ly as 1887 Gov. David B. Hill, at the earnest request of the
State Suffrage Association, had recommended that women should have a
representation in the convention which would frame this revision. Miss
Susan B. Anthony, Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake, Mrs. Mary Seymour
Howell and Mrs. Caroline Gilkey Rogers addressed a joint committee of
the Legislature urging that women delegates should be permitted to sit
in this convention. Mrs. Blake also prepared a strong written appeal
which was sent to every member. Gov. Roswell P. Flower in his message
in 1892 made a similar recommendation. Again Miss Anthony, Mrs. Blake
and Mrs. Howell made a plea for women, this time before the Assembly
Judiciary Committee.

The original bill provided for a certain number of delegates to be
appointed by the Governor, among these four to represent the
Prohibitionists, three the Labor Party and three the Woman Suffrage
Association. The power of the Governor to appoint was afterwards
declared unconstitutional. A bill allowing three women delegates
passed the Assembly, but was defeated in the Senate. The act which
finally was secured provided that all the delegates should be elected,
and that there should be two representatives each for the Prohibition,
Labor and Socialist parties. None was granted to the Suffragists; but
the law said: "The electors may elect any citizen of the State above
the age of twenty-one years."

The following was then sent to each of the political party
conventions, through properly accredited delegates:

Among other duties incumbent upon the members of your honorable
body is that of nominating delegates-at-large to the convention
called for the revision of the State constitution. As women are
eligible to these positions we offer you the names of three who
have been selected by the executive board of the State W. S. A.
as their choice of delegates for that convention, with the hope
that you will accept them as candidates of your own.

The names presented were those of Miss Anthony, Mrs. Howell and Miss
Emily Howland, the last a large taxpayer and an excellent business
woman. The ladies were courteously listened to by the Democrats, and
refused an opportunity to speak by the Republicans. Similar efforts
were made in district conventions.

Both Republicans and Democrats, however, refused to nominate any
women, the compensation of $10 per day, in addition to the political
power conferred, m