Kansas, national chairman of the League of Women
Voters, and Mrs. Charles Tiffany of New York were the principal
speakers. This year Miss Leila P. Andrews was elected president of the
Woman Suffrage Party and Mrs. Algeo president of the Providence League
of Women Voters.

* * * * *

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. After the defeat of a woman suffrage amendment to
the State constitution in 1887 and the refusal of the Legislatures
afterwards to submit it again the association decided to follow the
advice of Henry B. Blackwell and try to obtain a vote for presidential
electors, which could be granted by a law. The proposition, first made
in 1892, met with practically no support among the legislators and
finally further attempts to secure it were discontinued for years. At
the annual meeting of 1902 an address by Mr. Blackwell resulted in a
resumption of efforts to secure this law and in 1903 a petition to the
Legislature, signed by influential men and women, accompanied a bill
introduced in the Senate. A hearing was given but it was not reported
from committee.

In 1904 the bill was presented in the House and Senate and reported
favorably but defeated in both branches.

In 1905 there was increased activity to secure favorable action on the
bill. A little paper called _The Woman Citizen_ was issued as a
campaign document and a copy of it placed on the desk of every
legislator.[160] The _Remonstrance_, a small paper published by the
Massachusetts Anti-Suffrage Association followed, protesting against
it. The merits of the bill were presented at a well attended hearing
but no action was taken on it.

In 1906 a Senate hearing was given on the bill, addressed by Mr.
Blackwell. It was reported without recommendation and ably debated.
Senator Walter R. Stiness made a strong speech in its support and it
passed by 29 ayes, 7 noes. In the House the bill was referred to the
Committee on Special Legislation. Long petitions from prominent voters
were presented asking that it be reported but General Charles R.
Brayton, the Republican "boss" who for years controlled the
Legislature, seeing the strong sentiment in its favor would not permit
it to come to a vote. He admitted that he feared it would help the
Democratic party.

In 1907 the battle for the bill was renewed and among the petitioners
was Governor James H. Higgins. At two largely attended hearings nearly
every person gave a rising vote in favor. Mrs. Ch