ss purpose of acting on
the Federal Amendment, and in his Message when it convened he said:
"While no certainty exists that the favorable action of Nevada will in
1920 assure to the women of the United States the same voting
privileges which our own women enjoy by virtue of our State law, it
does appear certain that without our favorable action national
suffrage may be delayed for such a time as to withhold the right to
vote in a presidential election from millions of the women of
America."

To Mrs. Hurst, the one woman member, was given the honor of
introducing the resolution to ratify in the House. On her motion the
rules were suspended, the resolution was read the second time by title
and referred to the Committee on Federal Relations. A recess of ten
minutes was taken and when the Assembly reconvened a message from the
Senate was received stating that the resolution had passed
unanimously. The House committee recommended it and Mrs. Hurst moved
that it be placed on third reading and final passage. After this had
been done she thanked the Assembly for the honor accorded her and
closed a brief but eloquent speech by saying: "There is no necessity
of asking you to ratify, for I am proud of the men of the West and of
Nevada." As the vote was about to be taken W. O. Ferguson of Eureka
county announced that he would vote against the ratification; that he
was opposed to having the people of this State telling the women of
the Union whether or not they should vote and that he came to Carson
City especially to vote against the resolution. At this stage Speaker
Fitzgerald stated that twenty-seven Legislatures had already ratified
the amendment but so far as he was aware no woman had presided over
one taking such action and he had great pleasure in being able to
request Mrs. Hurst to take charge of proceedings during roll call.
Twenty-five members answered in favor of ratification, and one, Mr.
Ferguson, against it.

Mrs. Hurst declared the resolution carried. At the suggestion of
Assemblyman Sanai an opportunity was given to the women to address the
legislators. Those speaking were Mrs. Patrick, chairman, and Mrs.
Belford, secretary of the Ratification Committee; Mrs. Church,
president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, and Mrs.
Eichelberger, chairman of its suffrage committee; Mrs. Hood, regent of
the State University; Mrs. Maud Edwards, president of the W. C. T. U.,
and Mrs. L. D. Gassoway. All expressed their app