hteenth.

There was never any state-wide anti-suffrage association of women but
only small groups in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus. Most
of them were rich, well situated, not familiar with organized reform
work and not knowing the viciousness of their associates. The real foe
was the associated liquor men, calling themselves at first the
Personal Liberty League, later the Home Rule Association, appearing
under different names in different campaigns and they had in their
employ a few women who were connected with the Anti-Suffrage
Association. The amendment was lost in 1912 because of the activity of
the liquor interests and the indifference of the so-called good
people. More men voted on this question, pro and con, than had ever
voted on woman suffrage before in any State.

The amendment eliminating the word "white," left over from ante bellum
days, also was defeated and the new constitution retained a clause
which had been nullified by the 15th Amendment to the National
Constitution forty years before! The initiative and referendum
amendment was carried. The State Suffrage Association, therefore,
early in 1913, decided to circulate a petition initiating a woman
suffrage amendment to the constitution, as there was no hope that the
Legislature would submit one. It required the signatures of ten per
cent. of the voters at the last election, in this instance 130,000
names. It was drawn by an Ohio member of Congress, received at State
headquarters April 15, submitted to the Attorney General and held many
weeks. When returned, instructions were carefully followed. On
September 15 the first petition heads were received from the printer.

It was a new law and lawyers and laymen were uncertain about it. The
question of the validity of the petitions if circulated by women was
raised and a ruling was asked for. The Secretary of State decided that
women could circulate them and the Attorney General agreed. It was
feared by some that the petition head was faulty because it did not
contain a repeal clause and after three weeks of anxious waiting the
opinion was given that this was not necessary. Then arose another
point, that the names of the committee standing for the petition must
be on it. This constant objecting and obstructing led the suffrage
leaders, upon advice of their attorney, to withdraw the petition and
await the action of the special session of the Legislature. It passed
the initiative and referendum sa