the preceding convention--seconded the motion, and sustained it
with a forcible speech. Mr. Harrington made a speech in its
favor, and after a short and vigorous discussion it came to a
vote, which showed fifteen for the motion and fifty-two
against.[465]

About this time Nebraska was again visited by lecturers on woman
suffrage, who found an intelligent class of people, who, with
growing material prosperity, were kindly disposed toward
progressive ideas. Mrs. Margaret Campbell lectured in Nebraska in
1875, at about fifteen places between Kearney and the Missouri.
In 1877-8 and 9, Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony lectured at many
points. These, with some local lectures aroused an intelligent
interest in equal rights for women. It was attempted to give this
expression in the legislature of 1879. Resolutions were
introduced, favorable reports made and the subject treated with
kindly consideration, but for lack of time, or some one deeply
interested, nothing was accomplished.

The legislation of 1879 on the subject of equal suffrage
originated with Senator McMeans and C. B. Slocumb of
Fairbury. The former offered a petition from Thos. Harbine
and 160 others, asking a constitutional amendment
prohibiting the disfranchising of citizens on account of
sex. Referred to a committee of whom a majority recommended
that its consideration be indefinitely postponed. A minority
report was brought in by Orlando Tefft and Chas. H. Brown
recommending that the prayers of petitioners be granted. In
the House, at the same session, C. B. Slocumb presented the
petition of Calvin F. Steele and others, with a resolution
asking that the committee on constitutional amendments be
instructed to provide for the submission of an amendment
conferring the franchise upon woman. The resolution was
adopted, referred, and reported back with draft of an
amendment. The committee were Messrs. True, Windham, Batty,
Simonton, Mitchell, Sparks and Gaylord. On motion of Mr.
True the joint resolution was ordered to first reading; no
further mention appears of it.

The first suffrage society of the State was formed at Fairbury by
Mrs. H. Tyler Wilcox, and although this organization lived bu