troduce and work for one.

The Legislature of 1917 was soon discovered to be a progressive
assembly and gave promise of success for the bill. Mrs. Ellington
decided the time had come to adopt business methods in the suffrage
lobby and undertook with Mr. Riggs the whole responsibility of guiding
this bill on its eventful journey through the House and Senate. The
suffragists held themselves in readiness to do any special work
needed, which they did quietly and effectively, seeing legislators
when necessary, but the Legislature was not harassed by a large and
conspicuous lobby.[9]

Sufficient pledges were secured in both House and Senate before the
bill was allowed to come even to a test vote. Judge Josiah Hardage,
Arkadelphia, assisted by W. J. Waggoner of Lonoke and James A. Choate
of Floyd, led the opposition in the House and conducted the bitterest
fight waged during the session. Sixteen men stood solidly with them in
all parliamentary tactics in hopes of killing the bill. Nineteen men
could delay it but they were destined to defeat when 78 men, led by
the astute floor leader, J. O. Johnson of Sebastian county, were
determined that it should pass. After several hours' debate the House
passed the bill February 15 by 71 ayes, 19 noes, 10 absent.

When the bill came up in the Senate Walker Smith of Magnolia led the
opposition, although several days before he had promised Mrs. Head and
Mrs. Ellington to vote for it. Senator Houston Emory of Hot Springs
guided it to a successful vote on February 27--17 ayes, 15 noes.
Senators George F. Brown of Rison, George W. Garrett of Okolona, H. L.
Ponder of Walnut Ridge, J. S. Utley of Benton and R. Hill Caruth of
Warren aided materially in passing the bill. The first time during the
session that every man in the Senate was in his seat to vote was when
the Primary bill came up. Two Senators unalterably opposed to woman
suffrage had been expelled for bribery and this made its success
possible.

The Senate slightly amended the bill and returned it to the House,
which accepted it March 6. Never did a man serve the cause of suffrage
more loyally or more efficiently than John A. Riggs and the women of
Arkansas owe him a lasting debt of gratitude. Governor Brough signed
the bill in the evening at a public meeting amid great enthusiasm.

The Legislature met Jan. 13, 1919, after thousands of women had voted
at the Primary election. Not one member had been asked to present a
resolution p