S.
Pinckard of Alabama came early in January to organize a branch of what
they called the Southern Women's Rejection League. They held a public
meeting in the Carnegie library, at which besides the two speakers,
there were nineteen women present, many of them the old friends of
Mrs. Craig. No one would take even the temporary chairmanship and the
attempt to organize failed ignominiously. Not daunted Mr. Henry sent
for Miss Kate Gordon of New Orleans, a veteran suffragist who had
joined hands with the "antis" in fighting ratification. She was
advertised for a speech at the Carnegie library and all legislators
were urged to attend. Two legislators and fifteen women were present,
six of the latter State workers for ratification.

The retiring and incoming State officials were almost to a man
outspoken in their advocacy of ratification. Governor Theodore G.
Bilbo, the retiring Governor, instead of having the clerk of the House
read his farewell message, according to time honored custom, delivered
it in person. Woman suffrage was its conspicuous feature and after a
profound argument for ratification of the Federal Amendment, he closed
his remarks with the solemn statement: "Woe to that man who raises
his hand against the onward march of this progressive movement!" The
newly elected Governor, Lee M. Russell, in his inaugural address,
delivered in front of the Capitol to an audience of thousands, devoted
more time to woman suffrage than to any other topic, making a clear
cut, logical argument for ratification and a powerful plea for the
enfranchisement of women.

On January 21, W. A. Winter, Representative from Grenada county,
offered the following resolution: "Resolved that the proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the United States be and hereby is
rejected as an unwarranted, unnecessary and dangerous interference
with the rights reserved to the States, or to the people, in both
State and Federal Constitutions...." This came without warning to the
friends of ratification and was not referred to a committee but rushed
to a vote after Representative Guy W. Mitchell of Lee county had
spoken strongly against it. It was carried by a vote of 94 ayes to 25
noes and the announcement received with cheers and laughter. Sennett
Conner of Covington county was the Speaker of the House whose ruling
permitted this unparliamentary action.

Sent to the Senate the Winter Resolution of Rejection was referred to
the Committee on Consti