Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/371

MISSOURI 357 opposed to woman suffrage, was persuaded to report it favorably but it did not come to a vote in the Senate. 1916. As the Federal Amendment was now well advanced and the bad effect on it of the loss of a State campaign was clearly recognized, the National Board asked the officers of each State association to refrain from entering into one. Therefore it was agreed at the State convention in May, 1916, to give up the projected campaign. 1917. A bill for Presidential suffrage, which was approved by the national officers, was introduced. Headquarters were opened in the Capitol with Miss Geraldine Buchanan of Cali- fornia, Mo., in charge and a strong lobby of State women re- mained there during the session Mrs. Leighty, Mrs. Fordyce, Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs. Passmore and Mrs. Grossman of St. Louis. Mrs. Katherine Smith, daughter of Judge Walker, and Miss Matilda Dahlmeyer of Jefferson City gave effective aid. Percy Werner, a lawyer of St. Louis, agreed to defend its legal status before the Legislature if necessary and in January it was intro- duced by Senator Robert J. Mitchell of Aurora and Representa- tive Xick Cave of Fulton. It was reported favorably by the House Committee but when it came to a hearing before the Senate committee there appeared Miss Minnie Bronson from Xew York, secretary of the National Anti-Suffrage Association. The speaker in favor was Mrs. Fordyce, a granddaughter of the pioneer suffragist, Mrs. Beverly Allen. The House passed it by 87 to 37 but the Senate defeated it. Missouri women now turned their attention to furthering the ral Suffrage Amendment. The Congressional Committee appointed for this purpose worked indefatigably and early in January, armed with two large bundles of petitions for it, one i the State and one from St. Louis, aggregating 75,000 names, a delegation went to Washington. Mrs. Miller, vice- president of the National Association, arranged, with the assist- ance of Miss Mabel Stone, daughter of the Missouri Senator, William R. Stone, for a meeting in his office between them and State's members of Congress. They presented their petitions and made earnest appeals for the amendment. Suffragists throughout the State kept up a constant stream of