re sent in
from all parts of the State. Mrs. Diggs went to Mr. Butler's home and
secured a large number of these from his own constituents. A hearing
was given by the Judiciary Committee to a delegation of prominent
women and the bill was never reported.

As there seemed so much favorable sentiment it was hastily decided to
ask this Legislature to give women the right to vote for Presidential
electors, which would unquestionably be legal. Mrs. Johns and Miss
Helen Kimber looked after its interests with the Republican members;
Mrs. Diggs with the Populists. The evening of February 26, when the
vote was to be taken in the Senate, floor and galleries were crowded
with women of position and influence. Senator Fred Dumont Smith (Rep.)
had charge of the bill, and Senator G. A. Noftzger (Rep.) led the
opposition. The vote resulted in 22 yeas--16 Rep., 4 Pop., 2 Dem.; 13
nays--12 Rep., 1 Pop. The friends had every reason to believe the
House would pass the bill, but in the still small hours of the night
following the action of the Senate, its Republican members in caucus
decided that this might injure the party at the approaching State
election, and the next morning it was reconsidered and defeated by 14
yeas--9 Rep., 4 Pop., 1 Dem.; 23 nays--21 Rep., 1 Pop., 1 Dem.

LAWS: The constitution of Kansas, adopted in 1859, contained more
liberal provisions for women than had existed in any State up to that
time. It made the law of inheritance the same for widow and widower;
gave father and mother equal guardianship of children; and directed
the Legislature to protect married women in the possession of separate
property. This was not done, however, until 1868, the next year after
the first campaign to secure an amendment conferring suffrage upon
women. At this time a statute provided that all property, real and
personal, owned by a woman at marriage, and all acquired thereafter by
descent or by the gift of any person except her husband, shall remain
her sole and separate property, not subject to the disposal of her
husband or liable for his debts.

A married woman may make contracts, sue and be sued as if unmarried;
engage in any business or perform any services and her earnings shall
be her sole and separate property to be used or invested by her. The
wife can convey or mortgage her separate personal property without the
husband's signature. He can do the same without her signature except
such as is exempt so long as a man is marr