Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/389

NEBRASKA 375 county was 5,000 signatures over 9,000 had passed through the hands of the county chairmen on their way to the Secretary of State. Three days later Mrs. J. W. Crumpacker of Kansas appeared in Omaha to organize the opposition forces. The anti-suffragists, led by Mrs. Arthur Crittenden Smith, announced a meeting at Turpin's Hall on the afternoon of February 23. Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge, president of the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, and Miss Minnie Bronson, secretary, both of New York, addressed the meeting. Forty people were present, including five reporters and a number of suffragists. Those who joined at that meeting were Mesdames Edward P. Peck, William Archibald Smith, T. J. Mackay, E. A. Benson and Misses Ada Alexander, Genevra March and Minnie Martison. A temporary committee on organization was ap- pointed consisting of Mesdames Arthur C. Smith, J. C. Cowin, Her- man Kountze, J. W. Crumpacker, E. A. Benson; Misses Wallace, Riley, Alexander and McGaffney. . . . The next evening a public meeting was held at the American Theater, addressed by Mrs. Dodge and Miss Bronson, who were introduced by John L. Webster. 1 On March n the district chairman, Mrs. Richardson, and county chairman, Mrs. Lindsey, with a group of workers, sorted, checked and made into neat parcels the precious sheets of paper, which Mrs. Draper Smith carried to Lincoln that after- noon. Possibly half a dozen men had circulated petitions but the bulk of the 1 1,507 names were obtained in Omaha by women. On March 14 the completed petition for submitting the amend- ment was filed with the Secretary of State in the presence of the Governor. Although only 37,752 signatures were required it had 50,705 and these represented sixty-three counties instead of the required thirty-eight. They were accepted without ques- tion and the amendment was submitted to the voters at the gen- eral election, Nov. 4, 1914. From that time until the election strenuous and unceasing ef- forts were made to secure votes for the amendment. Many prominent Nebraska men and women spoke and worked for it and a number were brought into the State. On July 6 was issued talc Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was formed, whose Executiv. mittre consisted of Mesdames Edward Porter Peck, chairman; Hc-nry W. Yatrs. Jnlm ~ Cowin, J. W. Griffith, W. H. Koenig, L. F. Crofoot, Gerrit Fort, John L. Webster, Arion Lewis, Arthur ('rittendm Smith, T. J. M.ukiv, F. N. Conner; Miss lanrt M. Wallace, with Mrs. William Archibald Smith, secretary, and Mrs. Frank J. treasurer; Mrs. S. II. P.urnham of Lincoln, Mrs. J. D. Whitmorc and Mrs. Fi< Ashton of Grand Island. Mrs. A. D. Sears, Mrs. Cha .,,.-1 Miss Maud May rnont, with Mrs. Crumpacker as special representative of the National Ass... in the headquarters at 536 Bee Building.