Alva Review-Courier -

Several American states had granted women the right to vote prior to the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920. Women suffrage leaders, however, wanted women in all states to vote.

Constitutional amendments have to pass both houses of the U.S. Congress by a two-thirds majority. In January 1918 the House of Representatives voted 274-136 in favor of the women’s suffrage amendment.

One of those pro-suffrage votes was cast by Montana Republican Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to serve in Congress. The U.S. Senate, however, refused to support the suffrage provision.

Suff...