out the suffrage plank clear to you, though I had not thought that
it was necessary to state again a position that I have repeatedly
stated with entire frankness. The plank received my entire approval
before its adoption and I shall support its principle with sincere
pleasure. I wish to join with my fellow Democrats in recommending to
the several States that they extend the suffrage to women upon the
same terms as to men." Later the President made it plain that the
Democratic plank was to be considered a distinct approval of the
suffrage movement and that it did not necessarily disapprove of a
Federal Amendment.

The general sentiment of the press was to the effect that as a result
of the endorsement of the national conventions woman suffrage went
before the country with its prestige immeasurably strengthened and
recognized as a great force to be reckoned with. The suffragists ended
their political convention campaign with planks in the platforms of
all the five parties, Republican, Democratic, Progressive,
Prohibitionist and Socialist. The Progressive party made its
declaration stronger than at its national convention in 1912, its
plank reading: "We believe that the women of the country, who share
with the men the burden of government in times of peace and make equal
sacrifice in times of war, should be given the full political right of
suffrage both by State and Federal action." It was adopted unanimously
and with great applause at the party's national convention in Chicago
June 7-10. The planks were taken by the suffragists as pledges that
the parties would help in a practical way to assist the movement in
the various States and nationally and this view was made plain to the
leaders and to the rank and file of the voters.

Results were soon apparent and between 1916 and 1920 the cause of
woman suffrage took immense strides forward. In 1917 New York State
gave the complete suffrage to women. In 1918 Michigan, South Dakota
and Oklahoma fully enfranchised them, increasing the number of equal
suffrage States to fifteen. In thirteen other States women obtained
the Presidential franchise and in two the vote in Primary elections.
The resolution for a Federal Amendment passed both Houses of Congress
in May and June, 1919, and was submitted to the State Legislatures for
ratification. By March 22, 1920, it had been ratified by 35, lacking
only one of the three-fourths required to make it a part of the
National Constitution.