Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/688

 672 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE Notwithstanding this very able presentation the Federal Rela- tions Committee reported the Rejection Resolution favorably. On the floor Lindsay Gordon of Louisa county substituted a Ratification Resolution and Harry Rew of Accomac a substitute to refer ratification to the voters. The latter carried on January 27 by a vote of 55 to 39, supported by Representatives Gordon, Willis of Roanoke, Williams of Fairfax, Hunter of Stafford, Rodgers, J. W. Story, Wilcox of Richmond, Snead of Chester- field and H. W. Anderson, Republican floor leader. The battle front now shifted to the Senate, where, owing to illness of the chief suffrage proponent, G. Walter Mapp, con- sideration 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 Resolu- tion 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 constitu- tion passed the Senate by 28 ayes, n 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 there- after the Qualifications Bill, offered by Senator Mapp, was over- whelmingly 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.