strength that lies in combination,
a knowledge which was a sealed book to the isolated and undeveloped
women of past generations. No other influence has been so powerful in
enabling woman to discover herself and her possibilities.

There will be no more important element to be reckoned with during the
coming years of the new century than these great associations of
women, constantly gaining strength and momentum, not alone by the
increase of membership but also by its personnel, for now they are
beginning to be composed of college graduates, of property owners, of
women with business experience. More and more they are directing their
attention to public questions, and when brains, wealth, executive
ability, enthusiasm and a strong desire for an honest and moral
government are thoroughly organized in the effort to obtain it, they
must necessarily become a powerful factor in State and national
affairs, and one which inevitably will refuse to be held in a
disfranchised condition after it shall realize the supreme power which
inheres in the suffrage.

There is still another and a more important point of view from which
this subject should be studied. Here are more than 4,000,000 women,
about one-third of all in the country, banded into active, working
organizations. The figures given above show that they are raising and
expending millions of dollars and every dollar for some worthy object.
The list demonstrates beyond question that every one of these great
associations exists for the purpose of improving the conditions of
society and helping and bettering humanity. They represent the highest
form of effort for education, morality, temperance, religion, justice,
patriotism and co-operation. Are not these the very qualities most
needed in our electorate? Is not the nation suffering because of the
lack of them since it has placed the ballot in the hands of ignorance,
immorality, intemperance and lawlessness? Does not an emergency exist
for a political influence which shall counterbalance these and tip the
scale the other way? Can the Government afford much longer to delay
the summons for this great, well-organized, finely-equipped force--if
it is to perfect and make permanent the institutions of the
republic?

FOOTNOTES:

[498] The National Suffrage Association is not included in the list,
as twenty-one chapters of this volume are devoted to its work. It was
the intention to give the name of the president of each organi