m a factor in the fierce political
contentions which soon arose, and to gain the enmity of politicians.
In 1807 the Legislature passed an arbitrary act limiting the suffrage
to "white male citizens." This was clearly a usurpation of authority,
as the constitution could be changed only by action of the voters.
Nevertheless, men were in power and women were no longer permitted to
exercise the franchise.

In 1844 a convention framed a new constitution in which the suffrage
was restricted to "white males," and only men were allowed to vote on
its adoption. Women were still electors according to the existing
constitution, and yet they were not permitted to vote for delegates to
this convention nor for the ratification of the new constitution. No
Supreme Court could have rendered any other decision than that this
was illegally adopted.

For exactly eighty years women were deprived of any franchise. During
the last twenty of this period they made repeated efforts to vote and
presented numerous petitions to the Legislature to have their ancient
right restored. In 1887 this body enacted that women might vote at
school meetings (i. e. in villages and country districts) for
trustees, bonds, appropriations, etc.

In 1893 a law was enacted giving the right to vote for Road
Commissioner to "all freeholders." An election was very soon contested
at Englewood, and in June, 1894, the Supreme Court decided that the
act was illegal because "it is not competent for the Legislature to
enlarge or diminish the class of voters comprehended within the
constitutional definition." [The court had forgotten about that
Legislature of 1807.]

This gave the opportunity for those who were opposed to women's
exercising the School Suffrage. At a special election for school
trustees held in Vineland, July 27, 1894, the women were forcibly
prevented from depositing their ballots. The State Superintendent of
Public Instruction was appealed to and he directed the county
superintendent to appoint a board of trustees, as the election from
which the women were excluded was illegal. This was done on the advice
of the Attorney-General, who held that the constitution by empowering
the Legislature to "provide for the maintenance and support of a
system of free public schools," gave it the power to confer on women
the right to vote at school meetings for school officers.

Without following the details it is only necessary to relate that the
Supreme Court decla