of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association, gave addresses in six cities in the State,
arrangements for which were made by local suffragists, and a great
deal of interest was aroused. In 1903 a business conference was held
in Jackson, at which Mrs. Butt and three other women were present, to
consider whether anything could be done for the cause of woman
suffrage. In 1904 enrollment cards were distributed in a limited and
unsystematic way, letters were sent to members of the Legislature,
State officials and others and literature was distributed. An
inspiring feature was the visit of Dr. Anna Howard Shaw,
vice-president at large of the National Association, who spoke in
three cities.

Early in December, 1906, Miss Belle Kearney of Flora, formerly
organizer for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, at this time a
public lecturer, returned from an absence in Europe and on the 21st,
in response to a call sent out by her, a meeting was held in the
parlor of the Edwards House in Jackson. Those in attendance were Miss
Kearney, Mrs. Butt, Mrs. Edward Sloan and Dr. Delia Randall. By
invitation Dr. William La Prade of the First Methodist Church opened
the meeting with prayer, after which he retired leaving these four
women to reorganize the State Suffrage Association. Mrs. Nellie Nugent
Somerville of Greenville was in touch with the conference by telegraph
and Mrs. Lily Wilkinson Thompson of Jackson, physically unable to
attend, received reports from the meeting at her telephone. In this
historic hour the breath of a new life was blown into the expiring
association and from that time it grew and thrived. The officers
elected were Miss Kearney, president; Mrs. Somerville, vice-president;
Mrs. Thompson, treasurer.

During the following spring Miss Kearney, lecturing in the State on
sociological subjects, spoke unfailingly for suffrage and wherever
possible organized clubs. Press work was taken up earnestly by the
newly elected superintendent of that department, Mrs. Thompson. All of
the over two hundred editors in the State were interviewed by letter
in regard to their attitude towards woman suffrage and space was
requested for suffrage items. Twenty-one agreed to publish them, only
two openly declining. Among the friendly editors were L. Pink Smith of
the Greenville _Democrat_, J. R. Oliphant of the Poplarville _Free
Press_, Frank R. Birdsall of the Yazoo _Sentinel_, C. E. Glassco of
the Cleveland _Enterprise_, Joseph