y the few; on the other hand,
a large percentage of unskilled foreign labor. For good or for
ill we feel all those conservative influences which naturally
grow out of this two-fold condition. This accounts in the main,
for the Rhode Islander's extreme and exceptionally tenacious
regard for the institutions of his ancestors. This is why we have
the most limited suffrage of any State, many _men_ being debarred
from voting by reason of the property qualification still
required here of foreign-born citizens. Such a social atmosphere
is not favorable to the extension of the franchise, either to men
or women, and makes peculiarly necessary with us, the educational
process of a very large amount of moral agitation before much can
be expected in the way of political changes.

My own residence here dates back only to 1878, though before that
from my Massachusetts home I was somewhat familiar with
Rhode-Island people and laws. Our work has consisted of monthly
meetings, made up usually of an afternoon session for address and
discussion, followed by a social tea; of an annual State
convention in the city of Providence; and of petitioning the
legislature each year, with the appointment of the customary
committees and hearings. For many years the centre of the woman
movement with us has been the State association, and since my own
connection with that, the leader about whom we have all rallied,
has been your beloved friend and mine, Elizabeth B. Chace. Hers
is that clear conception of, and untiring devotion to principles,
which make invincible leadership, tide over all disaster, and
overcome all doubt. By her constant appearance before legislative
committees, her model newspaper articles which never fail to
command general attention even among those who would not think of
agreeing with her, and by her persistent fidelity to her sense of
duty in social life, she is the recognized head of our agitation
in Rhode Island. But she has not stood alone. She has been the
centre of a group of women whose names will always be associated
with our cause in this locality. Elizabeth K. Churchill lived and
died a faithful and successful worker. The Woman's Club in this
city was her child; temperance, suffrage, and the interests of
working-women were dear to her heart. She