nd women were found willing to give the measure
their indorsement. The third annual meeting was held at Carson City,
October 30, with delegates from most of the counties. The numerous
greetings from leading politicians showed an increasing interest in
this question. Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Williamson were both re-elected. The
former made an able address, and Mrs. Frances Folsom gave a general
review of the laws relating to the property rights of women in the
different States.

The fourth convention was postponed till the meeting of the
Legislature in the winter of 1899, in order that the speakers might
appear before that body with their arguments for the submission of a
woman suffrage amendment to the voters.[361]

LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In 1895 a bill was introduced in the
House by Henry H. Beck, to amend the State constitution by eliminating
the word "male" from before the word "citizen" wherever it occurs. All
amendment bills have to pass two successive Legislatures and then be
submitted to the voters. The Rev. Mila Tupper Maynard and Mrs. Frances
A. Williamson managed the legislative work this year. The former made
an eloquent address before the Legislature in joint assembly. An
exciting debate followed in the House, but the bill was defeated by
six votes. About ten days later it was introduced in the Senate by Dr.
William Comins, who supported it with an able speech. It was strongly
opposed but finally passed by a two-thirds vote. Toward the close of
the session it was reconsidered in the House, and after a spirited
debate was passed by four votes.

In 1897 the legislative work was conducted by Mrs. Williamson. She
read a brief of the constitutional grounds on which women claim the
right of suffrage before the Judiciary Committees of both Houses, and
addressed the Legislature in joint assembly.[362] This year the bill
for a constitutional amendment was introduced in the Senate by Dr.
Comins. The Judiciary Committee recommended its passage, and after a
lively debate it received a two-thirds vote. Later on the bill was
presented in the House by Frank Norcross. It was held in committee and
delayed in every possible way, but finally was brought up in joint
assembly. A stubborn debate followed, in which the advocates made an
able defense, but it was defeated by a tie vote. A motion to
reconsider it was defeated also.

In 1899 the Constitutional Amendment Bill again passed the Senate by
the usual two-thirds vote, an