From “Me Too 365,” by Arnold Kunst
18 August
What came to be called the 19th amendment had a long pedigree. It had been proposed in Congress in 1878, and in every Congress after that. Finally, in 1919, it narrowly passed both houses of Congress and was sent to the states to be ratified. After a protracted struggle characterized by much male condescension that a later age would decry as male chauvinist piggery, it all came down to Tennessee where the state legislature was tied 48 to 48. The decision came down to one vote: that of 24-year-old Harry Burn, the youngest state legislator. He had been expected to vote against it, but he had in his pocket a note from his mother, which read: "Dear Son: Hurrah, and vote for suffrage! Don't keep them in doubt. I noticed some of the speeches against. They were bitter. I have been watching to see how you stood, but have not noticed anything yet. Don't forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the 'rat' in ratification. Your Mother." [Mrs. Catt was Carrie Chapman Catt, a patient but formidable woman of vast political sagacity, the head of the National American Women Suffrage Association and soon-to-be founder of the League of Women Voters.] Harry Burn did as his mother asked and voted in favor of the amendment. 27,000,000 women were enfranchised
[Only time would tell whether the dark forebodings lurking below the surface of the following late 19th century cartoons would bear fruit.]
No comments:
Post a Comment