me on April 3, 1918, and
spoke to an immense audience. She came under the auspices of the
National Council of Defense, as chairman of the Woman's Committee, but
she won many friends for suffrage and the sincere admiration of all.

Active work to assure the writing of woman suffrage in the new State
constitution culminated at the first annual meeting of the Equal
Suffrage Central Committee on April 2, 1918, when a close organization
covering the State was perfected. At this meeting Mrs. Cotnam was
re-elected chairman; Mrs. C. T. Drennen of Hot Springs first
vice-chairman; Mrs. Stella Brizzolara of Fort Smith second
vice-chairman; Mrs. Frank W. Gibb, secretary; Mrs. R. W. Walker of
Little Rock, treasurer. The National American Association contributed
$1,675 to the campaign. The constitutional convention met the first
Monday in July and the suffrage clause was adopted on the third day of
the session. Only one man spoke and finally voted against this clause
but it was not acceptable to the majority until amended to make jury
service for women optional. The suffragists were consulted and agreed
because it was plain that a refusal might cause a long drawn out
debate. The constitution was defeated at a special election on Dec.
13, 1918, but it was generally conceded that the opposition caused by
the suffrage amendment was negligible.

The first State-wide Primary election in which women had the right to
vote was held in May, 1918; between 40,000 and 50,000 voted and all
papers commented on the intelligence of the new electors. The State
Democratic convention met in Little Rock on July 10 and for the first
time women delegates were present from many counties. Fifty were
seated and more were present in proportion to their representation
than were men. They attended in force all minor committee meetings and
controlled the action of some of these committees. The _Arkansas
Gazette_ of July 11 commented: "It may safely be said that nothing was
put over on them by the wily politicians. There wasn't a chance--not a
chance in the world." There were women on the platform, the
resolutions and all prominent committees. The suffrage plank, as
written by the women, was unanimously adopted and for the first time a
woman was elected member of the State Central Committee, Mrs.
Brizzolara. The one appointed as a member of the Democratic Women's
National Committee was Mrs. Head, chairman of her congressional
district for the suffrage organizat