August 18 Is The 101st Anniversary Of Women’s Suffrage
A Local Perspective
Women won the right to vote everywhere in the United States, when Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment.
It happened on August 18, 1920. At that time, in 27 of the 48 states (Pennsylvania was not among them), women were already able to vote. Passage of what was known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, made women’s suffrage universal.
Pennsylvania held a statewide Women’s Suffrage referendum in 1915. It failed.
The all-male vote was 385,348 (46.63%) for, versus 441,034 (53.37%) against. The “Antis” won big in Philadelphia, where there were 122,519 votes against Women’s Suffrage, vs. 77,247 votes for it.
Statewide the measure failed by 56,686 votes. In Philadelphia alone, the “Antis” won by 45,272
The “Antis” were strong across most of Montgomery County as well, outpolling the “Suffs” by 13,024 to 8,709.
Lower Merion, however, bucked the tide. The Suffragists eked a win in the township, collecting 1,212 votes to the Antis 1,178.
But Pennsylvania was among the first states to ratify the 19th Amendment
Although Pennsylvania was behind the curve in terms passing women’s voting rights as a state initiative, the Keystone State at least partially redeemed itself by becoming the seventh state to ratify the 19th Amendment – on June 24, 1919. Congress had only passed the bill that sent the amendment to the states for ratification, on June 4 of that year.
October 22, 1915 – Ardmore Woman March for the Vote.
“Anti” Ad in the Inquirer – November 1, 1915. Does this have a familiar ring?
I Did Not Raise My Girl To Be A Voter
The President of Women Opposed to Suffrage Gloats – November 3, 1915. “Woman’ suffrage is going, not coming.”
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Ardmore Chronicle -November 6,1915. “Suffs” win in Lower Merion. How did your neighborhood vote?
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“Suffrage Fete” at the McMenamin Estate, June 13, 1916, in Merion.
39 years later, the same house was used as the backdrop for “the scene of the crime” in the movie “The Burglar.”
Pennsylvania ratified the 19th Amendment on June 24, 1919.
Evening Public Leger, scooping the Inky. Getting the story out on the day of final ratification. That was one advantage of being an evening paper.
Map shows which states had not yet ratified.
For the convenience of women voters (who had just won the right to vote, three weeks earlier) – pay your poll tax.
Click here to see the whole September 11, 1920 issue of Our Town.
Women vote in Narberth for the first time, and nothing much happens.
Click here to see the whole November 6, 1920 issue of Our Town.