The Female Vote in America was finally secured, thanks to a mother’s wisdom. Her son was Harry Burn, the 24-year-old representative from Tennessee. He tucked a red rose into his lapel instead of a yellow one on a hot, muggy day in August 1920.
Among the 96 lawmakers, the reds and yellows were equal. It all came down to Burn who was torn between his heart and political allies.
Recognizing that the crucial moment for the women’s vote could be lost, Burn’s determined mother sent him a strongly worded letter.
More Than Seventy Years Of Struggle Came Down To A Heart-pounding Moment
In 1776 John Adams urged Thomas Jefferson to write the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. They famously included the words “all men are created equal.” With hopes of expanding women’s rights including the female vote under the new American government, his wife Abigail urged him in “Remember the Ladies”.
One of the earliest milestones of the official fight for the female vote in America took place in 1848 with the Seneca Falls Convention.
According to The National Archives:
“Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change of the Constitution – guaranteeing women the right to vote. Some suffragists used more confrontational tactics such as picketing, silent vigils, and hunger strikes.”(National Archives)
In June 1919, Federal lawmakers finally passed the 19th Amendment for the female vote. But the amendment still required the backing of three-fourths of all states.
One year later, in August of 1920, only 35 of the country’s legislatures had ratified the amendment. Tennessee stood to become the game changer. On the day of the final vote, many of the 96 male lawmakers wore roses. Those against the female vote wore red while those in favor wore yellow. The roses were evenly divided.
Although the state Senate had already approved the amendment, a tie in the House would mean defeat for the female vote.
The Tennessee House members voted twice to table ratification, Each time the tally tied 48 to 48, leaving them no choice but to vote again. At least one man had to change his mind in favor of the female vote for the amendment to finally pass into law.
The roll call came down to one legislator: Harry T. Burn who was wearing a red rose in his lapel. He already voted twice to table the amendment.
Scott Bomboy writes for the Constitution Center:
“It seemed as if the anti-suffragists had enough votes to delay a 19th Amendment vote after Burn arrived wearing a red rose and voted to table the amendment.
But another representative, Banks Turner, switched sides during the roll call, leaving the vote deadlocked and moving the ratification vote forward. The suffragists would need one more vote to make the 19th Amendment the law of the land, and what happened stunned the legislature.
Then, early in the voting, Burn, who came from a conservative district and wore the red rose on his lapel, surprised everyone when he said in a clear voice “aye” when asked if he would vote to ratify the amendment.” (The Constitution Center)
Burn Was In An All-Too-Familiar Political Predicament
While Burn personally supported the female vote, he was under tremendous political pressure to vote against it. Because he was up for reelection that fall his Republican constituents in McMinn County aggressively lobbied him to oppose ratification of the amendment. An estimated 150 lobbyists held backdoor meetings. The Republican National Committee urged Burn, urging him to vote for suffrage while the people at home demanded that he vote no.
The National Park Service Writes:
“The battle in Nashville had been fierce. Suffragist and anti-suffragist campaigners lobbied, cajoled, and browbeat lawmakers in the Tennessee State Capitol and the halls of the nearby Hermitage Hotel.“ (NPS)
It Came Down To One Determined Mother And Her Brave Son
Before the final vote, Burn had read a letter from his mother, Phoebe “Febb” Ensminger Burn .
According to Lacey Morris of the Tennessee State Museum, Febb Burn was born in 1873 in Mount Verd, Tennessee.
“She studied to be a teacher at U.S. Grant Memorial University in Athens, Tennessee. She was married to James LaFayette Burn and had four children. Febb worked as a teacher and her husband as a stationmaster in Niota, Tennessee. They also owned a hosiery mill and farm.” (Tennessee Museum)
Febb Burn was said to have read three newspapers a day. She was up on current events. Although she didn’t officially fight for suffrage, she firmly believed in the female vote.
Her son reportedly carried her letter with him even as he wore a red rose. Fedd Burn wrote about local gossip from their town, then hit him with her true purpose for writing.
“Hurrah and vote for suffrage and don’t keep them in doubt. I notice some of the speeches against. They were bitter. I have been watching your stand, and did not see anything pertaining to my choice. Don’t forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the rat in ratification.” (Febb Burn’s Letter)
Burn initially voted against ratification to appease his political allies. But he believed it could be brought back in the next legislative session. With his mother’s letter in hand, he changed his mind. When asked about his decision, he said:
“I knew that a mother’s advice is always safest for a boy to follow and my mother wanted me to vote for ratification. I appreciated the fact that an opportunity such as seldom comes to a mortal man to free 17 million women from political slavery was mine.”
According to the Bill of Rights Institute:
“Burn faced threats to his life and false charges that he had accepted a bribe to change his vote. His mother was pressured to renounce the letter and say it was a fraud.” (Bill of Rights Institute)
Both stood firm on their word.
Harry Burn narrowly won reelection in the fall of 1920. Despite his sudden change of vote, he had a long career in public office in Tennessee.
The Nineteenth Amendment Became Law
On August 26, 1920 Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby officially certified the ratification the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. It reads:
“The right of 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.”
Even after the passage of the 19th Amendment, the female vote was often denied to women of color through discrimination, violence gerrymandering and more.
Rock The Vote Writes:
“Black women, Native American women, Asian American women, and women from other racial and ethnic minority groups were discriminated against for 45 more years until the passage of The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA)opens a new window… And, women with disabilities only gained protections in 1990 with the Americans with Disabilities Act.” (Rock The Vote)
Some conservative factions under the “Repeal The 19th” Movement are lobbying for the Household Vote. Typically, this is the male “head of the household”.
Read Related Stories In Racing Nellie Bly
The Suffrajitsu Bodyguards masterfully employed Jujitsu. Read All About It Here.
First Female Candidates Challenged Inequality. Read All About It Here.
Victoria Woodhull Was First Woman To Run For President. Read All About It Here.
Mary Church Terrell defined activism. Read All About It Here.
Racing Nellie Bly
Victorian Secrets From Footnotes In History
Know The Past To Invent The Future
