, Mrs. Dudley carrying the State suffrage banner.
Eleven women went to the Democratic national convention in St. Louis,
where they stood bravely in the "golden lane" through which the
delegates marched to the convention. Mrs. Dudley was chosen to address
the Tennessee delegation and it was a proud moment for the women of
the State when they voted solidly for the suffrage plank. In October
farewell banquets to congressmen on the eve of their departure for
Washington, to influence their votes for the Federal Suffrage
Amendment, were given in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis. The State
Federation of Women's Clubs endorsed woman suffrage this year by a
large majority, under the leadership of Mrs. George Fort Milton of
Chattanooga and Mrs. D. T. Kimbrough of Nashville. Other endorsements
were those of the Southern Federation of Labor (unanimous), obtained
through the efforts of Mrs. Walter Jackson of Murfreesboro; the
Tennessee Women's Press and Authors' Club, through Miss Libbie Morrow;
the State conventions of the Beemen, the Nurserymen and the
Horticulturists, at the request of Mrs. Kimbrough.

Mrs. Dudley soon came to be known nationally. She spoke on the Federal
Amendment at the luncheon of four hundred given to the incoming
members at the Congress Hotel in Washington; addressed congressional
committee hearings, and in December she joined the "lobby" at the
national suffrage headquarters in Washington to interview southern
Senators and Representatives. The State convention was held in
Nashville, Jan. 30, 31, 1917. Mrs. Dudley was unanimously re-elected
and served until her election to the board of the National Association
in December. At this convention Mrs. Kenny was elected chairman of
publicity and under her direction special suffrage editions of
newspapers were published in the principal towns and cities and copies
mailed to every voter. The plate matter sent out by the national press
committee was widely distributed.

Mrs. Leslie Warner was elected president in 1918, and at the State
convention held in Nashville in June, 1919, Mrs. George Fort Milton
succeeded her. During her seven years of suffrage activity Mrs. Milton
had rendered valuable service in various official positions. It was
while this convention was in session that the news came of the
submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment by Congress and there was
a demonstration of joy. In the evening a brilliant public banquet took
place at the Tulane Hotel