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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT
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HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, this past weekend we
celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. I include in
the Record an article from the The Aiken Standard that highlights women
leaders in our community and the role that Eulalie Salley had in the
suffragist movement:
Aiken's Women Leaders Reflect on 19th Amendment's 100th Anniversary,
Eulalie Salley's Role
(By Dede Biles August 15, 2020)
Women leaders in the Aiken area reflected recently on this
month's 100th anniversary of the ratification of the U.S.
Constitution's 19th Amendment, which guarantees that an
American's right to vote will not be denied on the basis of
sex.
They also discussed the legacy of Eulalie Salley, an Aiken
resident who was a prominent suffragist.
Read what they had to say:
Lessie Price, Aiken City Council member and Aiken Mayor Pro
Tempore: ``Those women (who fought for the right to vote)
were very bold and brave. Can you imagine doing that during
that period of time, what was said about them by their peers
and the names they were probably called?
``Also there were pressures faced by their husbands because
their wives were doing something that was not the norm.
``On both sides, there were enduring pressures, but the
women were so strong. Where would we be (as women) if those
women were not brave enough or strong enough to take a stand
and be a voice for us to have the freedom to vote? I am
standing on the shoulders of those women and their history
and them being trailblazers in the fight for equality.
``They fought for equality for all of us. And that's the
bottom line.''
``Eulalie Salley was quite outspoken, and we are fortunate
to have had her as part of the Aiken community.
``She led an innovative campaign regarding suffrage.''
Kay Biermann Brohl, Aiken City Council member: ``I think
it's important that we celebrate this. It took so long for
women to win that right to vote.
``And today we see so many women in leadership positions.
It brings a whole different perspective to the decisions that
are made and how they are made.
``I think Eulalie Salley was a trailblazer. She did so many
things that a lot of people are just finding out about, and
she contributed greatly to the culture, the history and the
fairness of how things are done here in Aiken.''
Gail Diggs, Aiken City Council member:
``In 1920, women won the right to vote, and here we are in
2020 with the possibility of having a Black female vice
president. It's truly something to celebrate. I'm proud to
know that Eulalie Salley was one of the women who led the
way. We've come a long way, baby!
``Eulalie Salley was strong, outspoken and determined to
make a change. For her, silence was not an option. She saw
something seriously wrong and not only said something, but
actually DID something!
``She helped pave the way for women to have a voice.
Eulalie Salley was a true woman of substance!''
Dr. Sandra Jordan, Chancellor of USC Aiken: ``The 19th
Amendment was critical to the rights women enjoy today, for
it finally guaranteed all women the right to vote during our
national, state and local elections.
``History teaches us that once disenfranchised groups can
vote, other forms of equality, such as social, economic and
educational opportunities will follow.
``While we may take this right for granted today, we should
never lose sight of the fact that women gained civil rights
quite late in the history of our nation. It would be a
travesty for modern-day men and women to dismiss the long,
hard struggle that culminated in the passage of the 19th
Amendment.
``While women have experienced many successes since the
passage of the amendment, women have not yet achieved full
equality. I hope I will see in my lifetime our daughters and
granddaughters achieve the dream of equal pay for equal work,
freedom from harassment and freedom from discrimination based
on gender.
``The dream of equality is worth the effort of keeping
these issues on the forefront of our thinking, our actions
and our national discussions.
``The university has many special ties to Eulalie Salley, a
former Frist Lady of Aiken and a local suffragette, who used
her personal earnings to underwrite her efforts to champion
the cause.
``In fact, the Salley home now sits on the USC Aiken
campus.
``Her tireless efforts to help secure this important civil
right for half of the U.S. population was recognized by the
governor (of South Carolina) who invited her to stand beside
him as he signed the bill into law.
``Her commitment to the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed
all women equal rights, on par with men, including gaining
the right to vote, is an inspiration for women today.''
____________________