that "it had not been proved that the influence of women for good
would be increased by the possession of the franchise." When asked if
he would submit the question of their full suffrage to the voters of
the Province he replied that this would mean only a vote by the men
and he was most desirous to ascertain the wishes of the women! No
attention was paid to either request. In 1916 the association again
went to the Legislature with a petition but Mr. Studholme's bill was
defeated. This year came the complete enfranchisement of women in all
the Provinces between Ontario and the Pacific Ocean. The women of
Canada had given their full share of the work and sacrifices demanded
by the war for two years but in the Province of Ontario not the
slightest recognition had been shown of their right to a voice in the
Government.

The franchise societies and the W. C. T. U. canvassed the whole
Province, circulating a monster petition for the full Provincial
franchise. A group of women in Toronto organized an Anti-Suffrage
Association and called a public meeting at which the suffragists were
denounced for "pressing their claims when all the thought and effort
of the Government should be given to the demands of the war." Up to
1917 neither the Liberal nor Conservative party had shown the least
favor to woman suffrage but now the former, which was out of power,
made it a plank of its platform and its leader, N. W. Rowell, on
February 20 at the opening of Parliament moved an amendment to the
speech from the throne providing for the full enfranchisement of women
in Ontario. It was declared out of order by Premier Hearst. A few days
later J. W. Johnson of Belleville, a private member, introduced a bill
for woman suffrage. On February 27 this bill was indorsed for the
Conservative Government by Premier Hearst, who said: "Having taken our
women into partnership with us in our tremendous task I ask, 'Can we
justly deny them a share in the government of the country, the right
to have a say about the making of the laws they have been so
heroically trying to defend?' My answer is, 'I think not.'"

Thus without discussion this act of justice for which women had
petitioned since 1903 was granted by a single word. Mr. Rowell and the
Liberals united with the Conservatives and the bill was passed Feb.
27, 1917. Although passed by a Union Government it was largely due to
the incessant efforts of the Liberal members in the past.

While in Quebec an