mpaign.

* * * * *

The campaign of 1915 had been one of the highways, and of spectacular
display. That of 1917 was of the byways, of quiet, intensive work
reaching every group of citizens. The campaign was launched at a
meeting in Aeolian Hall, March 29, where the addresses of Mrs. Catt
and Miss Hay aroused true campaign fervor, the former saying: "Some
foreign countries have given the franchise to women for their war
work; we ask it that our women may feel they have been recognized as
assets of the nation before it calls on them for war work."

The suffragists offered their services to the Government, even before
it declared war; the State Party to the Governor, the City Party to
the Mayor. The later said in a resolution adopted February 5: "We
place at the disposal of the Mayor of this city for any service he may
require our full organization of over 200,000 women, thoroughly
organized and trained and with headquarters in every borough." The
mass of the members stood solidly behind this offer. A War Service
Committee was appointed with Mrs. F. Louis Slade as its chairman and
it accomplished work that was not exceeded, if indeed equalled, in any
city of the United States. Nine other committees were also appointed.

The leading features of the campaign of 1917 were the war work and the
enrolling of women. In 1916 when Mrs. Catt started a canvass to obtain
a million signatures of women to a petition to answer the argument,
"Women do not want to vote," the City Party took as its share the
securing of 514,555 in Greater New York. This accomplished, the
signatures mounted on big placards were placed on exhibition at Party
headquarters, now in East 38th Street, and a little ceremony was
arranged during which Mayor John Purroy Mitchel and other prominent
men made commendatory speeches. Debarred from outdoor meetings during
the summer of 1916 on account of an epidemic and during the summer of
1917 because of war conditions, the following was nevertheless
accomplished:

Meetings 2,085
Leaflets distributed 5,196,884
Money expended $151,438
Canvassed and enrolled women 514,555
Women secured to watch at polls 5,000
Campaign headquarters maintained 40
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