d inborn ... but I recognize the fact that it seems inevitable."

The plank in the platform, as it came from the committee, recommended
that the amendment should not be ratified but a State amendment should
be submitted to the voters. A minority report called for the
submission to the convention of the question whether the platform
should contain a plank for ratification. A second minority report was
offered to eliminate all reference to woman suffrage. Never in the
history of the party was there such a fight over the platform. Colonel
A. D. Watts and Cameron Morrison led the opposition to ratification;
W. P. Glidewell and John D. Bellamy the affirmative. Finally F. P.
Hobgood, Jr., one of the earliest champions of woman suffrage, after a
fiery speech, presented the following substitute for all the reports:
"This convention recommends to the Democratic members of the General
Assembly that at the approaching special session they vote in favor of
the ratification of the proposed 19th Amendment to the Federal
Constitution." This was carried by a vote of 585 to 428. Mrs. John S.
Cunningham, former president of the State Equal Suffrage League, was
elected by a large majority as honorary delegate to the Democratic
National convention and Miss Mary O. Graham as delegate. She had
already been made a member of the National Committee.

The attention of the country was focussed on North Carolina. In the
early summer President Wilson telegraphed to Governor Bickett: "I need
not point out to you the critical importance of the action of your
great State in the matter of the suffrage amendment." The Governor
replied in part: "I hope the Tennessee Legislature will meet and
ratify the amendment and thus make immediate action by North Carolina
unnecessary. We have neither the time nor the money and such action on
the part of Tennessee would save this State the feeling of bitterness
that would surely be engendered by debate on the subject that would
come up in the Legislature. I have said all I intend to say on the
subject of ratification. While I will take my medicine I will never
swear that it tastes good, for it doesn't."

Just before the assembling of the Legislature suffrage headquarters
were opened in Raleigh with Miss Gertrude Weil, president of the State
Equal Suffrage League, and Mrs. Palmer Jerman, chairman of its
legislative committee, in charge. Miss Engle and Miss Pidgeon,
national organizers, were also members of the headq