Laura Moore." Miss Scott, her
companion and co-worker, who passed away in her 92d year, left a
bequest of $1,000 to the association.

At the convention in Rutland Oct. 12, 13, 1908, among the speakers
were the Reverend Mary Traffern Whitney and Mrs. Annette W. Parmelee,
State superintendent of press. The association voted to become
auxiliary to the National Association. A letter was read from former
Governor Fletcher D. Proctor, declaring himself in favor of the
movement and willing to assist it. Signatures to the suffrage petition
this year included the names of Governor George H. Prouty, Lieutenant
Governor John Abner Mead and Secretary of State Guy Bailey.

In 1909 the convention held at Barre June 4, 5, decided to concentrate
its efforts on a State constitutional amendment to be voted on in
1910. A press report of the convention said: "Henry B. Blackwell,
although 84 years of age, is a commanding figure and his voice as it
rings forth in tones of conviction is more like that of a man in his
prime than of one who has passed his four-score milestone." It
therefore was a great shock when the news came on September 7 that
this far-visioned leader had passed from earth. The State suffragists
owed him a debt of gratitude which could only be repaid by carrying
forward his life work.

In 1910 and 1911 the association so sadly bereft by death held no
convention but the work did not cease. Miss Chase, now a national
organizer, formed new leagues; Mrs. Parmelee sent out 3,057 pieces of
mail, circularized the clergy, conducted thirty-seven debates, wrote
131 newspaper articles, furnished leaflets to ninety W. C. T. U.
units, sent _Woman's Journals_ to every graded school and every
library in the State and circulated literature at the county fairs.
She also prepared a leaflet, Seventeen Reasons Why Women Should Vote,
wrote and superintended the production of a play entitled A Mock
Session of the Legislature and spoke at legislative sessions,
churches, granges and parlor meetings. She was ably assisted in this
work by the secretary, Mrs. Canfield, who had charge of the large
Vermont and New Hampshire tent at the State Fair at White River
Junction, where speeches were made, literature distributed and
signatures obtained. Fourteen speakers were kept busy. The pastors of
all the churches in the State were circularized and as a rule were
sympathetic.[187]

In 1912 the convention was held at Montpelier on June 7, with
Professor