton could be Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony or Alice Paul.  Others mentioned as possibilities include Harriett Tubman and Eleanor Roosevelt.

The women's suffrage movement can be traced back to the Seneca Falls Convention held in New York state in 1848.

Whether the choice is a suffragette or otherwise, whoever is selected will become "the first female featured on U.S. paper currency in more than 100 years."

SOURCE

"Passing of 19th Amendment 95 years ago could land suffragette on $10 bill," by Danielle Haynes, UPI, August 18, 2015, www.upi.com/

The Woman Suffrage Memorial*

Market Square

Knoxville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2008)

*The Woman Suffrage Memorial was dedicated August 26, 2006 by the Suffrage Coalition.  It was created by Alan LeQuire who is best known for his Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon located in Nashville. The Memorial features three leaders of the woman suffrage movement in Tennessee representing the three major divisions of the state:

Lizzie Crozier French of Knoxville 

Anne Dallas Dudley of Nashville

Elizabeth Avery Meriwether of Memphis 

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON SIGNS JAY'S TREATY 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President George Washington signed a treaty with Great Britain 220 years ago today, August 18, 1795, negotiated by Chief Justice John Jay of New York.

The treaty pledged to establish peaceful trade relationship between Great Britain and the United States as well as settling some leftover issues from the War for Independence.

The treaty was officially called the "Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation between His British Majesty and the United States of America".

Jay's Treaty was opposed by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and their supporters.  They saw closer ties between Britain and the United States as detrimental to republicanism.

Jay's Treaty