anuary, 1897, Mrs. Bradford spent three weeks lecturing in the
State, and the president devoted a month to this purpose during the
autumn. The annual meeting convened in Bethany, December 7-9, Mrs.
Johns and Mrs. Hoffman being the principal speakers.

The convention of 1898 was held at St. Joseph, October 17-19, with
Miss Anthony and Mrs. Chapman Catt in attendance, and the board of
officers was re-elected.

In the fall of 1899 a series of conferences, planned by the national
organization committee, was held in twenty counties, being managed by
Mrs. Johnson and Miss Ella Moffatt, and addressed by Miss Lena Morrow
of Illinois and Mrs. Mary Waldo Calkins. These ended with a State
convention at Chillicothe in October.

The annual meeting of 1900 was held in St. Joseph during October, and
Mrs. Johnson was elected president.[352]

LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In 1887, through the efforts of Mrs.
Julia S. Vincent and Mrs. Isabella R. Slack, a bill was introduced in
the Legislature to found a Home for Dependent Children. The bill was
amended until when it finally passed it created two penal
institutions, one for boys and one for girls.

In 1893 a bill proposing an amendment to the State constitution,
conferring Full Suffrage on women, was brought to a vote in the
Assembly and received 47 ayes, 69 noes. In 1895 a similar bill was
lost in the Assembly.

In 1897, largely through the efforts of Miss Mary Perry, a bill was
secured creating a State Board of Charities, two members of which must
be women. This was supported by the Philanthropic Federation of
Women's Societies, who also presented one for women on school boards,
which was not acted upon.

Bills for conferring School Suffrage on women have been presented on
several occasions, but never have been considered. One has been
secured compelling employers to provide seats for female
employes.[353]

Dower and curtesy both obtain. If there are any descendants living,
the widow's dower is a life-interest in one-third of the real estate
and a child's share of the personal property. If there are no
descendants, the widow is entitled to all her real estate which came
to the husband through the marriage, and to all the undisposed-of
personal property of her own which by her written consent came into
his possession, not subject to the payment of his debts; and to
one-half of his separate real and personal estate absolutely, and
subject to the payment of his debts. If the hus