• Latest

Consuelo Northrup Bailey: Vermont’s First Woman Speaker

February 3, 2014
F&W’s 2021 Conservation Camp Registration is Open

F&W’s 2021 Conservation Camp Registration is Open

January 19, 2021
Ice Fishing FUNdamentals How to Enjoy Yourself and Stay Safe on the Ice This Winter

Ice Fishing FUNdamentals How to Enjoy Yourself and Stay Safe on the Ice This Winter

January 19, 2021
This Old House

Mouse in the House

January 19, 2021

Buffalo Plaid Fundraiser to Support Local Nonprofits

January 19, 2021

Free Tax Filing at Capstone Community Action for Tax Year 2020

January 19, 2021

Leahy-Led Bipartisan Bill Promoting Affordable Health Insurance Is Signed Into Law

January 19, 2021

Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO Hires First Female Executive Director, Signaling New Direction for VT Labor Movement

January 12, 2021

Vermont Mutual Distributes $1,000,000 to COVID-19 Relief Efforts

January 12, 2021
Hunters Take 6,136 Turkeys in Vermont in 2020

Hunters Take 6,136 Turkeys in Vermont in 2020

January 12, 2021
Additional Ounce, Priority Mail and Postcard Stamps Available Jan. 24

Additional Ounce, Priority Mail and Postcard Stamps Available Jan. 24

January 12, 2021
One Credit Union Donates $12K to Make-A-Wish

One Credit Union Donates $12K to Make-A-Wish

January 12, 2021

Unemployment Benefits Extended with Authorization of Federal Relief Bill

January 5, 2021
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
The World Online
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Consuelo Northrup Bailey: Vermont’s First Woman Speaker

vt-world by vt-world
February 3, 2014
in Senate Report
0

 

Consuelo Northrup Bailey was Vermont’s first woman to hold the office of Speaker of the House. When she was 15 years old, Bailey was a spectator at an inheritance trial of a prominent St. Albans woman. The basic argument against the woman who deserved the money was that she was too small a woman to inherit a large amount of money.

 

The case appalled Bailey, and must have been in the back of her mind when she graduated from law school and became Burlington’s Grand Juror. It also must have been in the back of her mind as she became Speaker of the Vermont House and Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. Bailey was the second woman in the nation to be elected Speaker and the first woman in the nation to be elected Lieutenant Governor.

 

She was born in 1899 in Sheldon, Vermont, and received strong support from her father to pursue a legal career. She graduated from the University of Vermont and afterwards taught Latin, reading and history in Shelburne. In 1925, she graduated from the Boston University School of Law and was appointed Grand Juror of Burlington. She passed the Vermont Bar Exam in 1925, the seventh woman in Vermont to be an attorney.

 

From 1926 to 1928, she was elected Chittenden County’s State’s Attorney, and prosecuted cases, including illegal dance halls and bigamy. Her political career began in 1930 when she was elected to the Vermont Senate. In her book, Leaves Before the Wind, an autobiography, she wrote this about her Senate experience:

 

“As I walked down from the Capitol to my room on State Street, I was glad the sun was reducing the snow banks which had been with us for so long. Tiny streams were running in the streets and the smell of the moist, warm earth arose from the ground which had at last been released from the bonds of winter. It is small wonder that this smell for us in the north country produces a feeling of delight and satisfaction, for it renders the verdict that Vermonters have ‘wintered’ again and will soon enjoy the full meaning of spring. This assurance also reduced somewhat the ache in my heart, for I was saddened by our parting. I had been blessed by the kindness and friendship of the thirty splendid men who comprised the Senate. Like leaves, they have fallen from the tree of life. But with their passing, they have added beauty to the pattern of the land they served and dearly loved.”

 

Bailey was elected to the Vermont House in 1951 and 1952, representing South Burlington. In 1953, she won the speakership, and in her address to the House of Representatives, she said, “I want to say that this is no time for any of us to think of anything except one thing at all times. I hope you will bear it in mind from now on until the close of the session. There should be only one question in our minds, in other words, we should put aside all feeling. We should put aside all unsatisfied desires and ambitions and keep before us at all times the one paramount issue – what is best for the state of Vermont.”

 

In her autobiography, she referred to Senator George Aiken’s nomination of Senator Margaret Chase Smith for President of the United States in this way:

 

“The primary importance was that her achievements were not the result of a woman’s liberation movement. What she had gained was by her own effort. She had not expected favors because she was a woman. She had earned her own way from start to finish. She had proved, as many other pioneers had, that nothing is impossible to those who do not count the cost of labor and sacrifice.”

 

In another part of her book, Bailey wrote:

 

“I devoutly hope that I may reveal the character of the Vermont I dearly love and the spirit of Vermonters I have known. For what is really important is Vermont’s glorious history, her rich traditions, her precious scenery, which brings tears to the eyes of all who love her, the everyday, common, honest people who unknowingly salted down the Vermont way of life with a flavor peculiar only to the Green Mountains.”

 

 

Senator Bill Doyle serves on the Senate Education Committee and Senate Economic Affairs Committee, and is the Senate Assistant Minority Leader. He teaches government history at Johnson State College. He can be reached at 186 Murray Road, Montpelier, VT 05602; e-mail wdoyle@leg.state.vt.us; or call 223-2851.

 

Previous Post

Key tax law changes that could impact your return

Next Post

Reiss’s Pieces

Next Post

Reiss’s Pieces

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Dining Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In