of any State take their equal part in this great national
election and their complete equality is assured. Without change
of State or Federal Constitution, without ratification by the
individual voters, a simple majority of both houses of any
Legislature at any time in any State can confer upon women
citizens this magnificent privilege, which will carry with it a
certainty of speedy future concessions of all minor rights and
privileges. It is amazing that no concerted effort has been made
until recently to secure this right, so easily obtained and of so
much transcendent importance. Especially is it strange that in
States where iron-bound constitutional restrictions forbid any
exercise whatever of local or municipal woman suffrage and where
the social conditions make an amendment of State constitution
almost impossible, suffragists allow year after year to elapse
without any effort to get the only practical thing possible,
action by the State Legislature conferring Presidential suffrage
on women. Suffrage in school or municipal elections cannot give
us a full and fair test of the value of equal suffrage or of
woman's willingness to participate. Suffrage in State elections
cannot be had without amendment of State constitutions, always
difficult and usually impossible of attainment in the face of
organized opposition. Why not then avail ourselves of this
unique, this providential opportunity?
Among other committees reporting was that on Church work, Miss Laura
De Merritte (Me.) chairman, and her recommendations were adopted that
the committee on National Sunday School lessons be asked to prepare
one each year on the rights and duties of women citizens; that
ministers of all denominations be urged to preach one sermon each year
on this topic; that all women's missionary societies be requested to
make it a part of their regular program at their annual conventions
and that a place be sought on the program of national conventions of
the Epworth League and Christian Endeavor Societies to present the
question of woman's enfranchisement. The valuable report of the
Committee on Industrial Problems Relating to Women and Children by the
chairman, Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby (D. C.) said: "Everyone can recall
instances of discrimination against women by factories, business
firms, school boards and municipalities, making it plai
|