Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/712

 696 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE broken all records. He arrived on March 10 and took his seat in the Senate amid cheers from crowded galleries. The corri- dors were thronged and even the floor of the Senate was crowded with guests, many of them women. Then followed a most dra- matic debate of several hours, as each side tried to get the advantage. Montgomery was not permitted to take his seat and at 6 o'clock in the afternoon the vote was taken 16 ayes, 13 noes, one opponent changing his vote when he saw the resolu- tion would pass. After the Senate vote a second was secured in the House by the opponents of the motion to reconsider, which resulted in a larger favorable majority than the first. Harvey W. Harmer of Clarksburg, who had charge of the resolution in the Senate and W. S. John of Morgantown in the House, deserve the warmest gratitude of the women. It was not an ordinary vote that the members gave but one which stood the test for days and against the most determined oppo- sition. Too much praise can not be given to Governor Corn- well for calling the special session and for unyieldingly standing by the cause. The Democratic State chairman, C. L. Shaver, although unable to be present, gave splendid help. The men outside the Legislature who gave their time unstintedly, and were present, cooperating with the Ratification Committee of the Equal Suffrage Association, were State chairman of the Repub- lican Committee, W. E. Baker ; Secretary of State Young, former Minister to Venezuela ; Elliott Northcott, mayor of Charleston ; ex-Governor A. B. White; U. S. Senator Howard Sutherland; Major John Bond ; National Republican Committeeman Virgil L. Highland; Congressman M. M. Neely; Mayor Hall and Jesse B. Sullivan, a prominent newspaper correspondent. The best legal and editorial assistance was given generously by the Hon. Fred O. Blue, the Hon. Clyde B. Johnson and former U. S. Senator W. E. Chilton. Boyd Jarrell, editor of the Huntington Herald Dispatch, was constantly on the firing line. The chairman of the Ratification Committee had a herculean task during these strenuous days and after they were over a letter of appreciation of her services was sent to Mrs. Catt, the national president, which closed: "The opposing elements combined