by Elaine Weiss
“I have six children!”: Carol Lynn Yellin et al., 100.
“That is the most unfortunate”: “Action Expected on Tuesday,” Harrisburg (PA) Evening News, August 13, 1920.
Senator C. C. Collins, who insisted: Catt and Shuler, 445.
from the private eye: Horace E. Parker to Carrie Catt, Catt Papers, TSLA.
beautiful victory brooch: Van Voris, 158.
“We are waiting”: Emma Wold to Lena Henderson, August 13, 1920, NWPP, LoC.
lifted their skirts: Carol Lynn Yellin et al., 100.
“an absolute fabrication”: “Wilson Wires to Walker,” Nashville Tennessean, August 14, 1920.
“been entertained in negro homes”: Catt to Sen. Chrisenen, January 19, 1920, Catt Papers, NYPL.
based his claim: “Tennessee Senate Ratifies,” New York Times, August 14, 1920.
“This happened in other”: “Senate Action Does Not Worry Antis,” Nashville Banner, August 14, 1920.
Joe Hanover took charge: “Joe Hanover Leads Suffrage Battle,” Chattanooga News, August 14, 1920; “Wilson Wires to Walker for Aid: Both Suffs and Antis Work Hard for Battle,” Nashville Tennessean, August 14, 1920.
Finding those delegates: “House Wishes to Dodge Vote,” Memphis News-Scimitar, August 14, 1920; “Wilson Wires to Walker for Aid: Both Suffs and Antis Work Hard for Battle,” Nashville Tennessean, August 14, 1920; “Suffrage for Women Now Depends on House,” Chattanooga News, August 14, 1920.
Annie Laurie Stahlman: Carol Lynn Yellin et al., 101.
“cajole and coddle”: Harriet Upton’s description of suffragists’ tactics is in Washington Times, August 27, 1920, also quoted in The Woman Patriot, December 4, 1920.
“Automobile rides, hugs, kisses”: “The People Against the Politicians,” The Lookout: A Journal of Southern Society 25 (August 24, 1920), quoted in Anastatia Sims, “Powers That Pray and Powers That Prey: Tennessee and the Fight for Woman Suffrage,” Tennessee Historical Quarterly (Winter 1991): 217.
“baptism in righteousness”: “Harding Asks Press to Lead in Morals,” New York Times, August 14, 1920.
feeling chipper, much improved: “Wilson Stronger,” New York Times, August 20, 1920; “Describes What Wilson Does,” Baltimore Sun, August 20, 1920.
very generous to Tumulty: Gardener’s gifts as well as the tone of her relationship with Tumulty and the Wilsons are described in her correspondence, Papers of Helen Hamilton Gardener, Woman’s Rights Collection, Schlesinger Library, Folders 69–72.
“May I not”: “Wilson Wires to Walker for Aid,” Nashville Tennessean, August 14, 1920.
Tumulty sent a second telegram: Tumulty to Catt, August 13, 1920, Catt Papers, TSLA.
“The message sent”: “Long Suffrage Fight Won,” Washington Herald, August 14, 1920.
“I have the profound”: “Can’t Vote Contrary to His Conviction,” Chattanooga News, August 14, 1920; “Tension Relaxes in Suff Battle,” Nashville Tennessean, August 15, 1920.
“I thank God”: “No Surrender of Convictions,” Nashville Banner, August 14, 1920; “Speaker Lauded From Many States,” Nashville Banner, August 16, 1920.
“This is the teaching”: “The Woman’s Bible” advertisement in Nashville Banner, August 12, 1920.
two dozen men of the cloth: Bucy, 233; “Antis Take Issue Upon Woman’s Bible,” Nashville Tennessean, August 16, 1920; “Clergymen Petition Against Suffrage,” The Woman Patriot, August 21, 1920.
