| GOLDEN YELLOW SILK RIBBON & PINBACK COMBINATION, DENOTING THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE SUFFRAGE CAUSE BY UNITED STATES SENATOR & REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE WARREN G. HARDING OF OHIO, IN THE MATTER RATIFYING THE 19TH AMENDMENT |
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| Web ID: | ws-144 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 6.5" x 4.75" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 3" x 1.5" |
| Description: | |
| Golden yellow, silk satin ribbon & pinback combination denoting the endorsement of United States Senator & Republican Presidential Nominee, Warren G. Harding of Ohio, in the matter of Women’s suffrage. The latter features Harding’s portrait, surrounded by a blue border, with the text “For President” above and his name below. Text on the ribbon, in black, reads: “Women’s First Vote” followed by “Vote the Straight Republican Ticket.” Success in the national campaign for women’s Suffrage was achieved after the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by Congress on June 5th, 1919. It would not be until more than a year later, however, on August 18th, 1920, when the required count of 36 states had ratified the amendment into law. In 1915, as a newly elected junior senator, Harding described himself as “never having been permitted to go into the Suffrage question.” With aspirations for the presidency, he remained reluctant to communicate his opinion on both Prohibition and Suffrage—both political landmines—openly admitting that he would not do so until Ohio, as a whole, took a position on the issues. Republicans in that state voted favorably in October of 1918, just before the end of WWI (U.S. involvement 1917-18, ended Nov. 11th), and though Harding was not present for that vote, he spoke in support of the Republican victory on the issue. On June 4th, 1919, he voted in favor of the 19th Amendment, adopted by Congress on the next day, and then again in favor on June 16th, when Ohio made an even clearer statement, becoming the 5th state to ratify. The following year, August 5th, when just one more state was needed, Senator Harding, now running for president, sent a series of important telegrams to bring the matter to a close. His first telegram went to head of the Republican Party in Tennessee, State Senator John Houk, requesting that he find out which members of his party there there could use some lobbying, and what Harding could do to help. He then telegraphed Carrie Chapman Catt, head of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the leading force in the movement at the time, who expressed great concern about diminishing Republican support, at a time they were most needed. Republicans had, thus far, provided the substantial majority of the political backing for the movement. Harding’s reply read as follows: “Your telegram received. No discouragement is voiced from here. On the contrary, we are continuing to encourage Republicans of the Tennessee Assembly to join cordially in the effort to consummate ratification.” Harding’s influence on Tennessee’s decision was effective and he went on to attain the White House 2 ½ months later, with running mate Calvin Coolidge, winning the popular vote nationally by 60.4% to 34.1% over Democrats James Cox & Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mounting: For 25 years we have maintained our own textile conservation department, led by a master’s degree level graduate from one of the nation’s top programs. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and related textiles and have preserved thousands of examples. The unusual, cobalt blue, enameled and gilded, American molding dates to the 1870’s. The ribbon and pinback have been hand-stitched to a background of 100% cotton twill, black in color, that has been washed and treated for colorfastness. Spacers keep the textile away from the glass, which is U.V. protective. Condition: There is minor fraying along the top edge. |
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| Collector Level: | Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts |
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| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1920 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1920 |
| State/Affiliation: | Ohio |
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| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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