Women -- Suffrage -- History; Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History; Women's rights -- History; Women's rights -- United States -- History
In 1901 special attention was given to enrollment and new sections of
the State were reached in this way. The literature and press
departments also extended their work. The summer assembly at Ocean
Park made "suffrage day" a part of its regular program. At the
convention held at Saco in 1902 plans were made to ask the next
session of the Legislature to grant Municipal suffrage to taxpaying
women. The State Grange passed a resolution in favor of this measure,
placed woman suffrage on its convention program and from that time
gave active support to the movement.
The State convention took place at Auburn in 1903 and the association
became an incorporated body that year. The organization of county
leagues was begun in 1904 and a successful convention was held in
Portland. In 1905 after eight years of efficient service, Mrs. Day
retired from the presidency. She had organized several departments in
the association and was in charge of the campaign to secure Municipal
suffrage for taxpaying women. Mrs. Fannie J. Fernald was elected as
her successor at the convention held at Old Orchard Beach. She
travelled extensively over the State, speaking before Granges and
other organizations and securing their interest and endorsement. She
also had charge of the legislative work.
In 1906 woman suffrage was endorsed by the Maine Federation of Labor,
an important accession. The annual convention again was welcomed in
Saco. At the convention of 1907 in Farmington it was voted to support
the National American Association in its efforts to secure a Federal
Suffrage Amendment. A department of church work was established. In
1908 at the convention in Portland it was arranged to petition
Congress for the submission of this amendment. In 1909 and 1910 the
usual propaganda work was continued under the presidency of Mrs.
Fernald and the usual State conventions were held at Old Orchard and
Portland. In 1911 Mrs. Fernald left the State and the Rev. Alfreda
Brewster Wallace was elected president at the convention in Portland.
The association increased in size and interest and at the convention
of 1912 in Portland Miss Helen N. Bates of that city was elected
president with a very capable board. At this time the association
began to do more aggressive work in personally urging the members of
Congress to support the Federal Amendment. Miss Bates acted as
chairman of the Congressional Committee until the submission of the
amendment, when the favorable vote of every member of the Maine
delegation had been secured.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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