Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/618

 6O2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE Mrs. Ezzell, legislative chairman. Before direct plans had been made, advices came from the National Association to concen- trate on a Presidential and Municipal suffrage bill similar to that passed in Illinois in 1913. This was agreed upon and Gen- eral 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 with- out financial remuneration. This Presidential and Municipal suffrage bill was one of the first introduced, sponsored in the House by Speaker Clyde Shrop- shire 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 services the suffragists had always had for the asking General Charles T. Cates, Jr., At- torney General, who came from his home in Knoxville to construe for the committee some of the perplexing phases and the com- mittee unanimously recommended the bill. When it came to a vote in the House women from all sec- tions of the State were present. Among the most untiring workers were George Fort Milton, editor of the Chattanooga News, and Mrs. Milton; Miss Margaret Ervin of Chattanooga; Mrs. Isaac Reese, Mrs. Harry Anderson and Mrs. Scott of Memphis; Miss White, Mrs. Kimbrough and Mrs. Kenny. Many members of the Nashville League served at frequent criti-