rs. Bessie Hughes Smith, Mrs. Martha Dunkel, Mrs. Ella Knowles
Haskell, Mrs. Adelaide Staves Reeder, Dr. Bertha Mackal McCleman, Mrs.
C. B. Nolan, Mrs. Donald Bradford, Madame F. Rowena Medini, Miss
Sarepta Sanders, Dr. Mary B. Atwater, Mrs. H. L. Sherlock, Mrs. Hughes
and Miss Mary C. Wheeler.

CHAPTER XXVI.

NEBRASKA.[107]

The History of the movement for woman suffrage in Nebraska from 1900
to 1920 naturally divides itself into three periods. The first period
extends from 1900 to 1912. During those years the organization was
supported by a small but faithful group whose continuous effort at
educating public sentiment prepared the way for the work that
followed. The second period included the years from 1912 to 1915,
during which time a campaign for full suffrage by an amendment to the
State constitution was carried on. The third period from 1915 to 1920
was marked by the passage of a partial suffrage law in 1917, which was
an issue during the preceding two years; an attack on that law through
the initiative and referendum; the successful defense of it by the
State Suffrage Association and the ratification of the Federal
Amendment at a special session in 1919, which marked the end of a long
contest.

Miss Laura Gregg, a Nebraska woman, was put in charge of the State
suffrage headquarters at Omaha in October, 1899, by Mrs. Carrie
Chapman Catt, chairman of the Organization Committee of the National
American Suffrage Association, and remained four years. During that
time conventions and conferences were held, much field work was done
and the membership was increased to nearly 1,200. At the annual
convention at Blair in October, 1900, Mrs. Catt, now national
president, was present. Mrs. Clara A. Young of Broken Bow was elected
State president, relieving Mrs. Mary Smith Hayward of Chadron, who had
pressing business obligations. Her section of the State, however,
remained one of the suffrage strongholds and she was always one of the
largest contributors. Other officers elected were, vice-president,
Mrs. Amanda J. Marble of Broken Bow; corresponding secretary, Miss
Nelly Taylor of Merna; recording secretary, Mrs. Ida L. Denny of
Lincoln.

In 1901 the State convention was held in Lincoln November 12-14,
welcomed by Mayor T. C. Winnett. A reception was given at the Lindell
Hotel to the fifty-six delegates and Mrs. Catt, who had spent sixteen
days in the State, attending conferences in Omaha and eleven other
pla