oughout the State. In Denver
a Woman's Republican League was formed which vied in size with the
organization of 1894. Mrs. Stanley M. Casper, a most efficient member
of the Equal Suffrage Club in the campaign of 1893, was president;
Mrs. A. L. Welch, vice-president and Miss Mary H. Thorn, secretary.
They organized every district in the city of Denver, appointing women
to look after the registration, secure speakers and get out the vote.
It was through this league that U. S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge came
to the State. Mrs. J. Ellen Foster and U. S. Senator J. B. Foraker
also spoke under their auspices, as well as other distinguished
orators, and from their own ranks Mrs. Hanna, Mrs. Lucy R. Scott, Mrs.
Peavey and Mrs. Thalia M. Rhoads.

The Colorado Woman's Bryan League were not less active, under the
following officers: Chairman, Mrs. Salena V. Ernest; vice-chairmen,
Mesdames Sarah Platt Decker, Katherine A. G. (Thomas M.) Patterson and
Mary L. Fletcher; secretary, Mrs. Helen Thomas Belford; treasurer,
Mrs. Harriet G. R. Wright.

Both organizations kept open headquarters, and the daily papers
contained long lists of parlor meetings held throughout the city,
addressed by men and women of prominence. The Bryan League was
fortunate in having among its own members many excellent speakers,
including Mrs. Decker, Mrs. Patton Cowles, formerly State
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Rose Kidd Beare, Mrs.
Bradford, Mrs. Dora Phelps Buell and Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Grenfell,
present State Superintendent, and Mrs. Heartz, now Representative,
both candidates for re-election, made many speeches.[190]

The committees of men and women worked together. On October 27 the
Woman's Bryan League held a rally of the Silver Parties and a
reception to U. S. Senator Teller at the Coliseum. The same evening
the Woman's Republican League gave a reception to their candidates at
Windsor Hall. Women seem to have an unsuspected gift for managing
large meetings. The Denver _Times_ (Republican) said: "The women have
shown an ability to handle campaigns for which they never were given
credit in the past."

In the election of 1900 the Republicans not only lost their electoral
ticket but carried fewer counties than they had done for years, yet
their vote of 26,000 for McKinley in 1896 was increased to 93,000; and
the Bryan vote was reduced from 161,000 to 122,700. John F. Shafroth
and John C. Bell, Fusionists, both strong advocates of woman suffr