THE CONGRESS OF WOMEN.

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ized at the close of the first convention, held in Battle Creek in 1870, which has done the usual work of aiding in the formation of local societies, circulating tracts and peti­tions, securing hearings before the legislature, and holding its annual meetings from year to year in the different cities of the state.

Legislative action on the question of woman suffrage began in Michigan in 1849; continued in the legislatures of 1855, 1857 and 1859, until in 1874 “A bill for sep­arate submission to a vote of the people on an amendment to the constitution relating to woman suffrage,” was passed by the legislature. Everything that could be done was done by the friends of the amendment throughout the state, but it did not succeed. The liberal action of the legislature in passing the bill, of Governor Bagley in sign­ing the bill, the appeals of the women, nor the votes of forty thousand of the best men of the state—all of these w T ere of no avail. A blight fell on the spirits of the advocates of the movement. The State Equal Suffrage Association still continued its work amid many discouragements. And a few heroic women in Michigan never ceased in their efforts. Prominent among them are Mrs. Mary Knaggs, Mrs. Martha E. Root, both of Bay City; Mrs. Mary L. Doe, Mrs. Emily B. Ketchum, of Grand Rapids, with Mrs. Helen P. Jenkins, Mrs. A. A. Boutelle, and Mrs. C. E. Fox, of Detroit, who have all taken an active part in legislative work and to whom great honor is due for the course they have pursued in obtaining the recent municipal suffrage bill for the women of their state.

The work in Detroit ceased publicly until in 1887 the Detroit Equal Suffrage Association was formed, with Hon. Thomas W* Palmer as chief mover and director, who has ever been ready to help the movement for woman suffrage, not only in Michigan, but throughout the United States, with his speech, his pen, his money, and the immense personal influence at his command. This association has never been strong in point of numbers, but if the strength of an association is to be measured by unanimity, moral courage and enthusiasm among its members, and work accomplished by its members, then is this association strong, indeed. Brought together more for the purpose of mutual support and sympathy, than for any definite plan of action, their work has come to them more rapidly and with more imperative demands than they have been able to perform. Very soon after the inception of the society, a prac­tical plan of work for extending the suffrage was determined upon, which reached its consummation when the amendment to the charter of the city of Detroit was passed in the legislature of 1889, which gave school suffrage to the women of the city of Detroit. That a very large number of women have so keenly appreciated this priv­ilege and have so generally availed themselves of its advantages has been the most telling argument in favor of still further extending the suffrage by means of the “ Municipal Suffrage Bill for Women.” This bill has been brought before the legis­lature for the last ten years, with varying fortunes.

The discussion in the legislature of 1893, over this “ Bill for Municipal Suffrage for Women,” lasted many hours, and was marked by many and unusually trying inci­dents. Bitterly opposed by some of the members of the legislature, it was ably cham­pioned by others. After an exciting contest the bill was finally adopted by that body Governor Rich has since signed the bill and it is now a law' in Michigan. At first the argument was that women did not want to vote, and would not vote if they had the chance; but, in the meantime, the school election took place in Detroit. The interest and vigor shown by the women, in this election, convinced an objecting member that the women of Michigan do want to vote. When the bill came up the second time, with the educational clause in it, this member voted for it, and his vote carried the bill through the legislature. The law provides:

“ That in all school, village and city elections, women who can read the state con­stitution printed in English, shall be allowed to vote for all school, village or city offi­cers, and on all questions pertaining to school, village and city regulations, on the same terms and conditions as prescribed by law for male citizens, if able to read at least one section of the state constitution.