esidential electors, as this can be done
by the legislators without a reference to the voters. The bill was
drawn up by George E. Boyd, Sr. It was reported by the House Judiciary
Committee, February 21, with the recommendation "that it do not pass."
Henry C. Hervey spoke strongly in its favor and was ably seconded by
S. G. Smith, who closed by demanding the ayes and noes on the
Speaker's question, "Shall the bill be rejected?" The ayes were 31,
noes 25, the bill being defeated by six votes. Speaker William G.
Wilson voted against it.

The bill was presented in the Senate by Nelson Whittaker, but U. S.
Senator Stephen B. Elkins came on from Washington and commanded that
it be tabled, which was done.

CHAPTER LXXI.

WISCONSIN.[464]

As a Territory Wisconsin interested herself in equal rights. In the
first Constitutional Convention universal suffrage regardless of sex
or color had a considerable vote. In the second woman suffrage
received a certain amount of favorable consideration. Early in the
history of the State widows were made heirs of all the property in
case of the death of the husband without children, and laws were
passed by which a life interest in the homestead was secured to the
wife. In 1851 the regents of the State University declared that their
plan "contemplated the admission of women," and in 1869 women were
made eligible to all school offices.

The first Woman Suffrage Association was organized in 1869 as a result
of a large convention in Milwaukee, arranged by Dr. Laura Ross and
Miss Lily Peckham, a bright young lawyer, and addressed by Mrs.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, Miss Susan B. Anthony
and others. Soon after this several local societies were organized.
Its annual meetings since 1883 have been held as follows: 1884,
Richland Center; 1885, Whitewater; 1886, Racine; 1887, Madison; 1888,
Stevens' Point; 1889, Milwaukee; 1890, Berlin; 1891, Menominee; 1892,
Richland Center; 1893, Mukwonago; 1894, Racine; 1895, Evansville;
1896, Waukesha; 1897, Monroe; 1898, Spring Green; 1899, Platteville;
1900, Brodhead.

The president during 1884 was Mrs. Emma C. Bascom, wife of the
president of the State University. On leaving for the East she was
succeeded by the Rev. Olympia Brown, who has been re-elected every
year since.[465] Mrs. Brown was called to the pastorate of the
Universalist Church of Racine in 1878, and during her nine years of
service there held occasional meetings