suffrage association, brought personal influence to bear on the
Governor, Senators and Representatives for a hearing on woman
suffrage. On January 28 Senator Aldrich and Representative Izler
introduced simultaneously two bills, one asking for Presidential
suffrage for taxpaying women; the other for suffrage in Municipal
elections. A hearing was held before a joint session January 31, with
the galleries crowded, where, in Mrs. Young's own words, "I was
received with the usual chivalric attention and asked if I would
ascend to the Speaker's chair. 'By no means. I wish to speak from the
floor,' I answered. This privilege was accorded me and for the first
time a woman spoke in the House of Representatives."

1914. From 1902 there is no record of action on the part of the
General Assembly to grant suffrage to women until Jan. 23, 1914, when
a bill was introduced in the House by Mr. McMillan and referred to the
Judiciary Committee, by which it was unfavorably reported the next day
and rejected without a record vote, after little if any discussion. It
had been introduced in the Senate by Mr. Carlisle on the 15th and
referred to the Judiciary Committee, which reported it without
recommendation February 25, and the next day it was laid on the table
without discussion or a record vote.

1915. Early in the session a resolution was introduced asking for the
submission of a woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution. In
connection an invitation was extended by Speaker James A. Hoyt of
Columbia to Mrs. Valentine, president of the Virginia Suffrage League,
to address the House and she spoke most convincingly. It was said that
if a vote had been taken that night the resolution would have been
adopted. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee, which granted a
hearing. The speakers were the Rev. Kirkman G. Finlay, Professor Lewis
Parke Chamberlayne, Mrs. Coleman, Mrs. Lynch, Miss Eudora Ramsey, Dr.
Gannt and Mrs. Valentine. The resolution was reported out of the
committee unfavorably, with a minority report, and it was thought best
not to push for a vote.

1916. The resolution for an amendment was introduced in the House by
Judge McCullough of Greenville and received a vote of 51 ayes; 61
noes.

1917. The amendment resolution was introduced by Senator J. L. Sherard
and Representative A. E. Horton. After an exciting debate lasting for
three days the Senate bill came to a vote, receiving 25 ayes; 19 noes.
In the House the bi