this convention that an official invitation was extended for them to
hold a Suffrage Day on Oct. 17, 1895, in the Woman's Congress Assembly
Hall. This was accepted by Miss Anthony on behalf of the National
Association, and under the guiding hand of Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery,
its corresponding secretary, Suffrage Day was one of the very best of
the many days celebrated during the Woman's Congress. The State
association also fitted up a booth in the Liberal Arts Building and
large quantities of literature were distributed by Mrs. H. M. Tripp,
who kindly took charge.

The first State convention was held in Atlanta, Nov. 28, 29, 1899. The
following resolution, offered in the Legislature by Representative
Martin V. Calvin, was adopted: "The use of the Hall of the House of
Representatives is hereby granted to Mrs. Virginia D. Young of South
Carolina, Miss Frances A. Griffin of Alabama, and Mrs. Isabella Webb
Parks of Georgia, on the 28th inst., for the purpose of delivering
lectures on the scope of the elective franchise."[224]

The first evening session was held in the State capitol. Mrs.
McLendon, the president, called the meeting to order. The address of
welcome for Georgia was made by Mrs. Thomas; for Atlanta, by its
president, Mrs. Swift; Miss Gresham responded to both. Mrs. Young,
Miss Griffin, Mrs. Maxwell and Mrs. Parks delivered addresses to a
large and interested audience.[225]

LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In 1888 the Hon. Augustus Dupont applied
to the Legislature for a city charter for the town of Dupont, and
sought to secure suffrage to all persons, male or female, owning
property in the corporation, but failed.

In 1895 the Atlanta association presented two bills to the
Legislature--one to raise the "age of protection" for girls from 10 to
18 years; the other, drawn by Charles A. Reid, a member of the society
and an able lawyer, to take the necessary measures for granting equal
legal and political rights to women. Neither was reported from the
committees.

In 1897 Representative Martin V. Calvin introduced a bill to make a
woman eligible to serve on the staff of physicians at the State insane
asylum, but it failed to pass.

In 1898 an effort was made to secure a bill providing police matrons
in every city of 10,000 or more inhabitants, and one to exempt the
property of women from taxation until they should be permitted to
vote. Both failed.

Miss Frances A. Griffin appeared for the Georgia W. S. A. at t