Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/635

 TENNESSEE 619 1920 elections." This he did on August 7, calling the Legislature to convene on the 9th. 1 The first of July Governor Roberts appointed Mrs. Leslie Warner State chairman to organize for ratification. She selected a committee of one hundred, some from each county, recom- mended by the legislators, and opened headquarters at the Hotel Hermitage in Nashville and Mrs. James B. Ezzell was elected vice-chairman, Mrs. Margaret Ervin Ford, secretary of the com- mittee, which became known as the Democratic Ratification Committee. On the advisory board were : Miss Charl Williams, vice-chairman of the National Democratic Committee ; Miss Delia Dortch, regional chairman of the National League of Women Voters; Mesdames A. H. Roberts, wife of the Governor; Guil- ford Dudley, third vice-president of the National Suffrage Asso- ciation ; John B. Gilmore, James S. Fraser and Miss Lutie Jones. Mrs. George Fort Milton, chairman of the League of Women Voters, appointed Mrs. John M. Kenny State chairman for rati- fication with Mesdames John R. Aust and Claude B. Sullivan chairmen of committees. They opened headquarters at the Max- well House. Mrs. James Beasley became chairman of the Republican committee and ex-Governor Rye of the Men's Com- mittee, assisted by ex-Governors Albert A. Taylor and Ben W. Hooper and Mr. Hal H. Clements. Early in July Miss Marjorie Shuler, chairman of publicity of the National Suffrage Association, was sent by it to assist. She expressed gratification at what had been accomplished, saying : "The Tennessee women have done wonders; they are now will organized and things look promising for ratification." She joined with the committees in urging Mrs. Catt to come and direct the work and she came soon after the middle of July and remained six weeks. 2 Her first move was t start a series of letters through the League of Women Voters to local groups urging meet! 1 Ami suffragists from all over the State bombarded Governor Roberts with threats of defeat for reelection should he persist in pushing ratification, many of whom were hi* strongest friends and supporters. At the special elections during the summer held to fill vacancies in the Legislature several suffragists were elected. am UK them M II haver, who took thr *rat of Senator J. Parks Worley. arch enemy of suffrage. I K Riddick, a prominent lawyer, made the race in order to lead the fight for i I the Home. Representative J. i ,r| c a flying trip from San Fran- cisco to cast bis vote for it.
 * Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Upton and Miss Shuler did no lobbying in the State House.