Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, August 14, 1920:
Women go after House votes in Tennessee for a final show down
Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 14 — “I do not believe that men of Tennessee will surrender honest convictions for political expediency or harmony,” Speaker Walker, of the Tennessee House of Representatives, declared in a telegram to President Wilson. He was replying to a message from the president last night urging the Tennessee house to concur in the action of the state senate in ratifying the suffrage amendment. …
“I do not attempt to express the view of other members of the lower house of Tennessee, but speak for myself alone, which on the Anthony amendment are contrary to yours.”
Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, August 17, 1920:
Tennessee House to decide fate of woman suffrage this P.M.
Resolution before representatives now
Each claims victory, while onlookers predict majority either way will be small
(By United Press)
Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 17 — The house adjourned late today without action on the suffrage amendment. The vote was 52 to 45.
The motion was made by Speaker Walker and was backed by anti ratificationists. The vote was interpreted as a point for the anti suffragists. However, several voted for adjournment who are considered friends to suffrage and pro ratificationists said the vote was without great significance.
Speaker Walker read a letter from Senator Harding in which the Republican nominee emphasized his devotion to suffrage, but believed in “the fidelity of legislators in the performance of duty.”
Walker also read President Wilson’s telegram asking the house to approve suffrage. This brought prolonged cheers. When Walker read his reply to Wilson pandemonium broke loose. It was very pointed and bitter.
“We want this to remain a white man’s country,” the speaker said in reference to the vote. … “Suffrage will be defeated,” declared Walker.
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The next day, by a vote of 50 to 46 in the Tennessee House, suffrage was not defeated, and the 19th Amendment was ratified.