still refuse, let us be thankful that the way is opening for
women to secure their freedom by the power of the
legislature independent of all constitutional amendments, as
there is nothing in ordinary State constitutions to prevent
legislators from extending suffrage to women by legislative
enactment. The constitution of the State of Minnesota simply
enfranchises men, and does not even mention women; we have
clearly nothing to do but to convince our legislators that
they are free to give educated women full suffrage.

With this view the society adopted the following resolution:

_Resolved_, That we accept with joy the argument that comes
to us from the east and from the west declaring suffrage
amendments to State constitutions unnecessary, because the
word "male," occurring as it does in most State
constitutions, in no wise restrains legislatures from
extending full suffrage to women, should they feel inclined
to do so. Be it also

_Resolved_, That it therefore becomes our duty to talk with
all men and women who are friendly to our cause, and ask
them to examine the argument, and if it commends itself to
their judgment, to give us the benefit of their convictions.

Though passing the above resolutions at that time, the State
Association of course waits to see what may be done, in view of
this new idea, by older and stronger States whose constitutions
are similar to ours. Although failing health induced Mrs.
Stearns, in the fall of 1883, to resign her suffrage work into
other hands, and ask to be excused from any office whatever, she
has, with improving health lately accepted the presidency of an
Equal Rights League in Duluth. Dr. Ripley was not present
herself at the convention[448] which chose her for president for
the ensuing year, being then at the East, but immediately after
returning, she entered upon her new duties with enthusiasm. As
there was to be no legislature in 1884, there could be no
petitioning, except to continue the work commenced as long ago as
1871, of petitioning congress for a sixteenth amendment. The work
was carried on with vigor, and many hundreds of names obtained in
a short time. Early in 1884 Mrs. L. May Wheeler cont