The Suffragist, vol. 5, no. 56, January 31, 1917, p. 7

Boxes

Presidential Suffrage Won in North Dakota

National Conventions of the Congressional Union and the Woman's Party

HE passage of the presidential suffrage bill T in North Dakota 23 is a splendid new proof of the rising tide of suffrage and a great gain in the campaign for the Susan B. Anthony amendment. On January 24, Mrs. Elizabeth D. O'Neil, state chairman of the North Dakota branch of the Congressional Union, telegraphed to Miss Alice Paul at headquarters

“Presidential and municipal suffrage bill has been signed by the Governor. North Dakota women this small victory may contribute to the successful passage of the federal amendment."

The North Dakota suffrage bill, framed like the Illinois suffrage bill, was introduced in the legislature about two weeks ago, was passed by both houses at once and was the first bill that Governor Frazier signed. Partial suffrage will go into effect on July 1 of this year. Next November North Dakota women will vote for most county and municipal officers. And in 1920 they will vote for president of the United States.

The victory in North Dakota raises the number of states in which women affect national policies by voting for president to the goodly number of thirteen. There are about 125,000 women in North Dakota who from now on possess a national power that all parties must take into consideration. Women will now vote for five more members of the electoral college. Hereafter four and a quarter million of enfranchised women will take their part in deciding ninety-six electoral votes—nearly one-fifth of the whole electoral college of 531 members. One-third of the Senate and one-sixth of the House now come from states in which women vote.

LANS are swinging rapidly forward for the p conventions of the Congressional Union and the Woman's Party to meet in Washington during inauguration week. The following calls have been sent out by the committees of the two organizations.

Call to the Second National Convention of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage

HE second national convention of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage will be held at the national headquarters in Washington, March 1, 2, 3 and 4, 1917. “Since we last met in convention the national administration and Congress have been made aware as never before of the political power behind the demand for suffrage. Great strides have been made in the mobilization of women voters. A Woman's Party has been formed to

RS. ELIZABETH DARROW O'NEIL, of M Fargo, district chairman of the North Dakota branch of the Congressional Union, was one of the twenty prominent women of the state in

Mrs. Elizabeth Darrow O'Neil Congressional Union Chairman in North Dakota and Leader in the Campaign Which Won Presidential Suffrage

utilize their political strength. The national conventions of all parties have recognized the principle of suffrage, and three parties have pledged their support to suffrage by federal action. A presidential candidate of one of the two dominant parties has declared for the national suffrage amendment. Voting women, through the Woman's Party election campaign, have made the political freedom of women a national issue which all political parties must now face.

“We ask you to meet with us at the beginning of the new administration to plan how we may best use this strategic situation so that suffrage shall dominate all other issues and the long struggle for woman's freedom be brought to an end.

“Alice Paul, N. J., Chairman Lucy Burns, N. Y., Vice-Chairman Mabel Vernon, Nev., Secretary : Alva E. Belmont, N. Y. Harriot Stanton Blatch, Kans.

Governor Frazier's office when the suffrage bill was signed. She and her sister, Mrs. Mary Darrow Weible, were leaders in the campaign for the bill's passage. These two women know from most intimate experience the twenty-four-year fight for state suffrage now partially won. They are daughters of the late Mrs. Clara Louise Darrow, the pioneer worker for suffrage in North Dakota. Mrs. Darrow gave her time, her money and her life to the movement for those years.

The first time the suffrage amendment came up, about twenty-five years ago, it passed the House, but while the Senate was considering it, the House changed its mind, and when it was returned from the Senate after much discussion, all mention of the bill was wiped out of the records, as though it were a disgrace to the state. In 1914 occurred the first suffrage referendum, which measure failed to pass.

It was after this unsuccessful referendum that the notable suffrage leaders of the state, Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs. Charles Amidon, wife of Judge Amidon and intimate friend of Mrs. Clara Louise Darrow, and her daughter, Miss Beulah Amidon, now national organizer for the Congressional Union, decided to turn their energies to federal suffrage. A branch of the Union was organized with the help of Miss Vivian Pierce, national organizer for the Union, and the North Dakota women have since proved a strong group in the campaign for the national amendment. In the case of this state suffrage bill they have lent their help because of the extraordinarily favorable influences behind it and the added power it will give them as partial voters to work for full federal suffrage.

Eunice Dana Brannan, N. Y. Matilda Hall Gardner, D. C. Edith Houghton Hooker, Md. Elizabeth T. Kent, Cal. Dora Lewis, Pa. Anne Martin, Nev."

Call to the Second National Convention of the National Woman's Party HE officers of the National Woman's Party, T in accordance with the authority given them by the national convention when the party was organized in Chicago last June, issue this call to a convention to be held in Washington, D. C., on March 1, 2, 3 and 4, at the same time and place as the convention of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage.

“The National Woman's Party was organized for the sole purpose of securing the national enfranchisement of women through amendment to the United States Constitution.