Instruction Harris Hart and members of
the Legislature who had made the fight for ratification. Mrs. Maud
Wood Park, president of the National League of Women Voters, gave an
inspiring address and extensive plans for future work were made. A
reception was given by the wife of the Governor assisted by the
officers of the league. On November 10, in the Senate chamber, the
State League of Women Voters was organized with Mrs. Valentine
honorary chairman; Mrs. John H. Lewis honorary vice-chairman and Miss
Adele Clark chairman.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. For improved conditions for women in industry,
child labor laws and all welfare legislation before the General
Assembly in the past ten years individual members of the league have
labored assiduously. The league as an organization, however, has
confined itself to work for suffrage, knowing that the vote gained
"all things else would be added."

1900. When the constitutional convention met to draft the present
State constitution, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the
National American Woman Suffrage Association, and a small group of
Virginia and other southern women appeared before it and Mrs. Catt
urged it to embody woman suffrage in the new constitution but this was
not done.

1912. The first resolution proposing an amendment to the State
constitution enfranchising women was introduced in the House by Hill
Montague of Richmond and the hearing granted by the committee created
statewide interest. The speakers were Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. Lewis, Miss
Johnston, Mrs. Bosher, Miss Randolph, Clayton Torrence and Howard T.
Colvin of the State Federation of Labor, later Assistant U. S.
Commissioner of Labor. The vote in the House was 12 ayes, 84 noes.

1914. The resolution for a State amendment was again introduced in the
House and a hearing granted by the Committee on Privileges and
Elections. Mrs. Valentine presided and introduced the following
speakers: Mrs. Desha Breckinridge of Kentucky; Mrs. Kate Waller
Barrett of Alexandria, State regent of the D. A. R.; Mrs. Putney, Mrs.
Lewis, Mrs. Barksdale of Richmond, Miss Mason, Miss Lillie Barbour,
State factory inspector, and Mr. Colvin. The vote was 13 ayes, 74
noes.

1916. The resolution for a State amendment had its first public
hearing before a joint committee of the House and Senate. The speakers
were Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. J. H. Whitner of Roanoke, a vice-president
of the State League; Miss Eudora Ramsey and Miss Adele Clark of