e was crowded in the evening to hear the
address of Mrs. Brown.

Reports showed that in January the National Association sent an
organizer, Mrs. Maria McMahon, and with the financial assistance of
the Wilmington society she opened headquarters in Dover, organized a
number of towns and won many friends for the cause. Later Mrs. Halsey
Wilson gave another week to the State. About 600 telegrams were sent
in February to the Delaware Senators urging them to vote for the
submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment but Senator Wolcott and
Senator Willard Saulsbury both voted "no" on February 10, when it went
to defeat. In May Mrs. Robin circularized the Delaware representatives
in Congress and on the 21st, when the amendment was passed by the
Lower House, Caleb R. Layton, Delaware's one member, voted "aye." In
the Senate, the newly elected Senator, L. Heisler Ball, was paired in
favor, Senator Wolcott again voting "no." At a meeting of the State
Board a resolution was passed rejoicing over the success and calling
for a special session of the Legislature to ratify the amendment. A
Ratification Committee was appointed with Mrs. Robin chairman for
Wilmington and the State; Mrs. Cranston for rural New Castle county;
Mrs. Henry Ridgely for Kent county; Mrs. Robert G. Houston for Sussex
county; Miss Leah Burton, legislative chairman; Miss deVou, press
chairman and Mrs. Brassington chairman of literature. Mrs. Ridgely of
Dover was elected president and activities for the campaign were soon
centralized.

RATIFICATION.[29] When it became evident that the Federal Suffrage
Amendment would be submitted by the next Congress, the presidents of
State associations began to plan for ratification and many asked help
from the National American Association. In response to a request from
the president of Delaware Mrs. McMahon was sent, arriving the last of
June, 1919, and beginning an active campaign of organization. T.
Coleman du Pont placed a motor at the disposal of the suffragists and
in a few weeks Newcastle county had been covered with the assistance
of Miss Downey and Mrs. J. W. Pennewell. Working out from Rehoboth
with the assistance of Mrs. Robin, Mrs. Ridgely, Mrs. Houston, Mrs.
John Eskridge and others, Sussex county was organized and later Kent
with the help of Mrs. James H. Hughes, Mrs. Roswell Hammond, Mrs. Emma
Burnett, Miss Winifred Morris and others. The interviewing of
influential men was carried on with the organizing through