stitution of the State; in reply to this Mr. Wallace set forth
an exhaustive argument,[334] proving the entire constitutionality
of such an act. Five thousand were printed and gratuitously
distributed throughout the State.

The Committee on Women's Claims in both Houses met at sundry
times with members of the Suffrage Association to discuss the
merits of these bills and to become familiar with the arguments.
During the regular session Mrs. Wallace and Mrs. Gougar spent two
consecutive weeks in attendance at the legislature, watching the
attitude of the different members and lobbying, in the good sense
of that word. The immediate object was to secure the passage of
the electoral bill, for that once gained, and women by act of the
legislature made voters upon the most important question, it was
reasonably thought that the passage of the amendment would be
thereby facilitated. A hearing was granted on February 16, 1881,
and the House took a recess to listen to the speeches of the
women appointed by the State Association, Mrs. Haggart and Mrs.
Gougar. The next day, February 17, the Senate afforded a similar
opportunity, and the same ladies addressed that body.

In addition to the faithful exertions of Mrs. Wallace and Mrs.
Gougar, and the public hearing granted by both houses, much quiet
but most effective work was done with individual members. To no
one is more due than to Paulina T. Merritt, whose reputation for
intelligent charity is widely known. Mrs. Merritt was a frequent
attendant upon the sessions of the legislature and her untiring
efforts in private conversations with members were invaluable. In
spite of all these influences, when the electoral bill was
brought to a vote upon its third reading, it was lost on the
ground that it was unconstitutional.

At the special session all efforts centered upon the bill for
amending section 2, of article II., of the State constitution, so
as to give women the right to vote in all elections. Mrs. Wallace
and Mrs. Gougar gave another week to the work, and on April 7 the
bill was brought to a vote in the House, and passed--ayes 62,
nays 24; in the Senate, on April 8, it also passed--ayes 25, nays
18; and so the first entrenchment was won.

No one believed that the bill to amend the constitution would