secretaries, were sent to each
legislator, under the direction of Mrs. Page. The measure was defeated
March 31 by 148 to 47.

1911. For the first time in many years, the Legislative Committee of
the State association, Mrs. Crowley, chairman, appeared, before the
Resolutions Committee of the political parties to urge the adoption of
a suffrage plank. The Democratic party inserted one favoring the
submission of the question to the voters; the Republican party ignored
it. The legislators were interviewed both at the State House and by
representative suffragists within their districts, and they received
suffrage literature. The hearing on February 23 was unusually
successful from a political and publicity standpoint. It was conducted
by Mrs. Crowley and was addressed by Mrs. Park and Mrs. Katharine
Dexter McCormick; John Sherman Weaver, representing the State branch
of the American Federation of Labor, and Henry Abrahams for the Boston
Central Labor Union. Sylvia Pankhurst addressed the committee in a
simple and effective way. Two of the opposition speakers were Mrs.
George and Professor Sedgwick. The debate was spirited and was
conducted for the suffragists by prominent Senators and
Representatives. Four members spoke in opposition. The vote in the
House was ayes, 69, noes, 161; in the Senate, ayes, 6, noes, 31.
During all these years a quiet but effective opposition had been
working at the State House under the direction of Charles R. Saunders,
legislative counsel for the Anti-Suffrage Association.

One of the most significant features in the fall of 1911 was the
political work of Miss Margaret Foley, as it marked the beginning of a
new type of effort. She had made a special trip to England the year
before with Miss Florence Luscomb and Miss Alice Carpenter to observe
the methods of the English suffragettes, who were then receiving great
publicity. After her return she began by attending with other women
the political rallies of the various candidates for the State
Legislature and at the close of each rally asking the candidate how he
stood on the question of Votes for Women. By her knowledge of crowd
psychology and gift as a speaker, she was able not only to handle but
to win the roughest crowd to the consternation of the candidates. When
the candidates for Governor started on their campaign, Miss Foley,
with a group of workers, followed the Republican candidate in a fast
automobile, attended all his meetings, spoke to