ed
in attendance and interest any that session the bill was indefinitely
postponed by a House vote of 61 ayes and 31 noes. An active lobby was
maintained and every available influence brought to bear to get the
bill on the Senate calendar but it was killed in committee.

Between the close of this Legislature and the opening of the one of
1917 unforeseen events caused a marked change in the attitude of Rhode
Island politicians. Its delegates to the Democratic and Republican
national conventions in 1916 had recognized the party expediency which
compelled a plank in the national platforms in favor of woman
suffrage and voted for it. At the Republican State convention in
September U. S. Senator LeBaron B. Colt, who had been non-committal on
the question, came out with a decisive pronouncement in its favor. The
Republicans saw the handwriting on the wall. They recognized that the
votes of western women had re-elected President Wilson. For the first
time since the Republican party was organized, a Democratic U. S.
Senator was elected. Both parties were on the alert for any issue that
might bring re-inforcements.

Once more Presidential suffrage was the objective and Governor
Beeckman repeated his endorsement. The bill was introduced in the
Senate Feb. 8, 1917. The association's Legislative Committee worked
without ceasing. The suffragists throughout the State were well
organized and loyally backed the committee. Petitions, letters and
telegrams showered the legislators. The endorsement of the Republican
State Committee was secured. Meanwhile the Legislatures in half a
dozen States granted Presidential suffrage. The time had come for
Rhode Island. On April 11 the bill passed the Senate by 32 ayes, 3
noes. There was an organized attempt to defeat it in the House by one
for a referendum to the voters but by the efforts of Richard W.
Jennings and Daniel E. Geary, Republican and Democratic floor leaders,
it was defeated. On April 17, after four hours' debate in the presence
of hundreds of women, the bill passed by 71 ayes, 20 noes. This was
the fifteenth time it had been before the Legislature. On April 18 it
was signed by the Governor.

RATIFICATION. As soon as the Federal Amendment was submitted by
Congress June 4, 1919, the suffrage organizations began to ask for a
special session of the Legislature for ratification but it was deemed
best by Governor Beeckman for various reasons to wait until the
regular session in January,