, fought the suffrage amendment from
every possible angle but on March 7 the convention adopted it by a
vote of 76 to 34. If accepted by the voters it would eliminate the
words "white male" from Section 1, Article V, of the present
constitution. The enemies secured the submission of a separate
amendment eliminating the word "white." This was done to alienate the
negro vote from the suffrage amendment and the negroes were told that
it was a shame they should be "tied to the women's apron strings."

The new constitution was made by adding amendments to the old one and
the suffrage amendment went in with the rest. William B. Kirkpatrick,
chairman of the Equal Suffrage Committee of the convention, more than
any one was responsible for the acceptance of the amendment. Through
the whole convention he fought for it, sacrificing many things near
his heart--they could wait, this was the chance for woman suffrage.

The amendment was numbered "23" and at that time this number was
considered unlucky. The most illiterate could remember to vote against
that "23." The constitution was ready on May 31 and the special
election was set for Sept. 3, 1912. Three months of vigorous campaign
for the amendment followed. The German-American Alliance and the
Personal Liberty League, two associations representing the brewers'
interests, fought it in the field as they had done in the convention.
It was estimated that the suffragists spent $40,000 and it was learned
that the liquor forces first appropriated $500,000 and later added
$120,000 to defeat the suffrage amendment. The chief work of the
suffragists was done in the cities, although women spoke at picnics,
county fairs, family reunions, circuses, beaches, institutes, labor
meetings, at country stores, school houses and cross roads. More than
fifty workers came into Ohio from all directions to assist, the larger
number from the eastern States. They received no financial recompense
and gave splendid service. In August an impressive suffrage parade of
5,000 took place in Columbus.

The president of the German-American Alliance at a meeting in
Youngstown boasted openly that it defeated the amendment. It
advertised everywhere, by posters and in street cars, and had no
voluntary workers. It was evident that huge sums were being spent. The
amendment was lost by a majority of 87,455--ayes, 249,420; noes,
336,875. Only 24 out of 88 counties were carried and but one
Congressional district, the Eig