d municipal officers, which could
be granted by the Legislature itself, received 59 ayes and 40 noes in
the House; 18 ayes and 24 noes in the Senate.

During the summer of 1916 for the first time the women "antis" deemed
it necessary to do active work. They established headquarters at the
capital with a manager in charge and made an open campaign. To answer
their old stock argument, "Women do not want the vote," a state-wide
plan of petitions by the women of each county was adopted and every
one where the work was well done showed a good majority in favor. On
November 7 when the first election returns came from those counties
that usually indicate the result of the whole State, the Associated
Press sent the news broadcast that South Dakota had been carried for
woman suffrage by a large majority, but again it was the same old
story, principally the foreigners, especially the Germans, had once
more denied to American women the privilege which they, themselves,
had acquired so easily. The returns showed 53,432 in the affirmative;
58,350 in the negative, an opposing majority of less than 5,000.

Each campaign had shown a growth in favorable sentiment and there
seemed every reason to believe that another one would be successful.
The National Association agreed with the State in this opinion and
were ready to cooperate, so it seemed best to ask the session of 1917
to give one more opportunity. The Legislature was well trained by this
time and willingly passed the resolution, the Senate by 31 ayes, 12
noes; the House by 66 ayes, 27 noes. After it had adjourned and before
definite plans for a campaign were completed the country was plunged
into the World War and misgivings arose in the minds of the executive
board as to the wisdom of an undertaking which would make demands on
the time of the women. After much prayerful deliberation the unanimous
decision was reached that since this war was being fought for the
establishment of world democracy and this question was undoubtedly one
of democracy, there must be no turning back, but that the campaign
must be managed in such a way as to require the services of as few
women as possible. No further effort was made to organize county
leagues but a committee of three was elected in each county to look
after its interests except in those already well organized. Not much
was done this year beyond laying a foundation for the necessary work
of the next year.

In January, 1918, Governor Pe