ts of Mesdames Minnie Hardy Gist, Bessie Vaughn, M. C. Arter, W.
J. Sibert and Miss B. M. Haley.

In 1892 and 1893 the _Woman's Column_, published in Boston, was sent
by the National Association to 1,500 teachers, ministers, school
superintendents, editors, legislators and other prominent people, the
names being furnished by Mrs. Hildreth. A State organization was
effected in 1893, with Mrs. Hildreth, president, and Miss Griffin,
secretary.

In 1895 Miss Susan B. Anthony, president of the National Association,
and Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of its organization committee,
who were making a southern tour, were asked by the New Decatur Club to
include that city in their itinerary. They were also invited by Mrs.
Alberta Taylor to address her society at Huntsville. These visits of
the great leader and her eloquent assistant aroused much interest, but
the financial depression prevented active work.

Mrs. Virginia Clay Clopton was elected State president in 1896; Mrs.
Annie D. Shelby, Mrs. Milton Hume and Mrs. Taylor were made
vice-presidents; Mrs. Laura McCullough and Mrs. Amelia Dilliard,
recording secretaries; Mrs. Hildreth, corresponding secretary; and
Mrs. E. E. Greenleaf, treasurer. Mrs. Clopton represented the
association at the Tennessee Centennial in 1898. Opposition is so
great that it has been deemed wise to do nothing more than distribute
literature and present the arguments in the press.

A State convention was held at Huntsville, Oct. 1, 1900, Mrs. Taylor
presiding. Mrs. Clopton being obliged to resign, Miss Griffin was made
president. Mrs. Hume and Mrs. Robert Cunningham were chosen
vice-presidents; Mrs. Greenleaf, treasurer; Miss Julia Tutweiler,
State organizer.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In January, 1893, through the influence
of the suffrage association, Senator J. W. Inzer presented a bill to
amend the State constitution so as to permit women to vote on
municipal questions and prohibitory liquor enactments. It never was
reported from the Judiciary Committee.

In 1895, at the desire of the New Decatur Club, Representative Osceola
Kyle introduced a bill raising the "age of protection" for girls from
ten to fourteen years, and a similar one was offered for the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. Although these efforts were not successful
then, public attention was drawn to the subject, and at the next
session, in 1897, the age was raised to fourteen years with a penalty
of death or imprisonm