League,
then as chairman of New London county and during 1917 by her
organizing and executive ability as chairman of the War Work
Committee. At the annual convention of 1918 held at New Haven, she was
re-elected. The year had been a peculiarly difficult one on account of
the absorption of many women in war work but the income was $30,085,
of which $1,879 had been contributed for the oversea hospitals of the
National Suffrage Association. The work of the year had been directed
towards (1) the Federal Suffrage Amendment and the securing of a
favorable Connecticut delegation to Congress; (2) influencing the two
major parties in the State to include suffrage planks in their
platforms; (3) securing the election of members of the Legislature who
would be favorable to ratification.

At the jubilee convention of 1919, held at Bridgeport after the
Federal Amendment had been submitted in June, a new constitution was
adopted, which provided for the election of five political leaders in
addition to the other officers and an organization of the State by
counties and districts, looking towards the forming later of a League
of Women Voters. During the year there had been a financial campaign,
which was carried on under the direction of Mrs. Nancy Schoonmaker,
resulting in gifts and pledges amounting to $30,993, of which $25,813
were paid at the time of the convention. The total income for the year
was $63,398. Miss Ludington was again elected and most of the other
officers remained on the board. After thorough discussion it was
resolved that the policy of the association for 1919-20 should be to
oppose especially the small group of Republican politicians who had
blocked and were persistently blocking the progress of woman
suffrage. This resolution pledged the association to a fight against
the Republican "machine," which was made with intense determination.

RATIFICATION. The final struggle came in 1920 over ratification of the
Federal Suffrage Amendment. Great efforts had been made to obtain a
majority favorable to it in the Legislature that would meet in 1919
and had Congress submitted it in time to be voted on at the regular
session it would doubtless have been ratified, as both parties knew it
was inevitable. It was not passed by Congress, however, until June 4,
and by this time the Legislature had adjourned, not to meet again for
two years unless called in special session. All that the suffragists
were able to do during the win