oor leader.

The battle front now shifted to the Senate, where, owing to illness of
the chief suffrage proponent, G. Walter Mapp, consideration had been
postponed. On February 6, the day finally set, proceedings were
similar to those in the House, Senator E. Lee Trinkle's ratification
resolution and Senator Gravatt's referendum being respectively
substituted for Leedy's rejection. The referendum, under Leedy's
coercive method, was voted down. All day the contest raged on the
ratification resolution, with strong speeches in favor by Senators
Trinkle of Wythe, Corbitt of Portsmouth, Paul of Rockingham, Layman of
Craig, West of Nansemond, Parsons of Grayson. Supporting the measure
by vote were also Senators Crockett, Haslinger and Profitt; and
pairing in favor Pendleton and Gravatt. The Ratifying Resolution was
defeated. The Rejection Resolution was adopted by 24 to 10 votes; in
the House by 16 to 22.

One week later the resolution of Senator J. E. West to submit to the
voters a woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution passed the
Senate by 28 ayes, 11 noes; the House by 67 ayes, 10 noes; as it would
have to pass the Legislature of 1921 and ratification of the Federal
Amendment was almost completed, this vote was merely an empty
compliment. A few days thereafter the Qualifications Bill, offered by
Senator Mapp, was overwhelmingly adopted, Senate, 30 ayes, 6 noes;
House, 64 ayes, 17 noes. It made full provisions for the voting of
women if the Federal Amendment should be ratified.

FOOTNOTES:

[190] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Edith Clark
Cowles, Executive and Press Secretary; Miss Adele Clark, Legislative
Chairman, and Miss Ida Mae Thompson, Headquarters Secretary of the
State Equal Suffrage League.

[191] From year to year delegates from the Equal Suffrage League went
to the State political conventions, asking for an endorsement of woman
suffrage. The Republicans, the minority party, always received them
courteously and a few times put the plank in their platform. The
Democrats always treated them with discourtesy and never endorsed
woman suffrage in any way until 1920, when they "commended the action
of the General Assembly in passing the Qualifications Bill contingent
upon the ratification and proclamation of the 19th Amendment."

[192] There were very few changes in officers during the eleven years
of the league's existence. The list was as follows: Honorary
vice-presidents, Miss