"HURRAH AND VOTE FOR SUFFRAGE & DON'T KEEP THEM IN DOUBT"

19TH AMENDMENT IS RATIFIED

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th 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.  

With one vote left to be cast, passage in the Tennessee legislature was deadlocked.  Up stepped Harry T. Burn**.  His single vote enfranchised 27 million American women.

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 reads...

"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."



*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.

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

WILSON FAVORS WOMAN SUFFRAGE

WOODROW WILSON SPEAKS IN FAVOR OF VOTE FOR WOMEN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On 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.

President Wilson Speaks to Congress

Library of Congress Photo

In his first term, President Wilson 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.

New York City Suffrage Parade

October 23, 1915

Library of Congress Photo

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."

Mr. Wilson continued...

"We have made partners of the women in the war.   Shall we admit them only a partnership of suffering and sacrifice and toil and not to a partnership of privilege and right?"

Woodrow Wilson  linked woman suffrage to the effort to win World War I.

"The tasks of the women lie at the very heart of the war and I know how much stronger that heart will beat if you do this just thing and show our women that you trust in them as much as you...depend on them."

The President's words apparently fell on deaf ears.  The Senate did not pass the 19th Amendment in 1918 but it finally became the law of the land on August 18, 1920 when the state of TENNESSEE was the 36th and deciding state to ratify.

Tennessee State Capitol

Nashville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2011)

SOURCE

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

TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE

"WORST SINGLE ACT OF VIOLENCE" IN COMMUNIST CHINA'S TIANANMEN SQUARE 25 YEARS AGO TODAY 

Beijing, China (JFK+50) Thousands of pro-democracy student-protesters were killed or arrested 25 years ago today, June 4, 1989, by Red Chinese troops in Tiananmen Square here in Beijing.

Since May 1989, nearly a million young students had been actively protesting against China's communist leaders.  It was estimated that as many as 300 students had died and as many as 10,000 arrested during the protests.

Michael Fathers, who was beaten up during the massacre, says that Chinese troops, armed with AK-47 automatic rifles and transported into the square on armored personnel carriers, began to fire indiscriminately into the crowds of students.

Fathers writes...

"It was a lesson in brute power...the worse single act of violence since the Communists took power."

Three weeks later, the Congress of the United States voted to impose economic sanctions against the People's Republic of China.

SOURCE

"Tiananmen Square 25th anniversary--the massacre as it happened," by Michael Fathers, June 3, 2014, www.independent.co.uk/

        Memorial of 10th Anniversary
        Tiananmen Square Massacre
            Wroclaw, Poland (1999)

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO UK BEGAN 53 YEARS AGO 

London, U.K. (JFK+50) President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy arrived here in London 53 years ago this evening, June 4, 1961, to begin their visit to the United Kingdom.

Air Force One landed at London Airport North at 8:20 p.m. London time after the flight from Vienna.

They were welcomed by Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.

In a short airport speech, President Kennedy said that two of his sisters are married to Englishmen.  

He also said that his attendance at the baptism of Jacqueline Kennedy's sister's* child planned for the following day, would make him a godfather.

*JFK referred to Jackie's sister Princess Lee Radziwill.

Also, in a meeting with the Prime Minister, the topics of Berlin, Laos, and nuclear testing were to be discussed.

             JFK and Harold Macmillan

PATRICIA KENNEDY GRADUATED COLLEGE 69 YEARS AGO TODAY

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (JFK+50) The sixth child of Ambassador Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy, Patricia, graduated from Rosemont College 69 years ago today, June 4, 1945, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

               
                    Patricia Kennedy

Miss Kennedy was 21 years old.

Rosemont College, founded in 1821 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, is located 11 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

                   Rosemont College

CONGRESS PASSED WOMENS SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT 95 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution granting the right to vote to women passed the Congress 95 years ago today, June 4, 1919.

The amendment would then go to the states for ratification.

By the Constitution, two-thirds of the states were required to ratify for the amendment to become law.

On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment effectively making the amendment the law of the land.

              State Capitol Building
               Nashville, Tennessee
          Photo by John White (2011)