and
Democratic parties would be successful. Its president, Mrs. Carrie
Chapman Catt, in the letters sent to the delegates, who were
circularized three times, called attention to the great gains and the
existing status of the movement, adapting the appeal to each party.
Under her direction, as a preliminary to the conventions, favorable
opinions were obtained from many leading men who were to attend them,
similar to the following: Representative John M. Nelson of the House
Judiciary Committee said: "The endorsement of equal suffrage by either
of the two great parties would do more at this time to simplify the
question than any other one thing. It seems to me that in directing
their efforts toward securing this endorsement its advocates have
exhibited sound practical judgment and admirable political acumen." "I
am in favor of an endorsement in the Republican platform of the
principle of equal suffrage," said Senator Borah, a Republican
delegate. "I have no doubt there will be a plank offered to that
effect and it will receive my active support." U. S. Senator Owen on
the floor of the Senate declared: "This demand ought to be made by men
as well as by thinking, progressive women. I hope that all parties
will in the national conventions give their approval to this larger
measure of liberty to the better half of the human race." The
suffragists began preparations for two striking demonstrations during
the conventions.

The Republican convention took place in Chicago June 7-10. On the 6th
a mass meeting was held under the auspices of the association at the
Princess Theater. Speeches by Mrs. Catt and others roused the audience
to great enthusiasm and the following resolution was adopted: "We,
women from every State, gathered in national assembly, come to you in
the name of justice, liberty and equality to ask you to incorporate in
your platform a declaration favoring the extension of suffrage to the
only remaining class of unenfranchised citizens, the women of our
nation, and to urge you to give its protecting power and prestige to
the final struggle of women for political liberty. We are not asking
your endorsement of an untried theory but your recognition of a fact.
The men of eleven States and Alaska have already fully enfranchised
their women and Illinois has granted a large degree of suffrage,
including the Presidential vote. The women of five States have gained
the vote since 1912, your last convention, and have party a