he remained true,
there would have been a tie and the Lieutenant Governor would have
voted in favor.

Meanwhile it was generally understood that Representative W. W. Neal
had been sent to Tennessee for a conference with the opponents in the
Legislature there to arrange for the defeat of ratification by the
House in each State. Speaker Seth Walker of the Tennessee House
telegraphed Speaker Brummitt: "Have the amendment defeated
overwhelmingly in the Lower House. We are proud of our mother State of
North Carolina. God grant that she stand true to her glorious
tradition and history." All kinds of canards were in circulation and
Governor James M. Cox, Democratic candidate for President, had to send
a personal telegram denying that he was opposed to the ratification.
A Rejection League of Women had been formed with Miss Mary Hilliard
Hinton as chairman, which was very active.

August 16 a resolution to reject was introduced in the House by
Representative Grier. After the unexpected action of the Senate
interest abated in the House. The question was taken up on the 19th
and the resolution to ratify was considered first. Representative
Everett led the ratification forces with Representative Gold and
others giving strong support. Representatives Crisp and Dawson led the
opponents. The vote stood 41 ayes, 71 noes. The rejection resolution
was laid on the table.

In her report on ratification Mrs. Jerman made the significant
statement that, although individual men in both parties had stood true
to their pledges as loyal supporters, yet both parties had repudiated
their State platforms, and, therefore, the women were free so far as
any feeling of allegiance to either for what it may have done for
suffrage was concerned.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 1897. The first bill for woman suffrage was
introduced by Senator James L. Hyatt, Republican, of Yancey county.
Referred to Committee on Insane Asylums.

1913. Municipal suffrage bill introduced by David M. Clark of Pitt
county. Tabled. Walter Murphy, Speaker of the House, left his chair to
talk against it.

1915. Constitutional woman suffrage amendment introduced by Senator F.
P. Hobgood, Jr., of Guilford county. Senate vote: 11 for, 37 against.
Introduced in the House by Gallatin Roberts of Buncombe county; 39
for, 68 against.

1917. Bill for Presidential electors, county and city officers,
introduced by Senator H. B. Stevens of Buncombe county; vote, 20 for,
24 against.

State