PEARL January 7, 1920
The cameras flashed, their pop, pop, pops almost drowning out the words of Governor Robert Livingston Beekman as he signed the ratification document. I wanted to hear everything he had to say. He had matched our courage with his, calling for a special legislative session of 1920 to start a day earlier than the official opening of the governing body, called it specifically for them to vote on ratification. That the governor was a Newporter, still dashing at fifty-four, was an added benefit for the four of us from the Political Equality Association who had been invited – who had been honored – to witness this moment.
In truth, I was proud of the entire legislative body of our state. The ratification had passed with an 89 to 3 vote in the House and a 39 to 1 vote in th
