g interest around the leadership of its editor. Letters
were addressed to her from various sections of the State, urging
immediate action. The following from Mrs. Lucinda Russell will
show the interest felt:

TECUMSEH, Neb., December 4, 1880.

MRS. HARRIET S. BROOKS--_Dear Madam_: I have been shown a
form of petition for the suffrage which you enclosed to Rev.
Mary J. DeLong, of this place. Will you please inform me if
this is to be the form of petition to be presented during
the present session of the legislature? We wish the exact
words in order that we may have it published in our local
paper.

We think it best to call a meeting, even now at this
somewhat late day, and send women to Lincoln who will attend
personally to this matter. We have left these things
neglected too long. Will you call on all women of the State
who can do so to assemble at Lincoln during the session of
the legislature, appointing the day, etc.? I think we would
be surprised at the result. This town contains scarcely a
woman who is opposed to woman suffrage. We know we are a
power here; and we do not know but the same hearty support
which Tecumseh would afford may exist in many towns
throughout the State. All we need for good earnest work and
mighty results is organization.

L. R.

In accordance with these requests a meeting for conference was
called at Lincoln, January 19, 1881, Mrs. Brooks presiding. A
second meeting was held at the M. E. Church, January 22, and a
Lincoln Woman Suffrage Association was formed. A mass convention
was held January 26, and a State Association was formed next
day:[466]

The meeting of January 26 was held in the opera-house and
was presided over by Mrs. Franc E. Finch. The speakers were
John B. Finch, Rev. Mary J. DeLong, Judge O. P. Mason and
Mrs. Esther L. Warner. Reading and music filled the
programme. Mrs. DeLong's address was in behalf of the
prohibitory and suffrage amendments. Judge Mason's address
was afterwards printed for distribution. It showed how
forcible and eloquent the Judge could be when on the