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THE EVERETT HARDWARE CO.
JOBBERS AND RETAILERS

Rockingham, N.C.
March 12, 1920

My dear Governor Bickett:-

In reviewing in my mind the outstanding features of your administration, it seems to me that you have been thinking more about whether a thing is right than whether it might be popular. Your great taxation question has now been accepted by all our candidates, and the people are accepting it in a fine spirit everywhere. This must be gratifying to you as it is to all its friends. Now that discriminations in tax burdens are in process of being removed and the tax books are commencing to “Speak the Truth” may I not hope that you will join hands with those of us who favor the franchise for women, and help us secure for them a tardy justice?

At the last session of the Legislature the Municipal Bill passed the senate by a large majority, but was lost in the house by only a few votes. In order to defeat the bill the opposition had paired at least one member of the House, who was sick in a hospital, so that his vote was cast against the bill, when, I was informed, he would have voted for the bill had he been able to be there. Those who were opposed to the bill refused to arrange pairs with some of the friends of the bill who were also sick and absent.

The revulsion of feeling brought about by these conditions was so strong that one of the most prominent leaders of the House, who was opposed to the bill, offered the next day to move for a re-consideration and assured me that we could pass the bill by a large majority. Unfortunately, I was in a position where I could not take advantage of this change in feeling, due to the fact that one of the most prominent leaders against us had told me that he had a pressing business engagement in New York, and would go if we did not intend to open up the question the next day. I told him to go ahead, so it could not be re-considered.

The women of North Carolina, and I believe, the men who have supported their cause have played the game like sportsmen. We have no list of those who have stood against us marked for slaughter. We have considered that they were honest in their position: neither have we a very bitter taste in our mouths that the nearly dead were voted against us when they had told us if they were alive they would vote with us. All of these things come in each days work, and this great question has entered upon another stage.

The ratification of the federal amendment now challenges our attention. Our party must come out squarely on one side or the other. The question can no longer be put off - like death - to the very last possible moment.

Knowing your love for a square deal, I am persuaded to hope that you may become our Champion, and that you will be our spokesman before the State Convention.

If this plea appeals to you, then our women, who have no other thought than to help their brothers in the building of a State, will have found a mighty Champion.

With greatest respect, I am

Yours truly,

W. N. Everett

Governor Thomas W. Bickett,
Raleigh, N.C.

E/S

Please feel free to edit this letter--WNE