It is extremely rare to find a prominent man in Kansas, except certain
politicians, who openly opposes woman suffrage. With a very few
exceptions the most eminent cordially advocate it, including a large
number of ministers, lawyers and editors. It would require a chapter
simply to catalogue the names of well-known men and women who are
heartily in favor of it. Had Kansas men voted their convictions,
Kansas women would long since have been enfranchised, but political
partisanship has been stronger than the sense of justice.

FOOTNOTES:

[263] The History is indebted for this chapter principally to Mrs.
Annie L. Diggs of Topeka, State Librarian and former president of the
State Woman Suffrage Association. The editors are also under
obligations to Mrs. Laura M. Johns of Salina and Mrs. Anna C. Wait of
Lincoln, former presidents.

[264] See History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. I, p. 191.

[265] See History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. III, Chap. L.

[266] At this meeting, on motion of Mrs. Johns, the yellow ribbon was
adopted as the suffrage badge, in honor of the sunflower, the State
flower of Kansas, the one which follows the wheel track and the
plough, as woman's enfranchisement should follow civilization. It was
afterwards adopted by the National Association in recognition of
Kansas, then the most progressive State in regard to women. Those of a
classical bent accepted it because yellow among the ancients signified
wisdom.

[267] Secretary, May Belleville Brown; treasurer, Elizabeth F.
Hopkins; Mrs. S. A. Thurston, Mrs. L. B. Smith, Alma B. Stryker, Eliza
McLallin, Bina A. Otis, Helen L. Kimber, Sallie F. Toler, Annie L.
Diggs; from the National Association, Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of
the organization committee, Rachel Foster Avery and Alice Stone
Blackwell, corresponding and recording secretaries.

[268] Now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kansas.

[269] Of Mrs. Diggs' speech Mrs. Johns writes: "It was one of the most
masterly arguments I ever heard. At one point she said: 'The great
majority of you declare that woman suffrage is right, (a roar of
'yes,' 'yes,' went up), and yet you oppose this plank. Are you afraid
to do right?' Her reply to the flimsy objections of the chairman, P.
P. Elder, was simply unanswerable. She cut the ground from under his
feet, and his confusion and rout were so complete that he stood
utterly confounded. That small woman with her truth and eloquence had
slain the Goliath