er of the Senate, setting forth the
merits of the amendment and saying: "The South has nothing to fear
from the amendment but it would be a loss to southern chivalry and
southern prestige if our section of the country halted this great
reform. I earnestly hope that the people of Alabama will take the lead
of southern States east of the Mississippi and follow the wise
leadership of Texas and Missouri and other progressive commonwealths.
There is no doubt of its ratification. Let Alabama lead and not
follow." Homer S. Cummings, chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, and other prominent Democrats added their earnest appeals
to the Senate for favorable action.

The ratifying resolution was introduced in the Senate by John A.
Rogers and in the House by W. H. Shaw. The date set for the vote in
the Senate was July 17 and a hearing before a joint meeting of Senate
and House was granted on the 16th. Women journeyed to Montgomery from
nearly every county to plead for the amendment but its defeat had
already been planned. The vote was 13 ayes, 19 noes.

The House did not act on the measure until September 17 and during the
interim every possible pressure was made on its members to obtain a
favorable vote. President Wilson sent an urgent telegram to Speaker H.
P. Merritt. Chairman Nesbit convened the State Democratic Committee on
August 21 to consider the amendment. It adopted a resolution by a vote
of 20 to 13, which endorsed the favorable action of the National
Committee the preceding May and said: "We pledge our support in every
proper way to accomplish the result desired." Mrs. George Bass,
chairman of the Women's National Democratic Committee, went to
Montgomery for this meeting and remained several days working for the
amendment. The Central Labor Union of that city at a mass meeting
passed a resolution asking the Legislature to "take steps immediately
to ratify the amendment." A majority of the House were pledged to vote
in favor of ratification but after it had been defeated in the Senate
they considered it useless to keep their promise and the vote was 31
ayes, 60 noes.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor Nathan L. Miller maintained a
neutral position. The mainspring of the opposition from beginning to
end was U. S. Senator Oscar W. Underwood. Senator John H. Bankhead was
equally opposed. Both Senators had voted against the submission of the
Federal Amendment and of the ten members in the Lower House only one,