nized committees all over
the State at the eleventh hour and petitions bearing 12,000
signatures were filed July 3, within 90 days after the Legislature
adjourned, as required. As there was doubt about the constitutionality
of this referendum, the State Supreme Court, on July 9, 1919, was
requested by Governor Milliken to decide. On August 6 the Court
rendered its decision that the Act came within the provisions of the
initiative and referendum. As the petition did not ask for a special
election the Governor sent out a proclamation for the referendum to be
submitted at the next general election Sept. 13, 1920. The Federal
Suffrage Amendment was declared to be adopted on August 26 but there
was no way in which the referendum could legally be omitted from the
ballot. Therefore on September 13 the women, already having full
suffrage, went to the polls to vote on getting partial suffrage and
the official count showed 88,080 ayes, 30,462 noes.

RATIFICATION. Governor Milliken called a special session of the
Legislature for November, 1919. In his message he recommended the
ratification of the Federal Amendment in the strongest possible
manner, saying that if only one woman in Maine wanted to vote she
should have the chance. The anti-suffrage forces of the entire country
were concentrated on Maine at this time to prevent ratification and it
was with the greatest difficulty that a movement to postpone action
until the regular session was defeated. The amendment was ratified in
the Senate on November 4 by 24 ayes, 5 noes; in the House on November
5 by 72 ayes, 68 noes. After the vote was taken an attempt to
reconsider was made but was unsuccessful.

The same Legislative Committee of women that had charge of the
Presidential bill had charge of the ratification.

* * * * *

At the annual convention of the State Suffrage Association in Portland
in October, 1919, it was voted to hold a School for Citizenship at
Bates College in August, 1920. Mrs. George M. Chase was made chairman
of the Committee of Arrangements and the work was largely carried out
by Miss Rosamond Connor, 100 women from many parts of the State
attending and deriving much benefit. Mrs. Nancy M. Schoonmaker was the
principal instructor. At a meeting of the association in Augusta on
November 12 it was merged into the League of Women Voters with Miss
Mabel Connor as chairman.

Suffrage work in Maine was carried on for many years in