ike out the
word "white" in order to extend the franchise to colored men. Mr.
Cowan, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, offered an amendment to
strike out the word "male" also, and thus enfranchise the women
of the District. It was said his proposition was not made in good
faith, but simply to embarrass Republican legislation. However it
served a good purpose for all disfranchised classes, as the
amendment called out a notable debate,[524] lasting three days,
and received the votes of nine influential senators in its favor.
The voting of the newly enfranchised negroes at the May election,
1867, brought out in strong color the beauties of masculine
legislation, and immediately after there was a movement among the
friends of woman's enfranchisement. A meeting was called by James
and Julia Holmes at their residence, where the "Universal
Franchise Association" was organized.[525] As soon as their
meetings, regularly held, took on a serious air, the combined
power of the press was brought to bear upon them with the
determination to break them up. But the meetings were continued,
notwithstanding the opposition; and although most of the speeches
were good, they were often interrupted with hisses and yells, and
the police, when appealed to, failed to keep order, seeming
rather to join hands with the mob. In order to put a check on the
rabble, contrary to the spirit of the society, a fee was charged
at the door. Strangely enough, so great had the interest become,
the crowd increased instead of lessening, and night after night
Union League Hall was crowded, until the coffers of the
association contained nearly $1,000. The press of the city in the
meantime had kept up a fusilade of ludicrous reports, in which
the women were caricatured and misrepresented, all of which they
bore with fortitude, and without any attempt at reply. The
meetings continued through the year notwithstanding the cry of
the timid that the cause was being injured and fair reputations
blighted.

June 25, 1868, a deputation from the District Franchise
Association appeared, by appointment, before the House Committee
of the District, to urge the passage of the bill presented in the
House of Representatives by Hon. Henry D. Washburn, accompanied
by a petition signed by eighty women of t