ittee of women carried it to
Guthrie and Secretary of State Cross complimented its excellent
arrangement. So quietly had it been secured that the "machine"
politicians were astounded and dismayed when it was presented and
plans were at once made to attack its validity. Senator Roddie was
chosen to protest it on the ground that 5,000 of the signatures were
fraudulent but he offered no proof of the charge. Three eminent
lawyers, Judge J. B. A. Robertson, Democratic candidate for Governor;
Judge T. L. Brown, a Republican, and P. J. Nagel, a Socialist, gave
their services to the suffragists. The first argued for the justice of
submitting the amendment; the second defended the legality of the
petition and the third demanded recognition of the 38,586 voters who
had signed it. Secretary of State Cross announced a recess until 2 p.
m. At that hour he declared that the petition was "in due form of law
and amply sufficient in all things and that the question thereby
proposed should be certified to the Governor to the end that the same
may be submitted to the electors of the State as is provided by law."
Senator Roddie then appealed to the Supreme Court, which in June,
1910, sustained the petition.

Believing that the petition would be upheld the suffragists had opened
headquarters in the Lee Huckins Hotel in Oklahoma City February 1.
There was hope of a special election for the amendment, in which case
it could be carried by a majority of those voting on it. If it went to
the regular election it would require a majority of the highest
number of votes cast. It finally went over to the general election.
There was no money for salaries and very little for expenses. Mrs.
Boyer conducted a very efficient publicity service and was obliged to
fill many appointments as a speaker, besides having all the office
work in charge, making it necessary for her to toil far into the
nights. Mrs. Biggers carried on the work during Mrs. Boyer's absences.
Often there was no money for postage and Dr. Gay would go out and beg
a few dollars from some friend of the cause.

It being a State campaign year there were many opportunities for work
at picnics and tent meetings arranged for the candidates. The
Democrats were the dominant party and principal opposers. Among their
candidates were few avowed friends or active helpers and some were
openly and bitterly opposed. Women who had never made a public speech
had to meet their eloquence and sophistry. Mrs.