“vulgar, ignorant, insane”: Van Voris, 160; Catt in The Woman Citizen, September 4, 1920.
her phone was being tapped: Catt in The Woman Citizen, September 4, 1920.
opened the door: Upton, Random Recollections, chapter 24, 7.
a civil suit: “Damage Suits and Fist Fights,” Charlotte (NC) Observer, August 15, 1920.
jostled in the Hermitage elevator: Harriet Taylor Upton, “Story of the 36th State,” Ohio Woman’s Suffrage Association Headquarters Bulletin, September 1, 1920.
vile slurs as he walked: Carol Lynn Yellin et al., 103. These incidents do not appear in newspapers but were probably related to Yellin during her interviews with Hanover.
It was a whiskey bottle: Carol Lynn Yellin et al., 102.
thriving industry of bribery: “Both Sides See Victory Loom; Talk of Boodle to Prevent Ratification,” Nashville Tennessean, August 16, 1920. Allegations of such “middlemen” were given in testimony to a Davidson County grand jury investigating corruption in the ratification process later in August.
Harriet Upton learned: Upton, Random Recollections, chapter 24, 5.
“Sorry, Joe, but I’m going”: Hanover related this anecdote to his nephew, Edward M. Kaplan. Kaplan’s letter to the author, February 17, 2015; also in Carol Lynn Yellin et al., 102.
jobs and positions could be offered: See Abby Milton, “Report of the Tennessee League of Women Voters, 1920,” Abby Crawford Milton Papers, TSLA, 10; Bucy, 233; “Tennessee Suffs Raise Fraud Cry,” New York Evening World, August 16, 1920.
“the Prince of Lobbyists”: Editorial, “The Issue,” Nashville Tennessean, August 17, 1920.
“look you in the eye”: “House Seeks to Dodge Vote,” Memphis News-Scimitar, August 14, 1920.
in a searing telegram: John Houk to Will Hays, August 15, 1920, NWPP, LoC.
“I believe one of the most”: “Big Interests in Plot,” Charlotte (NC) Observer, August 16, 1920; “Declare a Strong Lobby is Working in Tennessee,” Harrisburg (PA) Evening News, August 16, 1920.
In retaliation, White threatened: “Both Sides See Victory Loom,” Nashville Tennessean, August 16, 1920.
“Blackmailers!” screamed the Antis: “Miss Rowe Calls Suffragists’ Bluff,” unidentified news clipping (probably Chattanooga Times), Pearson Papers, TSLA.
articulated this theory: “Sees Fight on Suffrage,” Washington Post, August 16, 1920; “Sen. Brandegee’s Hand Seen Here in Suff Battle,” Nashville Tennessean, August 17, 1920.
“Frank Brandegee has no influence”: Abby S. Baker report to A. Paul, handwritten, dated Sunday, August 15, 10 p.m., NWPP, LoC.
things seemed murkier: “Suffrage Issue Undecided,” Charlotte (NC) Observer, August 16, 1920; “Both Sides See Victory Loom,” Nashville Tennessean, August 16, 1920; “Expect House Will Ratify,” Washington Post, August 15, 1920; “Undercurrent of Doubt,” Nashville Banner, August 16, 1920.
he was “reasonably sure”: “Walker Sure of Rejection,” Chattanooga Times, August 16, 1920.
“We now have”: Catt to Mary Gray Peck, August 15, 1920, Catt Papers, LoC. Also in Peck, 335.
Chapter 20: Armageddon
“BEWARE!”: Pearson Papers, TSLA.
had been visited: Catt and Shuler, 447.
began receiving telephone calls: Carol Lynn Yellin et al., 103.
under police protection: Ibid.
Catt was appalled: Catt and Shuler, 447.
their wife was ill: “Big interests in Plot to Defeat Suffrage,” Charlotte (NC) Observer, August 16, 1920.
that one such legislator: Upton, Random Recollections, chapter 24, 6.
“working in relays”: “Five Members Desert Cause,” Chattanooga Times, August 17, 1920.
