eaking,
not that they had not the courage of their faith but they feared to
violate the conservative traditions of their southland. After seeing
its wonderful effect during the national suffrage convention in
Atlantic City in 1916 a few of the bold-hearted summoned courage and
the first attempt was made in Jackson and Memphis in 1917 by Mrs.
Kimbrough, Mrs. Kenny, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Reno and Miss White. At the
State Fair in Nashville in 1918 the Campaign Committee took charge of
the open air meetings, these women speaking eight or ten times each
day, and they were rewarded by the great number of enrollment cards
signed by those who received the message favorably.

In 1917 the legislative campaign was conducted under the friendly
administration of a Democratic Governor, Tom C. Rye, and under the
direction of Mrs. Dudley, State president, and Mrs. Ezzell,
legislative chairman. Before direct plans had been made, advices came
from the National Association to concentrate on a Presidential and
Municipal suffrage bill similar to that passed in Illinois in 1913.
This was agreed upon and General G. T. Fitzhugh of Memphis drew up the
bill. His services were of great value to suffrage interests because
both as a citizen and a member of the bar he was held in the highest
esteem. From this time until the State Supreme Court decision of 1919
removed the last barrier to this bill he was a valued friend and
adviser, and was associate counsel in the last legal battle on
ratification from the Chancery to the Supreme Court--all without
financial remuneration.

This Presidential and Municipal suffrage bill was one of the first
introduced, sponsored in the House by Speaker Clyde Shropshire and in
the Senate by C. W. Rocks of Humboldt, and its progress was watched
with great interest. Petitions were sent to the members from all parts
of the State. The Memphis and Nashville members were solid for it from
the beginning with one exception--Senator John M. Thompson, a violent
"anti" from Nashville. Both suffragists and "antis" were invited to
speak before the House Judiciary Committee and both accepted, but
after two postponements through courtesy the "antis" did not put in an
appearance and the suffragists alone were heard. General Fitzhugh came
to speak for the bill. There had been much discussion as to its
validity without the insertion of a poll tax clause and it was in
jeopardy. An appeal was made to a friend whose legal advice and
servi