s introduced an equal suffrage resolution
in the House. It was not initiated by the suffragists and apparently
not introduced to advance woman suffrage, as it was said to contain a
"joker." Nevertheless, when it became known that the bill had been
introduced they appealed to Representative Hearst of Fayetteville,
chairman of the Judiciary Committee, for a hearing. On the day and
hour that it had been promised Mrs. Chester Jennings, Mrs. J. W.
Markwell, Miss Julia Warner, Mrs. Rutherford Fuller and Mrs. D. D.
Terry went to the Capitol but were unable to find either Mr. Hearst or
his committee. On March 11, however, the committee met at the Marion
Hotel, as it was customary to hold committee meetings at night in the
hotel, and a hearing was granted to the women. Miss Olive Gatlin (now
Mrs. Leigh) and Mrs. Fuller made excellent speeches which seemed to
make an impression. Later the suffrage resolution was reported to the
House and received six favorable votes.

1913. House joint resolution giving women the right to vote was
introduced by Robert Martin. This year the suffragists had a most
successful hearing before the House Committee on Constitutional
Amendments. The president of the Senate, W. K. Oldham, Lonoke; Judge
W. L. Moose, Morrillton, and Rabbi L. Witt, Little Rock, made eloquent
pleas in addition to those of the women. The committee reported the
resolution favorably and the vote was 35 for, 55 against.

Between the two Legislatures the State Woman Suffrage Association was
formed and its influence was immediately felt in political circles.

1915. Senator George W. Garrett, Okolona, introduced a joint
resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution giving women
full suffrage and it passed by 23 to 12. The House called a night
session for the third reading. A resolution signed by Representatives
Yearger of Chico county, Dunlap of Phillips and Wilson of Jefferson to
allow a representative of the Woman Suffrage Association ten minutes
in which to present the reasons for the enfranchisement of women
passed and Mrs. Cotnam was introduced, the first woman ever given the
privilege of the floor. The vote was 51 in favor, 18 opposed, with 31
absent. The amendment failed to get on the ballot, as under the
Arkansas law only three amendments could be submitted at one election
and the next morning before this one could be properly recorded the
Federation of Labor had filed an initiated amendment with the
Secretary of S