t to make the matter fully understood.

I assumed the responsibility as chairman early in January, 1914,
and after opening our headquarters in the Munsey Building at
Washington, D. C., divided the committee's work into three
departments--Lobby, Publicity and Organization. The lobby and
publicity were continued from the Washington office and an
organization office was opened in Chicago during the latter part
of January, as it was decided that Chicago was much better
situated geographically to carry on the program of this
department.

As Congress was in session it was necessary for us to concentrate
our attention on our lobby at the Capitol and to determine as
quickly as possible both our policy to be adopted and the wisest
method of legislative procedure. In order to facilitate this work
Mrs. Booth and I joined Mrs. Funk in Washington, and, dividing
our duties, we proceeded to investigate the temper of Congress.
What was known in the present Congress as the Bristow-Mondell
resolution had been reported out favorably by the Standing
Committee on Suffrage in the Senate and, if we desired, could be
placed as unfinished business on the calendar, which would result
in a discussion terminating in a vote.

The situation in the House of Representatives was not so
favorable. It has no suffrage committee and the Mondell amendment
was in the Judiciary. As that committee was composed of men if
not actually opposed at least indifferent there did not seem to
be any immediate chance of action. We discovered very soon,
however, that the Congressional Union was circulating a petition
among the Democrats requesting them to caucus on the subject of
establishing a Suffrage Standing Committee. The members of your
Congressional Committee felt this to be a great mistake. It gave
the Democratic party a splendid opportunity to commit themselves
as opposed to woman suffrage, using their State's rights doctrine
as a reason for their action. We discussed it with the members of
the Congressional Union, who were convinced they were right in
putting the Democratic party on record for or against suffrage,
and it developed during our discussion that their policy of
holding this party responsible, as the party in power, was to be
put into action at once and announced as