There was also an association in Maryland and other States.

"The name of the New York association was not changed but in November,
1917, a new one called the American Constitutional League, was formed.
The reason for the change was that the question so far as the
constitution of New York was concerned had been settled by vote and
agitation was being pressed with vigor in Congress for the proposal by
that body of a National Suffrage Amendment. This league is still in
existence (1920). It was active in opposing the adoption of the
Federal Amendment, was heard before committees of Congress and
afterwards before committees of the Legislatures opposing
ratification. It is national in its scope and has members in fifteen
States.

"When it was announced that the Legislature of West Virginia had
passed a resolution ratifying the Federal Amendment, the league
presented to Secretary of State Colby the evidence that it had not
been legally adopted. This evidence he declared he had no power to
consider but was bound by any certificate he might receive from the
Secretary of West Virginia. The league also urged upon him that under
the constitution of Tennessee, when the Legislature was called in
extra session it had no power to ratify the amendment. This evidence
he also declined to consider. Thereupon a suit was brought in the
Supreme Court of the District of Columbia to restrain him from issuing
the proclamation of ratification. The ground was taken that the
proposed amendment was not within the amending power of Article V of
the National Constitution; that its first ten amendments form a Bill
of Rights which can only be changed by the unanimous consent of all
the States. It was contended that it was essential to a republican
form of government that the States should have the right to regulate
and determine the qualifications for suffrage for the election of
their own officers and that the guarantee in the National Constitution
of a republican form of government would be violated if this amendment
should be held to be valid. The bill was dismissed in the Supreme
Court on several grounds, partly technical, and the decree was
affirmed in the District Court of Appeals apparently on the ground
that the proclamation of ratification was not final. An appeal from
this decree is now pending in the Supreme Court of the United States.
All this litigation has been conducted by the American Constitutional
League.

"The New York headquart