t figures of the early period.

The convention of 1907 was held in Hartford October 29, and the
following year it met in New Haven on October 1. A slightly increased
membership was reported and some younger women had come into the
movement, including Mrs. Jessie Adler of Hartford, who was responsible
later for the candidacy of Mrs. Thomas N. Hepburn. The expenditures
for 1908 were $265. In 1909 the convention was held at Meriden. It was
reported that the National Association had sent a request to
Connecticut for a petition to Congress with a quota of at least
30,000 signatures but that the number collected had fallen
considerably short of 5,000. Miss Caroline Ruutz-Rees, principal of a
flourishing girls' school in Greenwich, attended as a delegate from a
newly formed Equal Franchise League in that town and several young and
enthusiastic suffragists, including Mrs. Hepburn, who had lately come
into the State, were in attendance with the delegation from the Equal
Rights Club of Hartford.

In October Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, whose "militant" movement in
England was attracting world-wide attention, spoke in Hartford. At
this meeting Mrs. Hepburn met Miss Emily Pierson of Cromwell, a
teacher in the Bristol High School. Both received an inspiration from
Mrs. Pankhurst and they began a campaign in Hartford, organizing
public meetings for which they obtained speakers of national
reputation. To support this work the Hartford Political Equality
League (afterwards the Equal Franchise League) was formed with a
membership at first of four, all of whom were officers. It quickly
attracted members and got into touch with the equally vigorous and
enthusiastic young league in Greenwich.

In the fall of 1910 the State convention was held at Greenwich, with a
large delegation from these leagues. These younger members had come to
the decision that if any active work was to be done there must be a
complete change in the management of the State Woman Suffrage
Association, an idea that was warmly endorsed by some of the older
leaders. A new "slate" of officers was presented headed by Mrs.
Hepburn, who had consented to nomination on condition that the
Greenwich and the Hartford leagues should each pledge $1,000 for the
work of the coming year. Miss Burr had resigned three months before
the convention the secretaryship which she had held over forty years.
The treasurer, Mrs. Mary Jane Rogers, who had been in office for
sixteen years, was re-