Women -- Suffrage -- History; Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History; Women's rights -- History; Women's rights -- United States -- History
Following this action the women went to work to obtain School suffrage
for all women in the State able to read and write. In organizing this
protest against the repeal Mrs. Mary C. Roark, afterwards head of the
Eastern Kentucky Normal School, was a leader. Mrs. A. M. Harrison,
member of the school board in Lexington, was prominently identified
with the effort. This proved a long, hard struggle, as it was
considered an entering wedge to full suffrage by the liquor interests
and ward politicians of the cities and was bitterly fought. Year after
year the bill was defeated in the Legislature. At the request of the
suffrage association in 1908 the State Federation of Women's Clubs
took charge of it as a part of its work for better schools, but it was
defeated that year and in 1910. The Federation did not cease its work
and in 1912 the Democratic party included a School suffrage plank in
its platform. It already had the support of the Republican party and
this year the bill passed both Houses by a vote of more than two to
one. The Democrats were in control of the two Legislatures that
rejected it and also of the one that passed it. Mrs. Breckinridge was
legislative chairman for the federation during the years covering
these three sessions.
In 1912 the suffragists accepted the invitation of the Perry
Centennial Committee to have a suffrage section in the parade in
Louisville and their "float" attracted much attention. This is
believed to have been the first suffrage parade in the South.
In 1914 amendments to the new primary law were made by the Legislature
securing the right of women to vote in the primary elections for
county superintendent of schools. This right was in doubt the year
before and was denied in many counties. Much work was done by the
association in acquainting the women of the State with their rights
under the new law. This year after many efforts a resolution to submit
to the voters an amendment to the State constitution giving full
suffrage to women was before the Legislature, presented by Senator J.
H. Durham of Franklin and Representative John G. Miller of Paducah,
both Democrats. Favorable reports were obtained from Senate and House
Committees, it was placed on the Senate calendar, but after its defeat
in the House by 52 noes, 29 ayes, was not considered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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