terms on the suffrage measure. The men of Sussex, the most
southern county, were particularly hostile and at a meeting in
Georgetown hundreds of them protested not only against the School Code
but also against prohibition and woman suffrage. It was the
representatives of these men who eventually blocked ratification in
the House and it was their two leaders, Daniel Layton, chairman of the
State Central Committee, and former Governor Simeon S. Pennewell,
whose influence caused much of the opposition. Governor Townsend, who
aimed to raise Delaware from thirty-second place in educational ranks
by the new code had aroused the personal antagonism of some of the
leaders, but when it became apparent that Delaware was vitally needed
to complete ratification he laid aside his fears that the code would
be repealed and called a special session.

Suffrage mass meetings were held in all parts of the State and the
week before the Legislature met Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, addressed
large audiences in Wilmington and Dover. The Ratification Committee
appealed for more help and Miss Marjorie Shuler, national director of
field publicity, was sent and later Miss Betsy Edwards for political
work. When the special session opened not one of the three daily
papers was supporting ratification, public meetings were being held by
the "antis," their publicity was being sent broadcast to the
metropolitan press of the country and the impression was created that
the whole State was opposed to ratifying. To counteract this situation
required weeks of hard work by the suffragists. Outside correspondents
were secured who would send out the true story of the political
intrigue underlying the failure to ratify. The Wilmington _Morning
News_, under the ownership of Alfred I. du Pont, came out for
ratification and made a strong fight for it to the end.

In his message to the two Houses in joint session the Governor said:
"Woman suffrage has been a subject of public discussion for over half
a century. It is not an agitation of the moment, it is a world wide
question of right and wrong. Your supreme duty is to think and act for
the good of your State and nation." Separate resolutions were
introduced in Senate and House, the former by a Republican, John M.
Walker of Hockessin, the latter by Walter E. Hart, Democrat, of
Townsend, the only one of eleven Democrats in the House who favored
it.

On March 25 there was a hearing before the General Assembly. The