The Suffrage daily news. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1914-191?, 1914-11-02
THE STATE CAMPAIGN
FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Inc flrSt suffrage speech ever
delivered in Montana was deliv-
cred by Miss Willard in 1883.
When the Montana state conven-
ton met in 1889 to adopt the con-
stitution which was later ratified
as the Constitution Of the State
of Montana, an effort for equal
suffrage was made, but the suf-
frage resolution was defeated by
vote Of 43 to 25. The matter
was brought up before successive
legislatures with varied success
till the suffrage bill finally passed
in 1913.
The present campaign for
Equal Suffrage in Montana,
which will, there is good reason
to hope, end tomorrow in victory
at the polls, began in January,
1911, when the Political Equal
ity Club OF Missoula was organ
lied. In that year Miss jean
nette Rankin went to the legisla-
ture and succeeded in having an
equal suffrage bill introduced in
the house. The bill received a
majority vote but failed to secure
the two thirds majority necessary
for passage.
Aside from the work Of a few
speakers, and the work of the
Political Equality Clubs of Mis-
soula, Kalispell and Helena, lit
tie was done till August, 1912,
when political party conventions
were held in Great Falls Miss
Rankin, with a committee of wo-
men representing the existing
state suffrage organizations, Sc
cured at that time the endorse
ment OF the Republican and Dem
.oonatio parties fnr suffra0 0e Later
the Progressive party came out
in favor OF equal suffrage All
parties were thus pledged to the
passage Of a suffrage bill
During the State fair in 1912 |
a temporary Montana Woman
Suffrage state central committee
was formed with Miss .Jeannette
Rankin chairman, Miss Ida Auer-
bach secretary and Mrs. Wilbur
Smith treasurer
At this time half the counties
OF the state were visited and or
ganizations started. Candidates
for the legislature were inter
viewed, and pledges were secured
from many. After the election
hundreds OF letters were seat |
from all parts Of the state to the
governor and lieutenant governor
asking support for the measure.
4 meeting Of the state central I
committee was called for the first
OF January, 1918, when perma-
nent organization was effected
and Miss Rankin was elected per-
manent chairman. The committee
visited the legislature in body
in time to hear the Governor in
his message to the Thirteenth
Legislative Assembly recommend /
the passage Of TIE suffrage bill
The suffrage Dill, Senate Bill
Number One, was introduced by
Senator Stout 1t passed the sem
ate with only two votes against
it, those Of Senators Leighton of
jefferson county and Edwards Of
Rosebud. The bill later passed
the house, also with two votes
against it, those of Representa-
tlves Higgins OF Missoula and
Blair. OF Powell 1t was signed
by the governor.
By continuous agitation, organ
izations were formed in many
counties.
The second meeting of the
State Central committee was held
at Livingston in June, 1913, and
the third meeting in Butte, Sep
tember, 1913. In January, 1914,
headquarters were opened at the
Thornton hotel in Butte. The
State Central committee met at
headquarters in February, and in
June at Livingston.
At the present time every
county in the state is organized
Montana speakers have toured
every county, and speakers from