nything but the "bugaboo" politicians had tried to show that it
would be and in some instances it was a contributing factor to good
government. In Nashville they registered about 2,500 and voted almost
their full quota. They organized under the direction of the suffrage
association, had their own city and ward chairmen and worked with an
intelligence, loyalty and dignity that made new friends for their race
and for woman suffrage. There was not a single adverse criticism of
them from any ward. They kept faith with the white women even when
some of their men sold out the night before election to a notorious
political rounder. They proved that they were trying to keep step with
the march of progress and with a little patience, trust and vision the
universal tie of motherhood and sisterhood can and will overcome the
prejudice against them as voters.

An immense amount of work was done by Tennessee women for the Federal
Suffrage Amendment. After interviewing their members of Congress and
using every possible influence on them in their home districts,
hundreds of letters and telegrams were sent to them in Washington
whenever they were to vote on it from 1915 to 1919. Mrs. Dudley, as a
member of the national board, spent months in Washington and was sent
to various southern States where skilled work was necessary. There was
a gradually increasing vote in favor by Tennessee members until when
the last one was taken in June, 1919, only three Representatives,
Moon, Hull and Garrett, voted against it. Senator Shields voted in
opposition and Senator McKellar in favor.

* * * * *

[With this chapter was sent a complete history of the woman suffrage
movement in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and smaller
cities, which accounts for the phenomenally rapid advance in
Tennessee. Unfortunately these chapters can give space only to the
general work of the State associations.]

TENNESSEE. PART II[169]

Tennessee's pioneer period was from 1885-1911, for during those years
the educational and organization work carried on by a few intrepid
women was as difficult as was the same work in other parts of the
United States thirty or more years before that time. Woman suffrage
was in the stage of ridicule and abuse and with a few exceptions the
press of the State was opposed and lost no opportunity to disparage
it.

The State Equal Suffrage Association was reorganized in Memphis in
1906 and there