n the past five or six years a number of
professional and business women have joined the suffrage forces and
to-day they compose a majority of the active leaders.

No attempt was made to organize the State until Mrs. Emma Smith De Voe
was sent by the National Association in 1895. She visited most of the
prominent towns and formed clubs or committees. The first State
convention was called at Helena in September of this year by the
suffrage association of that city, Miss Sarepta Sanders, president,
and Mrs. Kellogg, secretary. It was assisted by Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Catt, chairman of the national organization committee, to whose
eloquent addresses was due the great impetus the cause received at
this time.[355]

Mrs. De Voe again visited the State in the spring of 1896. The annual
meeting took place at Butte in November. Mrs. Harriet P. Sanders, wife
of Senator Sanders, having declined re-election, was unanimously made
honorary president, and Mrs. Ella Knowles Haskell succeeded her in the
presidency. Nearly 300 members were reported.

A large and successful convention met at Helena in November, 1897,
when a State central committee was appointed, with Mrs. Haskell as
chairman and members in nearly every county. Madame F. Rowena Medini
was made president, but she left the State before her year of office
had expired and Dr. Mary B. Atwater filled her place. No convention
being held in 1897 or 1898 she acted as president until that of
October, 1899, when Dr. Maria M. Dean was elected. Mrs. Chapman Catt
was present.

To Mrs. P. A. Dann of Great Falls, a contemporary of Miss Susan B.
Anthony, too much honor can not be given for her years of service and
financial help. U. S. Senator Wilbur F. Sanders has been a loyal
friend. Foremost among the early workers for woman suffrage in Montana
was Mrs. Clara L. McAdow, whose energy and business talent made the
Spotted Horse, a mine owned by herself and husband, a valuable
property.

In July, 1889, Henry B. Blackwell, corresponding secretary of the
American W. S. A., came to Montana to present the question to the
Constitutional Convention. His address was received with warm applause
but the convention refused to adopt a woman suffrage amendment by 34
yeas, 29 nays. A resolution was presented that the Legislature might
extend the franchise to women whenever it should be deemed expedient,
thus putting the matter out of the hands of its proverbial enemies.
The measure had able champio