Jerry Summers: Harry T. Burn - Women’s Suffrage Savior (1895-1977)

  • Friday, October 18, 2019
  • Jerry Summers
Jerry Summers
Jerry Summers

Supporters of Chattanooga’s McCallie School, an all-boys boarding and day school, might be surprised to learn that the father of 1955 McCallie graduate, Harry Burn, Jr. cast the deciding vote in the Tennessee General Assembly in 1920 that led to the adoption of the 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution which gave women the right to vote. 

Harry Burn, Sr. was 24 years old in 1920 and was in his first term of office in the legislature when the historic issue came up for a vote.

For half a century, women’s advocates Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt, Lucy Burns and many other strong women had fought throughout the country to enact laws in 36 states required to ratify the 19th Amendment which stated that ‘the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.’

By the middle of 1920, a total of 35 states had voted to approve the women’s right to vote constitutional amendment.  

Connecticut, Vermont, North Carolina and Florida all declined to consider the constitutional resolution for various reasons, and Tennessee remained the only state where a vote could be taken in 1920.

Harry was a native of Niota (McMinn County) and was a Republican.  The issue of the women vote had divided his country amid bitter and heated debates.  He was initially against giving the fairer sex the right to vote and displayed his opposition by wearing “a red rose” in his lapel which was the sign of the “anti-vote”.  Supporters of the amendment wore a “yellow rose” on their persons.

Harry’s widowed mother, Febb Ensminger Burn, was a strong-willed women who was a well-educated reader of four newspapers and a dozen magazines and was well informed on both sides of the controversial issue facing the legislature.

She was a college woman and a student of national and international affairs who took an interest in all public issues although she could not vote.

As a widow, she ran the family farm milking cows, churning butter, cleaning, and mended clothing for her family.  She initially did not take an active stand on the question but was disturbed that illiterate and uneducated male tenant farmers could vote in elections but she could not.

Although she liked the militants on both sides, she became upset at the various and bitter “anti” speeches published in McMinn County and decided to write her son a letter expressing her support for the suffrage side.

In a seven-page handwritten letter, she encouraged her son to vote in favor of the suffrage bill.

Her forceful request convinced her son to change his mind set:

“Dear Son, . . . Hurray and vote for Suffrage and don’t keep them in doubt.  I noticed Chandlers’’ speech, it was very bitter.  I’ve been waiting to see how you stood but have not seen anything yet. . . . Don’t forget to be a god boy and help Mrs. Catt with her “Rats.”  Is she the one the put rat in ratification, Ha!  No more from mama this time.  With lots of love, Mama.” 

In a surprise turn around, Harry Burn heeded his mother’s advice and cast the deciding vote that guaranteed that Tennessee would be the necessary 36th state to adopt women’s suffrage.

The stories vary as to what happened when Harry cast his vote.  One version is that he had hurriedly left the capital right after the vote.  Another version claimed that anti suffragists chased him through the legislature and he had to climb out of a window to escape their wrath.

Political prognosticators predicted Burns’ career as a statesman was over.  Burn was called a traitor to manhood’s honor “by the anti-suffragists and was accused of accepting a $10,000 bribe from a Jewish supporter of the womens right to vote.” 

All proved to be untrue and, in spite of heavy opposition, he was re-elected for a third two-year term.  He later would serve in the State Senate, State Planning Commission and as a delegate to four Constitutional Conventions.  He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar as an attorney in 1923 and would later become President of the First National Bank and Trust in Rockwood.

Harry replied by placing a statement in the House Journal asserting this decision to cast his vote from the suffragists was based on morality, justice, his mother, and glory of the Republican Party.”

When later questioned about his vote, he replied, “I knew that a mother’s advice is always safest for a boy to follow, and my mother wanted me to vote for ratification, and I appreciated the fact that an opportunity such as this seldom comes to a mortal man to free 17 million women from political slavery was mine.”

He would die on February 19, 1977, at the age of 81.

Tyler Boyd has written a comprehensive biography of Harry T. Burn. It was published in August by The History Press (Arcadia Publishing's text imprint). It is available to purchase at https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467143189 It is also available at B&N and BAM! stores across Tennessee. Harry T. Burn was his great-granduncle. 

* * *

Jerry Summers can be reached at jsummers@summersfirm.com

Latest Headlines
Happenings
Michael Gerard Receives American Police Hall Of Fame Civilian Medal Of Appreciation
Michael Gerard Receives American Police Hall Of Fame Civilian Medal Of Appreciation
  • 3/18/2024

Collegedale officers responded to Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove on Sept. 21, 2023, after receiving a report of a missing elderly resident with dementia. The patient had left the facility approximately ... more

New Hamilton County Marriage Licenses
  • 3/18/2024

Here are the new marriage licenses from the County Clerk's office: SCOTT EDWARD KELLEY JAIMIE LYNN PASTORI 2205 JAMES AVE 4203 TENNESSEE AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374156511 CHATTANOOGA, ... more

Chief John Ross DAR Presents Gold ROTC Medal
Chief John Ross DAR Presents Gold ROTC Medal
  • 3/18/2024

Chief John Ross Chapter, NSDAR had their March meeting on the 13th, and the meeting theme was Women’s History Month. Officials said, "Chapter member, Kay Sencabaugh, presented an entertaining ... more