he
convention of the State Federation of Labor, held in Augusta in April,
1900, and in response to her address it called on its members to
demand a change in the United States Constitution which should secure
the legal and political equality of women. A strong suffrage plank was
added to the platform of the federation, and Miss Griffin was invited
by it to address the Legislature in the interest of the Child Labor
Bill, which it had championed so unsuccessfully for a number of years.

One result of the State suffrage convention held in Atlanta in 1899,
was that the following petitions were ordered to be circulated and
returned for presentation to the legislative committees in the fall of
1900:

1. That the University of Georgia be opened to women.

2. That women be members of the boards of education.

3. That women physicians be placed on the staff of the State
insane asylum.

4. That women be made eligible to the office of president of the
State Normal and Industrial College for Girls.

5. That the "age of protection" for girls be raised from 10 to 18
years.

6. That girls of eighteen be permitted to enter the textile
department of the State Technological School.

Four bills were considered by the Legislature of 1900 in which the
women of the State were deeply interested. All failed, and many of
them now see that Legislatures, like juries, should be composed of an
equal number of men and women to secure exact justice for both.

The Child Labor Bills, introduced by Representative Seaborn Wright and
C. C. Houston, to prevent the employment in factories of children
under ten and under twelve years of age were defeated by a vote of
more than three to one.

The Textile Bill was read twice in the House but failed to secure a
third reading. Lyman Hall, president of the school, was in favor of
the bill.

The Age of Protection Bill, introduced by Representative C. S. Reid,
was very quietly handled. Only one paper (the Atlanta _Daily News_)
informed the public that it would be made the special order for
November 15. It was defeated by 71 ayes, 77 noes. At the request of
women Mr. Reid moved that it be reconsidered November 16, which
resulted in its being voted down by a larger majority than the day
before. Mr. Reid thought it well that his bill was defeated, since it
only asked that the "age of protection" be raised from 10 to 12 years.

The suffragists asked that