More bad news: “Five Members from Davidson Desert Cause,” Chattanooga Times, August 17, 1920; Nashville suffragists also tried to embarrass the delegation by publicizing their previous promises to ratify: “Suffragists Believe Davidson Will Hold,” Nashville Tennessean, August 17, 1920.
The same band: “Republicans Refuse to Knife Suffrage, Claim,” Nashville Tennessean, August 17, 1920.
offered to defend: “Rowe Calls Suffragists’ Bluff,” Nashville Banner, August 16, 1920; “Threats of Blackmail Called by Miss Rowe,” Chattanooga Times, August 17, 1920.
When pressed by reporters: “Harding Fears Trouble Brews Over Suffrage,” Chattanooga Times, August 17, 1920; “Ha
rding Men Fear Complications,” New York Times, August 17, 1920.
“I insistently hope”: George White to Gov. Roberts, August 16, 1920, Gov. Albert H. Roberts Papers, TSLA.
“depending upon you”: “Suffrage Vote Taken Today; Cox Final Plea,” Nashville Tennessean, August 17, 1920.
details of their findings: White and Pollitzer to James Cox, August 16, 1920, NWPP, LoC.
the alleged conspiracy: “Suffragists Gain in Tennessee Fight,” New York Times, August 17, 1920.
“Asinine,” a spokesman: “L&N, Suffrage Foe, Cox is Told,” Louisville Courier-Journal, August 17, 1920.
At eight p.m.: Accounts of the committee vote in “Suffrage Vote Will Be Taken Today,” Nashville Tennessean, August 17, 1920; “Resolution Recommended by Committee,” Chattanooga Times, August 17, 1920; Carol Lynn Yellin et al., 103; “Suffragists Gain in Tennessee Fight,” New York Times, August 17, 1920.
“We’ve got ’em”: Robert B. Jones and Mark E. Byrnes, “The ‘Bitterest Fight’: The Tennessee General Assembly and the Nineteenth Amendment,” Tennessee Historical Quarterly 68, no. 3 (Fall 2009): 275, quoting from Knoxville Journal and Tribune, August 17, 1920.
“AN APPEAL TO THE CITIZENS”: Nashville Tennessean, August 17, 1920.
The luncheon hour: Louise Graham, “As a Woman Saw the Tennessee Fight,” New York Times, August 18, 1920.
Brooks read it quickly: “Loyalty is Shown to Suffrage Cause,” Nashville Tennessean, August 18, 1920; “Suffragists Get Special Train for Legislator,” Chattanooga Times, August 18, 1920.
“I cannot pledge myself”: Irwin, The Story of Alice Paul, 473–74.
“Opposition only claiming”: Upton to Harding, August 17, 1920, Catt Papers, TSLA.
“Harding’s letter to Tillman”: Catt to Will Hays, August 17, 1920, Catt Papers, TSLA.
“Wire me any suggestions”: Hays to Catt, August 17, 1920, Catt Papers, TSLA.
The move to adjourn: “Adjournment Manuever of Opposition,” Chattanooga Times, August 18, 1920.
Suddenly a reporter: “Bedlam Breaks Loose,” Chattanooga Times, August 18, 1920.
The vote in Raleigh: “Suffrage Bill is Defeated in North Carolina,” Nashville Tennessean, August 18, 1920; “Tarheel Coup is Waterloo for Suffrage,” Chattanooga Times, August 18, 1920. See also “Anti-Suffragists Seek to Form Alliance,” Charlotte (NC) Observer, August 16, 1920.
Lights burned late: “Final Action Upon Suffrage Probable Today,” Nashville Tennessean, August 19, 1920; Catt and Shuler, 445–6; Upton, Random Recollections, chapter 24, 9.
“we can pray”: Catt and Shuler, 447; Abby Milton, “Report of the Tennessee League of Women Voters, 1920,” 11, Abby Crawford Milton Papers, TSLA.
