“ In 1904, to the amazement of the suffragists, the act of 1894 was repealed which gave School suffrage to the women of the three third-class cities, Lexington, Covington and Newport. The reason given was that too many illiterate negro women voted. It was made a strict party measure, but one Dem- ocrat voting against the repeal and but one Republican for it. Following this action the women went to work to obtain School suffrage for all women in the State able to read and write. ”

“ Propaganda work has been done by means of the press and the lecture bureau, by the offering of prizes in schools and colleges for the best essays on woman suffrage and at the State, Blue Grass and county fairs through speaking and circulating litera- ture. In recent years many newspapers have given editorial support and many more have given space for frequent articles furnished by the press bureau. Notable among those of recent date is the Louisville Courier- Journal, in which for many years Colonel Henry Watterson inveighed against woman suffrage in immoderate terms. ”

“ By mutual agreement bills in the Legislature have been managed sometimes by one and sometimes by the other. In addition to organizing the suffrage forces and creating favorable sentiment the principal work of the State Association has been to secure action by the Legislature for suffrage and better laws and conditions for women. ”

“ In 1912 the suffragists accepted the invitation of the Perry Centennial Committee to have a suffrage section in the parade in Louisville and their "float" attracted much attention. This is believed to have been the first suffrage parade in the South. In 1914 amendments to the new primary law were made by the Legislature securing the right of women to vote in the primary elections for county superintendent of schools. ”

“ The Equal Rights Association voted at its convention in Jan- uary, 1920, to change its name to the League of Women Voters as soon as ratification of the Federal Amendment was complete or Presidential suffrage granted. The league was fully organ- ized on December 15, with Miss Mary Bronaugh of Hopkins- ville chairman. The first vice-president of the State Equal Suffrage Associa- tion, Mrs. South, was elected as chairman of the Women's Division of the National Republican Committee, and the second president, Mrs. Castleman, as Kentucky member of the Na- tional Democratic Woman's Committee. ”

“ Every member of this General Assembly is unequivocally committed by his party's platform declaration to cast his vote and his influence for the immediate enfranchisement of women in hnth nation and State. Party loyalty, faith-keeping with the people and our long-boasted chivalry all demand that the General Assembly shall break all previous speed records in ratifying the Federal Suffrage Amendment and passing all measures granting political rights to women. By agreement, a Democrat, Senator Charles M. Harriss, pre- <1 the resolution for ratification in the Senate, and a Repub- lican. ”

“ In the rest of that century, under the leadership of Miss Laura Clay, with the able assistance of such women as Mrs. Josephine K. Henry, Mrs. Eliza Calvert Obenchain and many others, much was accomplished in the improvement of the laws and in other ways beneficial to women. ”

“ He had voted against it in February, when, having passed the House, it was lost in the Senate by a single vote. RATIFICATION. The November legislative election in 1919 re- sulted in a Republican House and a Democratic Senate. The Republicans caucused and agreed to vote for ratification. Gov- ernor Morrow urged it in a vigorous message personally deliv- ered to the Legislature in which he said : A government "of the people by the people" can not and does not exist in a commonwealth in which one-half of its citizens are denied the right of suffrage. ”

“ Mary C. Roark, afterwards head of the Eastern Kentucky Normal School, was a leader. Mrs. A. M. Harrison, member of tin 1 school board in Lexington, was prominently identified with tin- effort. This proved a long, hard struggle, as it was considered 21O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE an entering wedge to full suffrage by the liquor interests and ward politicians of the cities and was bitterly fought. ”