271]

The first State convention following the defeat of 1894 was held at
Winfield, December 6, 7, of that year. Mrs. Johns was once more
elected president, but the profound disappointment over the defeat of
the amendment made it impossible to revive organization or interest to
any satisfactory degree.

From 1887 until 1895 Mrs. Johns was the efficient and devoted
president of the State association. As she declined to serve longer,
the convention which met at Eureka, November 21, 22, elected Mrs. Kate
R. Addison to this office. Mrs. Addison began her official work with
much hopefulness, established a monthly paper, the _Suffrage
Reveille_, and succeeded in enlisting new workers in the cause. Miss
Laura A. Gregg, State organizer, added a number of clubs and over 200
members.

In June, 1896, Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Stetson was brought into the
State for twenty-seven lectures, beginning with the Chautauqua
Assembly at Winfield. The annual meeting took place at Topeka,
November 10, ll, and Mrs. Addison was re-elected.

The convention of 1897 was held at Yates Center, December 8-10, and
Mrs. Addison was continued in office. Mrs. Stetson had again made a
lecturing tour of the State and a general revival of interest was
reported.

Miss Anthony and Mrs. Chapman Catt were present at the State
convention in Paola, Oct. 21, 22, 1898. Mrs. Abbie A. Welch, a pioneer
in the cause, was elected to the presidency. During this year Mrs.
Johns and Miss Gregg organized a number of counties, and the press
superintendent, Mrs. Alice G. Young, did effective work with the
newspapers.

The annual meeting of 1899 was held in Kansas City, October 9-11, and
was the most largely attended since the great defeat. Gov. John P. St.
John was the orator of the occasion. The Rev. Father Kuhls, a Catholic
priest, spoke as a disbeliever in woman's enfranchisement, which
furnished inspiration for a reply by Mrs. Diggs. This event created an
interest equalling the old-time enthusiasm, and it was believed that
the hour for renewed activity had struck. Mrs. Diggs was made
president, and it was unanimously resolved to take up again the work
for full enfranchisement.

The convention of 1900 was held in Olathe, December 18, 19. The State
at the recent Presidential election having gone strongly Republican,
Mrs. Diggs thought it not political wisdom to remain at the head of
the association and Miss Gregg was elected president. When it was
learned that she