y the careful counsel of some guardian angel
of his party.

Previous to the assembling of this legislature, petitions had
been widely circulated,[412] praying for the submission of the
amendment. Over 6,000 signatures were obtained. Each petition was
placed in the hands of a senator or member from the county in
which the names were gathered, for presentation in the respective
Houses.

For fifteen consecutive years the State Society has met annually,
made reports, passed resolutions, elected officers, listened to
speeches and transacted what other business has come before it.
Though its anniversaries have usually been held at Des Moines,
its influence through the press has pervaded the whole State.
Since 1875, the annual meetings have been held in different
cities[413] outside the capital, thus giving the people of all
sections of the State an opportunity to participate in the
deliberations. Petitions to the legislature and to congress have
been circulated by the society, delegates sent to the conventions
of the National and American Suffrage Associations,[414] and
letters addressed to the delegates of the State and National
nominating conventions of the political parties, asking for a
recognition of woman's right to the ballot in their platforms.

A brief recital of the proceedings of the Iowa legislature will
show that a large majority of the Representatives have been in
favor of submitting the question of woman suffrage to a direct
vote of the men of the State. The proposition was first presented
in the House by Hon. John P. Irish, in 1870. The resolution
passed both Houses with very little debate, was approved by the
governor, and submitted to the next General Assembly. In the
session of 1872 it was discussed in both Houses at considerable
length, and again passed in the Lower House by the strong vote of
58 ayes to 39 nays; while in the Senate it was lost by only two
majority. The House has never failed at any session since that
time, until 1884, to give a majority in its favor; but the Senate
has not made for itself so good a record. In 1872 the vote in the
Senate stood: ayes, 22; nays, 24. In 1876 it was lost by one
vote; and in 1880 lost on engrossment. In 1884 the tables were
turned; when the amendment came up in the twentieth G