mportant to have the
endorsement by this convention, representing 1,500,000 members,
appointed Mrs. Trout to secure favorable action if possible. The
Federation Board on request of Mrs. Pennybacker appointed a special
committee to confer with her and as the result of co-operation the
following resolution, presented by Mrs. Lucretia L. Blankenburg of
Philadelphia, an officer of the Federation, was adopted on June 13:

WHEREAS, the question of the political equality of men and women
is today a vital problem under discussion throughout the
civilized world, therefore,

_Resolved_, that the General Federation of Women's Clubs give the
cause of political equality for men and women its moral support
by recording its earnest belief in the principle of political
equality regardless of sex.

There were between 1,700 and 1,800 delegates present, representing all
sections of the country. The vote was viva voce and so overwhelmingly
in the affirmative that it was not counted. The Chicago _Tribune_
said: "The anti-suffragists made no fight against the resolution on
the floor of the convention, probably realizing they were hopelessly
outnumbered. There was a considerable chorus of nays when it was put,
but not enough for any one to demand a count." Afterwards the
Illinois members recommended Mrs. Trout as an honorary member of the
General Federation and she was unanimously elected.

By an interesting coincidence the day the suffrage resolution was
passed by the Biennial the State Supreme Court pronounced the Suffrage
Law constitutional. A banquet had already been planned by the State
association for that evening to be held in the Gold Room of the
Congress Hotel in honor of the General Federation, and it proved to be
a memorable occasion. Over a thousand women were present and nearly as
many more could not find room. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, Miss Mary
Garrett Hay and other well known suffragists, as well as the officers
of the Federation, made speeches.

All these events changed public sentiment in regard to the woman
suffrage question. As Congress was in session this summer its members
were unable to fill their Chautauqua lecture dates, and Mrs. Trout was
asked to make suffrage speeches at fifty Chautauquas in nine States,
filling dates for a Democrat, the Hon. Champ Clark, and for a
Republican, United States Senator Robert LaFollette, and for William
Jennings Bryan.

The State convention wa