1915. A full suffrage bill was presented jointly by the State
association and the Congressional Union, introduced by Senator Harris
and Representative Frank M. Saulsbury. The Campaign Committee
representing the two associations and headed by Mrs. Florence Bayard
Hilles opened headquarters at Dover with Miss Mabel Vernon in charge.
Expenses of maintenance were paid by Mrs. George Day of Connecticut, a
member of the advisory council of the Union. A suffrage procession
headed by Mrs. Hilles and Mrs. Victor du Pont, Jr., marched to strains
of martial music from the station to headquarters on its opening day
early in January and gave the stately old capital a decided
innovation. Speaking followed from a gaily decorated automobile.
"Suffrage fliers" (motor cars) carrying able speakers and workers,
made whirlwind trips throughout the State. The anti-suffragists
organized as a committee, with Mrs. Henry B. Thompson chairman and
Mrs. David J. Reinhardt secretary.

On January 21, before the Revised Statutes Committee of the House, all
of the Representatives and many of the Senators, a hearing was given
to the suffragists. The speakers were Mrs. Cranston, Miss Leila Aaron
of Dover, Miss Vernon and Mrs. Hilles, whose argument was nearly
flawless. On February 3 the "antis" spoke before practically the same
audience and the enthusiasm equalled that of the suffrage hearing.
Thomas F. Bayard, brother of Mrs. Hilles, opened the hearing and
introduced Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Grace W. Goodwin of Westfield and Mrs.
Preston Lea, wife of a former Governor. On February 9 the suffragists
were granted a second hearing, all members of the Senate and several
of the House being present. On February 16 the House Committee
reported the bill favorably. On March 8, with an hour's interval
between, the House killed it by a vote of 22 noes to 8 ayes; the
Senate by a vote of 11 noes to 6 ayes. Legislative friends were
Senators Edward Hart, John A. Barnard and Speaker Charles H.
Grantland.

Preceding the vote was a gay and colorful parade of suffragists,
followed by speechmaking outside the State House. Able speakers and
workers from other States had spoken during the campaign, among them
United States Representatives J. A. Falconer of Washington and William
Kent of California; Mrs. Kent, Mrs. Thomas R. Hepburn, president of
the Connecticut Equal Suffrage Association and Miss Anne Martin,
president of the Nevada association. Among local speakers were Dr.
G