l political interests. This was true of U. S. Senator McKellar
and Governor Rye.

When the first canvass of the Senate was made the sentiment was about
as follows: For the bill 11; unalterably opposed, 7; uncertain, 15.
The classification "uncertain" was most appropriate, for fifteen more
uncertain men were never encountered. When assured that the measure
could safely be brought to vote it would be discovered that changes
had occurred over night which would mean defeat. The "antis" worked
through a hastily organized local society at Nashville, which was
inspired by Judge John J. Vertrees, a prominent lawyer of that city. A
Charles McLean of Iowa, who had been used by the opponents in other
State suffrage campaigns, made two or three visits to Nashville during
the session. The State suffrage convention in this city a few days
before the bill came to a vote in the Senate was the largest ever held
and many delegates remained for the vote.

The bill was introduced by Senator C. W. Rooks, who with Senator John
C. Houk led the fight for it. It was lost on February 3 by 21 noes, 12
ayes. A motion to reconsider by Senator A. E. Hill carried it over
until the Legislature reconvened on March 7. The generosity of Mrs.
Scott, vice-chairman of the Campaign Committee, who gave $500, enabled
the State association to employ four organizers and the National
Association paid the salaries of three more. New organizations were
formed and remote towns, which had scarcely ever heard of suffrage,
were visited. A telegram from President Wilson urging the Senate to
pass the bill was received at the March session but was not read in
that body until the day after it was defeated.[167] The motion for
reconsideration was laid on the table the first day by 18 ayes, 10
noes.

Incessant work in behalf of the bill was carried on in the districts
of hostile or doubtful Senators from September until January, 1919,
when the Legislature met and the bill for Presidential and Municipal
suffrage was again introduced. It was a hard fight for many weeks made
by Mrs. Warner and her committee, with daily, continuous work at the
Capitol and "back log" work through the State, where she had the
constant help of her board. Mrs. A. G. Buckner, as legislative
chairman, worked unceasingly, as did Mrs. Margaret Ervin Ford, Mrs.
Reno and Miss Matilda Porter, the lobby committee, assisted by Miss
Josephine Miller, a national organizer. Mrs. Dudley came after the
nation