Chapter 21: The Hour Has Come
with grim resolve: “Suffrage Amendment Adopted by House,” Nashville Tennessean, August 19, 1920; “Many Believe Ratification Now Doomed,” Chattanooga Times, August 18, 1920.
“the mothers of America”: “Cox Is Gratified Over Suffrage,” New York Tribune, August 19, 1920.
Editorial cartoonists were mining: All cartoons in Catt Papers, TSLA.
“We really trusted you”: Irwin, The Story of Alice Paul, 474.
“The Truth about the Negro Problem”: Nashville Tennessean, August 18, 1920.
gaveled the house to order: Accounts of the vote in “Suffrage Amendment Adopted by House,” Nashville Tennessean, August 19, 1920; “Tennessee Now Perfect 36,” Chattanooga News, August 18, 1920; “House Passes Resolution,” Chattanooga Times, August 19, 1920; “Suffrage Forces Victorious in House,” Nashville Banner, August 18, 1920; “Tennessee Solons Ratify Suffrage,” Memphis News-Scimitar, August 18, 1920; “Tennessee Completes Suffrage Victory,” New York Times, August 19, 1920; “Suffrage Ratification Completed,” New York Tribune, August 19, 1920; “Tennessee Ratifies,” Washington Post, August 19, 1920; and “Speaker Walker Changes Vote,” Baltimore Sun, August 19, 1920.
“Go, get another state”: Van Voris, 117.
“No matter how well”: Catt to Kenny, June 29, 1920, Catt Papers, TSLA.
Certain political leaders: Irwin, 473.
heart began to pound: Upton, “Story of the 36th State.”
Chapter 22: Liberty Bell
“slipped into the clerk’s room”: Eyewitness account of Burn’s escape in Louise Davis, “Ladies Had The Last Word,” Nashville Tennessean Magazine, January 18, 1948.
“The fight is not over”: “Suffrage Amendment Adopted by House,” Nashville Tennessean, August 19, 1920.
She could, however: Catt’s “ratification dance” is mentioned in Bucy, “Thrill of History.”
A jubilant Anne Dudley: “Mrs. Dudley is Sure House Will Ratify,” Nashville Tennessean, August 18, 1920; Abby Milton, “Report of the Tennessee League of Women Voters: Containing a Full Account of the Suffrage Ratification Campaign (Tennessee League of Women Voters, 1925),” Abby Crawford Milton Papers, TSLA; “Suffragists All Pleased,” Chattanooga News, August 19, 1920.
A breathless Sue White: Congratulatory telegrams in NWPP, LoC.
Some gave full credit: Congratulations to Catt from Maud Wood Park, August 18, 1920, in Catt Papers, TSLA; to Alice Paul from Rudolph de Zapp, August 18, NWPP, LoC. Congratulations messages can be found in Catt Papers, TSLA; NWPP, LoC; and “Hundreds Wire Congratulations on Suffrage Victory,” Nashville Tennessean, August 20, 1920.
“The civilization of the world”: “Ratification Acclaimed by Party Heads,” Nashville Tennessean, August 18, 1920.
“All along I have”: Ibid.
“Our mothers began it”: “Mrs. Catt Tells of Fight,” Baltimore Sun, August 19, 1920.
Sue White enjoyed: Congratulatory messages in NWPP, LoC.
“The victory of women today”: “Colby to Proclaim Suffrage Promptly,” New York Times, August 19, 1920.
In a series of closed-door meetings: “Suffrage Ratification Completed,” New York Tribune, August 19, 1920; “Will Make Protest Against Ratification,” Nashville Banner, August 19, 1920; “Antis Talking of Sensation to Stir State,” Chattanooga Times, August 19, 1920.
