By David Triana
From 1878 to 1918, the proposed amendments to provide universal suffrage for women failed to achieve the needed two-thirds vote.
The U.S. Constitution’s Article V requires a two-thirds vote by both houses of Congress for a proposed amendment to be submitted to the states for ratification.
On June 14, 1918, the required congressional vote was achieved and the following was submitted to the states:
“Section 1. The right of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
The Constitution requires approval by three-quarters of the states for an amendment to be ratified. In 1920, this “magic” number was thirty-six states.
By August 1920, when the issue came before the Tennessee State Legislature, thirty-five states had approved the resolution. Even though only one more state was needed for ratification of women’s suffrage, supporters were concerned and the opposition believed that if Tennessee did not pass it, the law would die!
This led to what became known as the “War of the Roses” in Nashville that August. Tennessee women joined efforts in writing letters, making speeches, and lobbying legislators. A yellow rose became the symbol of support for it and red roses were the opposition’s symbol. Tennessee legislators showed their colors by wearing the appropriate rose on their lapels,
On Friday, August 18, the Tennessee House debated a joint resolution for ratification that had recently passed the state Senate. A count of roses worn by House members showed 49 red and 47 yellow, which meant the House was likely to reject ratification. After a lengthy debate, House Speaker Seth Walker, proclaimed, “The hour has come. The battle has been fought and won, and I move . . . that the motion to concur in the Senate action goes where it belongs—to the table.” His legislative maneuver would effectively kill the resolution and ratification of the amendment. However, Rep. Banks Turner came over to the Suffragist’s side and the vote was deadlocked at 48 for and 48 against. A second roll was taken and the vote remained 48 to 48.
The next vote taken was not to table the resolution, but an actual vote for or against joining the Tennessee Senate in approval.
As the crucial vote took place, a young 24-year-old freshman legislator named Harry Burn was in conflict. He wore a red rose and faced reelection in the fall and knew this issue was contentious among his constituents. Whatever decision he made would surely have a huge effect on his political career!
