arduous work of the past year would be undone. The outstanding feature
of the year's work was the special hearing in the Legislature on the
Act to Amend the Constitution so as to Give Woman Suffrage. In
November, 1914, the legislators had been polled on the suffrage
question, A few did not answer; fifteen were flatly opposed; twelve
were in favor; the majority declared themselves open to argument. At
the hearing held in the hall of the House with a large audience
present Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National Association,
was the chief speaker. Others included Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Reilley,
Mrs. Adelaide Goodno, president of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union; Mrs. Al Fairbrother and Mrs. Thomas W. Lingle. Miss Henderson,
Legislative Committee chairman, presided. The measure was defeated.
The committee recommended that future efforts be concentrated on
Presidential and Municipal suffrage bills. Mrs. Charlotte Malcolm of
Asheville was elected president.[135]

There was no convention in 1916 but two were held in 1917. The first
met in the auditorium of the Carnegie Library, Greensboro, Jan. 12,
13. Mrs. Walter McNab Miller, first vice-president of the National
Association, was the principal speaker, addressing a mass meeting of
representative people in the Opera House. Mrs. J. S. Cunningham was
elected president. During 1916 Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs of Alabama
made addresses in the State and Miss Gertrude Watkins and Miss Stokes,
national organizers, assisted in forming clubs.

The second convention for 1917 met in the Wayne county Court House,
Goldsboro, Oct. 30, 31, Mrs. Cunningham presiding and speaking.
Colonel Joseph E. Robinson and J. F. Barrett made addresses. The
principal speaker was Mrs. Jacobs, then auditor of the National
Association. A fine collection of suffrage literature was presented
from Chief Justice Clark. During the year Mrs. Miller had spoken
several times in the State and delivered the commencement address at
the North Carolina College for Women. Mrs. Jerman cautioned the
various leagues against affiliation with the Congressional Union, now
called the Woman's Party, whose representatives were then at work in
the State. Mrs. Cunningham was re-elected president.

At the annual convention in the Woman's Club Building, Raleigh, Jan.
10, 1919, Miss Gertrude Weil was elected president and Mrs. Josephus
Daniels honorary president. The chief speaker was the Hon. William
Jennings Bryan, wh