NAWSA                    Subject File   Tennessee Suffrage Assocs.

RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE MORRISTOWN
EQUAL SUFFRAGE LEAGUE.
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In March of this year, 1914, Miss Sarah Barnwell Elliott, President 
of the Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association, was notified by Mrs. 
Mary Ware Dennett, Secretary of the national Suffrage Association, 
that the National organization had voted to hold their next convention 
in Tennessee, and that Chattanooga, Memphis and Nashville had
extended invitations to the National body. Miss Elliott turned the 
matter over to the state Executive Committee, and balloting began 
by correspondence. First ballot, four for Chattanooga, three 
for Nashville, one for Memphis. Second ballot, four for Chattanooga,
four for Nashville. Third ballot, Chattanooga four, Nashville four.
Fourth Ballot, same result. Fifth ballot, tie between Memphis and 
Nashville. Sixth ballot, same result. Mrs. McCormack wired National
Headquarters for original instruction. Answer: "Place was left to
Tennessee Association.
ANNA HOWARD SHAW".
To break the deadlock, and according to instruction from the National,
Mrs. McCormack ruled state leagues should take vote on this question
according to their paid up delegation in last convention. A meeting 
was called for May 13, at Memphis, to canvass returns of leagues.
When the Committee met The Chair announced returns, which showed
the place for National convention to be Chattanooga by two thirds
majority of leagues. the Nashville and Jackson members of the Executive 
Committee injected into this body two women who were not members 
of the Committee, Mrs. L. Crozier Frenoj and Mrs. Guilford Dudley,
and allowed them to dictate the actions of this body. After the business 
for which the meeting was called was accomplished four of the
Committee, Mrs. Robertson, Miss Sue White, Miss Daviess, and Mrs.
Baxter elected Mrs. L. C. French as president, and voted on place of 
meeting, declaring Nashville to have won the convention.
Therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Morristown Equal Suffrage League,
that as the call for this meeting spoke only of a canvass of returns
of leagues that nothing enacted thereafter or ulterior to this purpose, 
can be legal, constitutional or parliamentary. That Miss
Elliott's resignation has not been accepted, and in case it had been
so legally, there would have been no vacancy, as Mrs. J. M McCormack 
of Memphis, was elected to fill any such vacancy which might arise in 
the presidency.
WHEREAS, there was no vacancy possible, that there could not have 
been an election of Mrs. French or any one until the close of the 
year in October.
WHEREAS, the majority of votes of the state leagues were cast 
in favor of Chattanooga, that Chattanooga is rightfully the hostess

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city.
And further be it RESOLVED, that if the National Association
sees fit to give credence to the affair as represented by Knoxville,
Jackson and Nashville, and puts it stamp of approval on their unlawful
actions, we as a league, withdraw from the National Association.

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