notaries
public; in 1916 one permitting women to practice law, which the
suffragists had worked for since 1899; in 1918 one raising the age of
consent to 14. The suffrage association had worked for it twenty-three
years and always asked that the age be 18.

* * * * *

In 1912 another association to further the movement for woman suffrage
was formed in Atlanta, the Woman Suffrage League, and Mrs. Frances
Smith Whiteside, who had been from early days a member of the old
association, was elected president. Mrs. Whiteside was for thirty
years principal of the Ivy Street school and during the first ten
years of the existence of the State Association she was the only
teacher who dared avow herself a member, as the very name of suffrage
was so odious to the public. Through her family connections and wide
acquaintance she was able to exercise a strong personal influence in
bringing well-known men and women to a belief in this cause. The
league did active work among teachers and business women and converted
some of the leading legislators. It inaugurated an educational
campaign in the schools and gave business scholarships for the best
essays on woman suffrage. In co-operation with the other associations
it obtained signatures to petitions for the Municipal franchise. The
first street speaking was done under its auspices.

When Leagues of Women Voters were authorized by the National American
Suffrage Association in 1919, the organization disbanded and the
members entered the league formed in Georgia. Mrs. Whiteside had been
continually the president and there had been only two changes in the
board of the following officers: First vice-president, Mrs. Elizabeth
McCarty; second, Miss Laura Barrien; corresponding secretary, Mrs.
Jack Hawkins; recording secretaries, Mrs. William H. Yeandle, Mrs.
Mary Peyton; treasurer, Miss Ethel Merk; auditors, Mrs. A. G. Helmer,
Miss Minnie Bellamy. Mrs. Yeandle died in 1915 and Mrs. Mary Peyton
was elected in her place. This year Mrs. Helmer became president of a
branch league and was succeeded as auditor by Miss Minnie Bellamy.

THE EQUAL SUFFRAGE PARTY OF GEORGIA.[36]

For some time there had seemed a necessity in Georgia for an
organization which would undertake more aggressive work in behalf of
woman suffrage. Early in 1914 the psychological time for it became
apparent and a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Emily C. McDougald
in Atlanta. A group of i