Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/253

MAINE 239 would be a general damage to the cause and a waste of money. If it would plan instead to go into a campaign in 1919, taking three years for preparation, we should feel that it was far more certain of victory. Let us look at the resources you need to get and which you have not yet secured : ( i ) a fund to begin with of at least $5,000 or $6,000; (2) at least five State officers who can give practically all of their time, with the determination to win as many other people to the same sacrifice as they are making themselves. I most earnestly recommend that you ask your Legislature this year for Municipal and Presidential suffrage, making a good strong campaign for this, which it can grant without referring it to the voters/' A copy of this letter was sent to the president of the associa- tion and at its annual convention held in October it was read and a long discussion followed. A delegate thus reported it: "Only a few delegates agreed with her. Many women never having been in a campaign declared that victory was sure. The convention almost unanimously voted for the referendum and when the vote had been taken and the cheers had subsided, the grand sum of $500 was raised for the campaign. . . ." Never- theless the National Association at its next convention (still be- lieving that the referendum would not be submitted until 1918), voted to back the Maine campaign, although against the judgment of Mrs. Catt. 1 At the request of the Maine association the National Associa- tion made it possible for Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston to take the position of campaign manager. Through her extensive work for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union she was widely acquainted in church, club and suffrage circles, was experienced tmpaigning and an eloquent speaker. In her report after the election she said : "Maine presented as difficult a field for the conducting of a suffrage campaign as has ever been faced by any group of suffragists in any part of the country. The referendum was submitted the very last of February and as the election came trly in September only about six months' time was given us for the campaign. Deducting from this time the months of April 1 The above paragraphs have been copied for the sake of historical accuracy from an official report of tlic national corresponding secretary. Ed.