“he’d been bribed”: Accounts and affadavits in “Burn Deserts Cause of Antis,” Chattanooga Times; “Promise More in Burn Case,” Nashville Banner, August 18, 1920; “Bold Attempt to Intimidate Solon Foiled,” Nashville Tennessean, August 19, 1920; “Was Influenced to Change Vote,” Charlotte (NC) News, August 19, 1920; “Proud of Opportunity,” Chattanooga News, August 19, 1920; “Tennessee Delays Fight,” Memphis News-Scimitar, August 19, 1920; “Stories about Bribery,” New York Evening World, August 19, 1920; “Fraud Charges in Tennessee,” New York Times, August 20, 1920.
The first thing: “Mrs. Burn Tells of Son,” Nashville Tennessean, August 23, 1920; “Word from Mother Won for Suffrage,” Nashville Tennessean, August 20, 1920; “Mother of Representative Burn,” Chattanooga News, August 20, 1920; Letter of Phoebe (Febb) Ensminger Burn to Harry Burn, August 17, 1920, in Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, Knox County Library, Knoxville, TN.
thanks for his “splendid fight”: Alice Paul to A. H. Roberts, August 18, 1920, and Women’s Bureau of Democratic National Committee to A. H. Roberts; both telegrams are in Roberts Papers, TSLA.
“The action of Tennessee”: Franklin D. Roosevelt to A. H. Roberts, Roberts Papers, TSLA.
But there were other telegrams: Men of Fayetville to Gov. A. H. Roberts, August 18, 1920, and W. Lamb to A. H. Roberts, August 18, 1920, in Roberts Papers, TSLA; “Resentment in Lincoln County,” Nashville Banner, August 19, 1920.
The Hermitage halls: “Women Watchful,” New York Times, August 19, 1920; Upton, Random Recollections, chapter 24.
Two suffragist legislators: Catt and Shuler, 450.
“get out of the way”: “Promise More in Burn Case,” Nashville Banner, August 19, 1920.
blackmail had been foiled: “Bold Attempt to Intimidate
Solon,” Nashville Tennessean, August 19, 1920.
“I desire to resent”: “Proud of Opportunity to Free Women,” Chattanooga News, August 19, 1920; “Tennessee Delays Fight,” Memphis News-Scimitar, August 19, 1920; “Charges of Fraud in Suffrage Fight,” New York Times, August 20, 1920.
“There never was a finer”: “Candler Says Charges Ridiculous,” Chattanooga News, August 20, 1920.
“Woman was here to-day”: Catt and Shuler, 266; “Anti Insults Burn’s Mother,” Chattanooga News, August 23, 1920.
“You are blessed”: Catt to Mrs. J. L. Burn, August 19, 1920, Harry T. Burn Papers, McClung Collection, Knox County Library, Knoxville, TN.
The band in the Ryman: The most detailed account is in “People Protest Suffrage Action,” Nashville Banner, August 20, 1920; “Claim Enough Votes to Reconsider,” Chattanooga Times, August 20, 1920; “Antis Hold Mass Meeting,” Nashville Tennessean, August 20, 1920.
In a hasty conference: Catt and Shuler, 453; Harriet Taylor Upton, “Story of the 36th State,” Ohio Woman’s Suffrage Association Headquarters Bulletin, September 1, 1920; Upton, Random Recollections, chapter 24. Dodson’s child recovered.
The desk of one delegate: “Antis Ready to Fight,” Chattanooga Times, August 21, 1920; Sims, “Powers That Pray and Powers That Prey,” 219.
Joe Hanover looked haggard: Carol Lynn Yellin et al., 130.
The Suffs had prevailed: “Decisive Action,” Nashville Tennessean, August 21, 1920; “Immortal 49 Stand Like Wall,” Chattanooga News, August 20, 1920; “House Adjourns Till Saturday,” Nashville Banner, August 20, 1920; “Suffs Victorious,” Memphis News-Scimitar, August 20, 1920; Upton, “Story of the 36th State,” 3.