to the Resolutions
Committee of the Republican National Convention.

The State convention of 1917 was held in Hartford November 7, 8, and
the reports showed that attention had been concentrated on the three
measures before the Legislature--a bill for Presidential and Municipal
suffrage; a bill for Excise suffrage (a vote in local option), and a
resolution for a State constitutional amendment also but both bills
were defeated in House and Senate. The amendment resolution, however,
secured a majority in the House and as the constitution provides that
the House alone shall consider an amendment on its first presentation,
this victory insured that it should pass to the next Legislature for
final action. Through the whole of 1917 much work also was done for
the Federal Suffrage Amendment, deputations being sent to each of the
U. S. Senators and Representatives from Connecticut.

The suffragists felt the urge of patriotism and Mrs. Hepburn in the
name of the association offered its services to Governor Marcus A.
Holcomb. The offer was graciously received though not definitely
accepted but requests for clerical help came to suffrage headquarters.
In response some 540 hours of work were given by volunteers. A Central
War Work Committee, under the auspices of the association, was formed
in April, immediately after the declaration of war, the chairmanship
held first by Miss Ruutz-Rees, who had been a member of the executive
board of the association from 1910. When she was made chairman of the
Woman's Division of the State Council of Defense, the chairmanship was
taken by Miss Katharine Ludington and other leading suffragists gave
their services. The War Work Committee had chiefly to do with food
conservation and $5,350 were collected by it for this purpose.

In addition to the money contributed by suffragists for war work, the
income of the association for the year was $29,933. At this convention
Mrs. Hepburn, who had been strongly stirred by the jailing of the
members of the National Woman's Party at Washington, announced her
intention of working with that organization and Mrs. Bennett refused
re-election for the same reason. Miss Ludington was elected president,
with Miss Mabel C. Washburn as treasurer. Mrs. Seton, who had been
vice-president since 1910, retained her position and Miss Ruutz-Rees
remained. Miss Ludington had shown her qualifications for the State
presidency, first as president of the Old Lyme Equal Franchise