“ The crowning feature of the day was a parade of "suffrage children" the children of suffragists a long line mounted on ponies and bicycles down to the babies in the "go carts." The speech of the permanent chairman of the convention, a staunch suffragist, Robert Houston of Georgetown, Sussex DELAWARE 99 county, was a strong appeal for ratification and it called out the greatest outburst of enthusiasm of the day. The convention unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Legislature to ratify the amendment. ”

“ Prominent endorsers of woman suffrage have been the State Grange, Grand Army of the Republic, Ministerial Union, Central Labor Union and Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The last is the only leading woman's organization to give official sanction.
The annual State convention was held Nov. 6, 1901, at Newport, with three clubs — Wilmington, Newport and New Castle — under the presidency of Mrs. Martha S. Cranston. Dr. Shaw, vice-president-at-large of the National Association, was the speaker and the presence of reporters was an encouraging feature. ”

“ Governor John Hunn in his Message to the Legislature said : "The time is coming when the participation of women in all our civil affairs will be volun- tarily sought as an infusion of indispensable new elements into our citizenship." The convention of 1903 was held November 28 at Newport, with Miss Harriet May Mills of New York as the chief speaker. The master of the State Grange declared his belief this year in the equality of the sexes and urged that some provisions be made for the higher education of Delaware women. ”

“ To counteract this situation required weeks of hard work by the suffragists. Outside correspondents were secured who would send out the true story of the political intrigue underlying the failure to ratify. The Wilmington Morning News, under the ownership of Alfred I. du Pont, came out for ratification and made a strong fight for it to the end. In his message to the two Houses in joint session the Governor "Woman suffrage has been a subject of public discussion >ver half a century. It is not an agitation of the moment, it is a world wide question of right and wrong. ”

“ The interviewing of influential men was carried on with the organizing through the autumn.
Headquarters were opened in Dover in January, 1920, and effort from that time was for a special session. Resolutions endorsing ratification were secured from State and local Granges, from the State Federation of Women's Clubs, State Methodist convention, State Federation of Labor, State committees of Republican and Democratic parties, and the Wilmington City Republican Committee, the largest in the State. No 94 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE opposition was expressed by any organization. ”

“ The convention of 1902 took place November 8 in Wilmington. Miss Jane Campbell, president of the large Philadelphia county society, and Henry W. Wilbur of the Friends' society, New York, were the speakers from outside the State. During this year the W. C. T. U. and the Wilmington District Epworth DELAWARE 87 League passed suffrage resolutions. The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony was placed in travelling libraries. Women were urged to pay their taxes "under protest." ”

“ Catt, at the earnest request of the State asso- ciation, spoke at this hearing, and its president, Mrs. Ridgely; also Mrs. Florence Bayard Hilles, president of the Delaware branch of the National Woman's Party (Congressional Union) , United States Senators McKellar of Tennessee and Stirling of South Dakota came from Washington to urge ratification. People crowded into Dover from over the State and hot argu- ments took place in hotel lobbies and on the streets. The State anti-suffrage association was represented by Miss Charlotte Rowe of Yonkers, N. Y., employed by their national organization. ”

“ Factional differences in the Republican party; antagonism toward Gov- ernor Townsend; half-hearted interest and even treachery on the DELAWARE IOI part of certain Republican leaders. 2. Democratic opposition either because of the negro question or for national political reasons. 3. Influence of the liquor interests. The cost of the campaign to the National American Suffrage Association was approximately $4,500. The financial cost to the suffragists of the State could not be estimated and even more impossible would be an estimate of time and labor during many months. ”

“ A full suffrage bill was presented, the Congressional Union in charge. The State was canvassed for and against. Before the joint hearing on February 16 the bill had been re- ported favorably by committees of both House and Senate. It went to defeat, however, on February 23 by a vote in the House of 21 noes to 12 ayes, in the Senate on February 26 by a vote 6 noes to 8 ayes. Among the anti-suffrage leaders were c George Gray, General James H. Wilson, Miss Emily P. 1. Mrs. ”

“ Robin, Mrs. Ridgely, Mrs. Houston, Mrs. John Eskridge and others, Sussex county was organized and later Kent with the help of Mrs. James H. Hughes, Mrs. Roswell Hammond, Mrs. Emma Burnett, Miss Winifred Morris and others. ”

“ Mary Ware Dennett, corresponding secretary of the National Association, and Miss Mabel Vernon, of the Con- <>nal Union. The music was generously furnished as usual ly the treasurer, Miss Lore. There were now 174 dues-paying members and 560 registered sympathizers; 12 executive sessions >een held and 35 meeting. iS outdoors, and 10,000 fliers -aflets distributed. ”