The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-08-20
Mother ofRepresentattUe Burn, Who Cast Deciding Vot
For Suffrage, Tells of His Early Life and Hopes
Resents Charge Son Would
Be Guilty of Even ConSid-
ering Bribe.
INTERVIEWED AT NIoTA
Handsome and Charming
Southern Woman and Strong
Advocate Woman Suffrage.
l5Y Nellie kENYONI


TO be honest and true 10 his cor.
Wctions is Harry's motto and I an
! sure he wasn't paid to vote for th,
suffrage amendment. as has beer
charged In some OF the Tennessee
papers"
This was the statement made Thurs.
day afternoon by Mrs. j. f. Burn
mother OF the Tennessee representative
VINO cast the deciding vote for suffrage,
In the sitting room in her colonial home
at Niota. Sch declared further: "He
would have gone back on the kind .of
pep that was born In him to have done
such a thing as this"
Mrs. Burn is Just quiet country
woman, but declares that she is a suf-
iragist and believes in giving the
women OF her country the rights that
she think they should have, even
tnough she has never met any Of the
ardent suffrage workers and has taken
very little active interest In the cam
palgn.
Didn't Know His Views.
When asked whether or not she knew
| now her son stood on the Nineteenth
amendment before he cast his vote
| wednesday which made the old Volun-
teer state the thirty-sixth in the Union
| tc ratify, Mrs. Burn declared that she
die not, but that she had been watch
ing the newspapers very closely hoping
| and praying that he would vote ave
But" she said, II thought ali the
time Harry would vote for It, although
| ne had never told me definitely lust how
he intended to vote. The first news I
received of Harrys vote was from
Harry himself, who called me over long
distance telephone Wednesday, shortly
after the legislature met, and told me
tnat the suffrage amendment had car
ried and that 1t was his vote that gave
the final victory"
Mrs. Burn received numerous calls
and wires over the telephone from
Nashville asking her II she had wired
her son to vote for suffrage before the
test Of last Wednesday, but she said
she sent him only one letter in which
she mentioned the question and told
him she hoped he would decide to vote
Tor the amendment.
i am glad that he loved me enough
TO say afterward that my letter had so
much influence on him." she remarked
during the conversation. II don't think
anyone over there was better posted on |
suffrage than Harry"
MRS. Burn In speaking OF her son |
mentioned thirty-fve or more different |
magazines that the young representa- |
tive subscrihes for and said that when |
he was at the house he spent most OF |
his time up into the late hours at night |
In his room reading.
When asked why she was for suffrage
Mrs Burn declared:
BECAUSE think Il viii purify
politics and am fer progress. have
hlred hands on my farm right here
who pay no taxes, but are permit
ted to vote, while do and an, not
given any vote In my country's
affairs"
loves Subtle Life.
IN speaking OF her son Mrs. Burn
n A1 IaA l. H.
a public man. and for this reason he
had always kent posted on affairs of
the state. as we'll as those of his coun-
try. In fact, his ambition when but a
schoolhoy must have been very hiph.
as his classmates nicknamed him
president" and even now he Is some
times, so addressed by his boyhood
friends.
Representative Burn was educated IN
Niota; his home. town. and his mother
uate of the Niota High school, having
been member Of the first graduating
lass OF the school. He was elected IN
The Tennessee legislature when but %
years old, and after serving one term
ne was nominated on Aug. bv the
'eprblican party of McMinn county for
'e- election. h
Ample evidence that money could not
influence Representative Burn is shown
" the fact that he is president NJ the
1ank OF Niota, vice president OF the
Crescent Hosiery mills NJ Niota. secre-
ary-treasurer of the Niota Develon-
nent association and president OF the
Quality Textile mills Of Niota. Rem 1
esentative Burn has heen elected ma I
tonal representative Of the Junior Or '
Ter, United American Mechanics. and :
s also a member of the local Masonic e
odge and a Shriner At the present
ime he renresents the Southern rail
oad. In addition to holding his state
fice. He has been connected with the
Dad for several years. and In filling ,
ut young Burns QUESTIONABLE during
he war the officials Of the Southern ,
'rote this remark on It: "He is the
MY man on the road that can fill one
nd all jobs"
Representative Burns father was for >.
hirty wears stationmaster at the little
own Of Niota and It was since his =
ather's death that the son became
with the railroad. =,
Ardent Student
In speaking Of her son Mrs. Burn q
avs that he has always been very \
rdent student. has had high ideals, and y
Is one ambition has been to become a
ian who would be an honor to his
lther's name. She said that he has
ways taken great pride In his little
ONE town, which has about 700 popu- -,
tion. and that he has spent much OF "
Is time trving To work out improve.
tents for II, When he was small
oN ne used to sit and dream OF the
lture NJ Niota and of the buildings
E would like to see take the place OF
le old ones, and he Is now beginning /.
realize those dreams, said Mrs. Burn, n'
Has Colonial Home. -.
The Burn family lives in modern ,rrt
even-room colonial house about half a,
mile out from the city proper. The Nv Nv
'use rs constructed OF gray stone and NJ
esents a very attractive appearance u
ith its large white pillars, surrounded by
, spacious lawn Of green grass; th
ectric lights are strung from tree 10 m
CO, The whole place seemed SuC- tn
stive OF close communion with ma dc
re and Of truth and loyalty 10 home
I'd country. In fact, AZ first appear n
ice It reminds one in some way OF the y
me OF the Father Of His Country
cunt Vernon. The place is on Hill n,
ID overlooks 400-acre farm. VI
Mrs. Burn Is southern woman She VI
rs born and reared IN the south. She
IS coalblacl hair and a kind, sweet =,
snositicn. James Burn. who Is Sow VI
al years younger than his distln- en-
ished brother. lives at Niota with his
other and young sister. and manages mi
e affairs Of the farm. su