candidates were
interviewed on woman suffrage personally or by letter. Many meetings
were addressed by national and international speakers.

This program was continued through 1915 and 1916. The State
conventions were held in November in Saginaw and Grand Rapids and Mrs.
Clark was re-elected president. Following the plan made by the
National Association, suffrage schools were held in Kalamazoo, Grand
Rapids and Detroit in March, 1917, with Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, Mrs.
T. T. Cotnam and Mrs. Nettie R. Shuler as instructors. Upon America's
entry into the World War in April, communities, counties, the State
and even the nation made demands on the association. Mrs. Clark called
together the heads of nearly forty organizations to coordinate the war
activities of Michigan women. The Rev. Caroline Bartlett Crane was
made chairman of the State committee, which afterwards became the
State Division of the Woman's Committee of the Council of National
Defense, Dr. Crane chairman.

Notwithstanding this situation, however, a bill to give a vote for
Presidential electors to women was introduced in the Senate and almost
simultaneously one in the House asking for another referendum on a
constitutional amendment by Representative Flowers, who had fought the
suffrage battle for nearly a quarter of a century. The association
protested but the sponsors of both bills were adamant. As a result
both bills were passed in March and April and it found itself in the
midst of a campaign on the referendum at this most inopportune time.
There was nothing to do but to plunge into it. Interest lagged,
however, as the women were absorbed in war work and there was a wide
belief that in recognition of this work the men would give the
suffrage without a campaign for it. Mrs. Catt, now national president,
did not share this view and she requested a conference with the State
workers. They decided to hold a State convention in Detroit, March
25-27, 1918, and she and Mrs. Shuler, national chairman of
organization, came to it. Mrs. Brotherton was serving as president and
it was one of the largest ever held. The names of the honorary
committee filled two pages of the program. It was welcomed by Mayor
Marx and many organizations of women were represented. Mrs. Catt
addressed the evening meetings and Mrs. Shuler spoke at the banquet in
Hotel Statler, where the convention took place.

The State Board presented a full report and program for war activities
but no p