y are chairman and
vice-chairman, was appointed, according to the understanding of
the convention which met in Washington last fall, to work for the
submission by Congress of the Federal Amendment for which the
association has stood sponsor forty-five years. It was organized
in 1869 for the express purpose of securing this amendment: "The
right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on
account of sex." No other ever has been considered by the
association.

When this committee opened its headquarters in Washington the
National Board asked contributions for its support through the
_Woman's Journal_, saying: "The speedy submission of this Federal
Amendment is of vital concern to every suffragist." Later it
announced: "The Washington office will be occupied largely with
the political end of the Federal Amendment campaign, while a
Chicago office will specialize in the work of organizing the
congressional districts of the United States in cooperation with
the various State associations." All this, of course, was for the
old, original amendment. No experienced suffragist expected it to
receive the necessary two-thirds vote this session, but, as it
had been reported favorably to the Senate, the desire was to have
it brought to a discussion; to secure as large a vote as possible
and to ascertain which members were friends and which were
enemies. In spite of most unfavorable conditions this was
accomplished and the amendment received a majority. There were no
more negative votes than when it was acted upon in 1887 by the
Senate and over twice as many favorable votes. The opposition was
based almost entirely on the doctrine of State's rights, as was
to be expected; but three Southern Senators voted in the
affirmative. Before another session of Congress several more
States are certain to be carried for woman suffrage, thus
insuring more votes for this Federal Amendment. The defeat of
suffrage bills in a number of Legislatures in the South is
converting the women of that section to the necessity of action
by Congress. Just at the most favorable moment in the entire
history of this amendment, the committee having it in charge
suddenly throws it on the dust heap; has another introdu