Harry Thomas Burn 1895-1977 Republican State Senator from Niota County, Tennessee Written and Performed by: Timothy Glover Setting: Nashville, Tennessee, 1920 We are in the General Assembly of Tennessee on August 18th, 1920. Harry Burn, a 24-year-old Republican senator from Niota County, stands before his fellow senators. This vote will determine the ratification or defeat of the Nineteenth Amendment. We have an important decision to make. This vote is in our hands. Do we vote for ourselves or for our country? I have many people telling me to vote against The Anthony Amendment. I have many constituents that are counting on me to vote against it. If I vote against it, my mother will never vote. My future wife wonÕt vote either. If I vote for it, I could lose my re-election. Most people think it is a matter of whether you agree with suffrage or not. But itÕs not that simple. (Pulls a letter from his pocket) My mother sent me a letter today. My mother is a farmerÕs wife. She has always been quiet about politics. In fact, I believed she did not care for politics. Despite her disagreements, she never dissuaded me from going into politics. She knew how much I wanted it. I recently discovered she was a suffragist and that she followed Miss Anthony and Miss Catt. In her letter, she told me to Òbe a better manÓ and Òto rise above those who tempt meÓ. My mother is and has always been one of the smartest and kindest people I know. As I voted nay, I thought of her. You know, I would do anything for my Mama. And as I stand here before you today, I keep asking myself who IÕm voting for. IÕm supposed to be the voice of the people. IÕm not sure if I should vote my conscience. I do know one thing, I owe it to my mother to give her this vote. She let me have a voice, itÕs my turn to give her one. My vote is aye.