ciation) in annual
convention assembled at ......, ......, 1900, and representing
fully ...... members, respectfully ask for the prompt passage by
your Honorable Body of a _Sixteenth Amendment_ to the Federal
Constitution, to be submitted to the Legislatures of the several
States for ratification, prohibiting the disfranchisement of
United States citizens on account of sex.

................, President.
................, Secretary.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Fifty-sixth
Congress of the United States:_

WHEREAS, The trend of civilization is plainly in the direction of
equal rights for women, and

WHEREAS, Woman suffrage is no longer an experiment, but has been
clearly demonstrated to be beneficial to society; therefore,

_Resolved_, That we, on behalf of [as above], do respectfully
petition your Honorable Body not to insert the word "male" in the
suffrage clause of whatever form of government you shall
recommend to Hawaii, Cuba, Porto Rico or any other newly-acquired
possessions. We ask this in the name of justice and equality for
all citizens of a republic founded on the consent of the
governed.[150]

"A number of large associations adopted these and returned them to me
duly engrossed on their official paper, signed by the president and
secretary and with their seal affixed; and I forwarded all to the
Senators and Representatives whom I thought most likely to present
them to Congress in a way to make an impression.

"The General Federation of Labor at Detroit was the first to respond.
I was invited to address its annual convention and, after I had
spoken, the four hundred delegates passed a resolution of thanks to
me, adopted the above petition for the Sixteenth Amendment by a rising
vote, and ordered their officers to sign it in the name of their one
million constituents.

"The National Building Trades Council at Milwaukee had an able
discussion in its annual meeting, based on my letter, and adopted both
petitions. This body has half a million members.

"The Bricklayers' and Masons' International Union of America was held
in Rochester, and invited me to address the delegates. They received
me with enthusiasm, passed strong woman suffrage resolutions and
signed both petitions. Afterwards a stenographic report of my speech,