official proceedings, which extended through two years and
caused Miss Anthony often to write, "I shall be glad when this
frittering away of time on mere forms is past." A basis of agreement
finally was reached, and the union was practically completed at the
National Convention which met in Washington, January 21, 1889. A
committee of thirteen was selected to confer with the committee from the
American. This consisted of Miss Anthony and Mesdames Hooker, Minor,
Duniway, Johns, Sewall, Perkins, Colby, Spofford, Brown, Blake, Gougar
and Foster Avery. The Woman's Tribune thus described the result:

At the business session, January 24, 1889, they reported in
substance as follows:

_Name, etc._--The association to be called the National-American W.
S. A. The annual convention to be held at Washington.

_Chronology._--The next annual meeting of the joint society to
be--as it would be for the National--the twenty-second annual
Washington convention.

_Work._--To be for National and State legislation protecting women
in the exercise of their right to vote.

_Representation._--As provided in the new National constitution.

Where two associations exist in one State and will not unite, both
are to be accepted as auxiliary societies.

An earnest debate followed. Miss Anthony threw her influence
strongly in favor of union and carried many with her, even those
who openly expressed themselves that their judgment would be to
continue the two societies. The vote was then taken on union,
thirty voting for, eleven against.

Miss Alice Stone Blackwell and Rev. Anna H. Shaw were present on
behalf of the American Association, accepted the deviations from
the propositions as presented by that association, and felt
reasonably certain that it would endorse their action.

[Illustration: Autograph: "Yours for equal rights, Alice Stone
Blackwell."]

No one person contributed so much toward effecting the union of these
two societies as Alice Stone Blackwell. On February 17, 1890, both
bodies met in Washington and it was decided that the official boards of
the two should form the voting force until the joint temporary
organization was completed. Councils were held in the great parlor and
dining-room of the Riggs House. Both Miss Anthony and Mrs. Stanton had
been willing, from the beginning of negotiations, to accept the
proposition o