The Suffragist, vol. 5, no. 54, January 10, 1917, p. 6

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1) The Woman's Party Convention at Chicago in June. Opening Meeting at Blackstone Theatre

Another Attempt to Obtain Aid from the President

DELEGATION of Democratic women A anxious to support the national Democratic ticket in the autumn elections, made a last appeal to the President, on July 3, to act before election time. They explained their desire shared by many other Democratic women, to work for the Democratic party, but stated that they felt compelled to oppose that party in the mext election if the administration continued to block the federal amendment. President Wilson replied to this deputation that he could not take any step at that time owing to the opposition of the southern Democrats in Congress who were against the amendment because of the race question. He gave the delegation to understand that “States' Rights" was no longer an objection in

Hughes Declares for the National Amendment HILE constant effort was being made to W obtain active support in Congress from the President and the Democratic leaders,

attention was also given to the Presidential candidate of the Republican party, and an extensive campaign was instituted to bring him to declare for the enfranchisement of women by national action. On July 31, the day following his speech of acceptance, Mr. Hughes publicly declared his support of the national suffrage amendment then pending in Congress. This was the first time that a presidential candidate of one of the two major parties had given his support to the federal amendment.

With Mr. Hughes' declaration the extension of the franchise to women by national action became one of the issues of the campaign.

Colorado Springs Conference

N August 10 in Colorado Springs the first O conference of the newly formed Woman's Party was held to consider action in the coming election. The conference presided over by the national chairman of the Woman's Party, and attended by representatives from all the suffrage states, decided to urge all women voters to register a protest vote against President Wilson and the Democratic candidates for Congress be-

cause of the opposition of the party to the national enfranchisement of women. The conference in addition to the business sessions had many delightful social aspects and ended with an enormous outdoor mass meeting, marking the opening of the Woman's Party election activities.

Election Campaign campaign of the Woman's Party was carried on with vigor in the twelve suffrage states beginning immediately at the conclusion of the Colorado Springs Conference.

During August and early September the developing of further organization among voting women was emphasized; later a thorough-going campaign of speeches, circularizing, and press work was undertaken. Inez Milholland was sent during the last month of the campaign as a special envoy by the unenfranchised women, as represented by the Congressional Union, to appeal to the woman voters to cast their vote on the suffrage issue and against the party that had blocked the enfranchisement of women. The campaign reached its highest point in each state with this appeal presented by Inez Milholland to the state