posed amendment,
and answers to the usual objections.

The principal newspapers of Providence, the _Journal_ and the
_Telegram_, both led the opposition to the amendment, the former
admitting in an editorial, published March 10, "the theoretic justice
of the proposed amendment to the constitution conferring suffrage upon
women," but hoping it would be rejected because "whatever may be said
for it, the measure has the fatal defect of being premature and
impolitic." The opposition of the _Telegram_ was more aggressive and
even of a scurrilous type. To offset this hostility if possible the
suffrage association hired a column of space in the _Journal_ and half
a column in the _Telegram_ and kept this daily filled with suffrage
arguments; toward the end of the campaign securing space also in the
_Daily Republican_. The papers of the State generally were opposed to
the measure, but the Woonsocket _Daily Reporter_, Newport _Daily
News_, Hope Valley _Sentinel-Advertiser_, Pawtuxet Valley _Gleaner_,
Providence _People_, Bristol _Phenix_, Central Falls _Visitor_ and a
few others gave effective assistance. The association distributed
about 39,000 packages of literature to the voters.

In the Providence _Journal_ of April 4 the names of over ninety
prominent voters were signed to this announcement: "We, the
undersigned, being opposed to the adoption of the proposed Woman
Suffrage Amendment to the Constitution, respectfully urge all citizens
(!) to vote against it at the coming election."

The next day the _Journal_ contained in the space paid for by the
association the signatures of about the same number of equally
prominent men appended to this statement: "We favor the passage of the
Woman Suffrage Amendment which has been submitted to the voters of
Rhode Island for action at the coming election." The same issue
contained a list of many of the most distinguished men and women in
this and other countries, beginning with Phillips Brooks and Clara
Barton, and headed, "Some Other People of Weight Who Have Indorsed
Woman Suffrage. Match This if You Can."

The election was held April 6, 1887, and at the sixty-two polling
places men and women were on hand to urge the electors to vote for the
amendment. The result was 6,889 ayes, 21,957 noes--the largest defeat
woman suffrage ever received.

Many of the ablest lawyers having decided that no extension of
franchise, not even a school vote, could be secured in Rhode Island
through the