he Republicans the
political urgency of granting the Presidential franchise to women.
After a hard campaign by the Legislative Committee of the State
Suffrage Association, with Mrs. Frank W. Dodson of Des Moines as
chairman, the Iowa legislators joined the procession and on April 4,
1919, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 38 ayes, 8 noes, the
House following on April 19 with a vote of 84 ayes, 2 noes.

RATIFICATION. When the Federal Amendment went to the last vote in
Congress, the Iowa delegation maintained its record on each vote
that had been taken, both Senators and ten of the eleven
Representatives--all but Harry E. Hull--casting their votes in the
affirmative. Immediately Mrs. Devitt of Oskaloosa, acting president,
and Mrs. Fred B. Crowley of Des Moines, corresponding secretary of the
State association, requested Governor William L. Harding to call a
special session of the Legislature to ratify it. It met on July 2 in
special session for this sole purpose. Men and women had made their
way early to the Capitol, filling the galleries and the rear of the
chambers. The legislators, too, were apparently as happy as boys, with
a new idea of real democracy in Iowa. It seemed like a gathering of
great-hearted, honest-of-purpose men who were eager to do an act of
justice. The joyous expressions of these men, who had taken hot, dusty
rides on day trains from their farms and stores in the scorching July
weather to come and cast their votes for ratification, assured the
women of victory. It was a wonderful moment. After a joint session at
10 a. m., to hear the reading of the Governor's message, by 11:40 the
vote had been taken in both Houses. Every Senator but two was present
and was recorded in the affirmative; the vote in the House was 96
ayes, 5 noes; E. H. Knickerbocker, Linn county; T. J. O'Donnell,
Dubuque; C. A. Quick and George A. Smith, Clinton; W. H. Vance,
Madison. Senators J. D. Buser of Conesville and D. W. Kimberly of
Davenport were absent. The former had voted against Presidential
suffrage and the latter had not voted.

An informal luncheon followed in one of the Des Moines tea rooms which
had often housed the suffragists in times of desolation and it was
turned into a jollification meeting. Three former State presidents and
other women spoke and there were many present for whom the occasion
meant the fulfillment of an idea to which they had given years of
devoted service.

FOOTNOTES:

[50] The His