On January 18, Miss Foster received from Miss Blackwell the list of the conference committee appointed by Mrs. Stone: Julia Ward Howe, _Chairman_, Wm. Dudley Foulke, Margaret W. Campbell, Anna H. Shaw, Mary F. Thomas, H. M. Tracy Cutler, Henry B. Blackwell, _Secretary_. Miss Anthony again wrote Miss Foster: "I can not think of any stipulation I wish to make the basis of union save that we _unite_, and after that discuss all measures and ways and means, officers and newspapers, and cheerfully accept and abide by the rule of the majority. I do not wish to exact any pledges from Lucy Stone and her adherents, nor can I give any for Mrs. Stanton and her followers. When united we must trust to the good sense of each, just as we have trusted during the existence of the division. As Greeley said about resuming specie payment, '_the way to unite is to unite_' and trust the consequences." It is not essential for the completeness of this work to reproduce in detail the official proceedings, which extended through two years and caused Miss Anthony often to write, "I shall be glad when this frittering away of time on mere forms is past." A basis of agreement finally was reached, and the union was practically completed at the National Convention which met in Washington, January 21, 1889. A committee of thirteen was selected to confer with the committee from the American. This consisted of Miss Anthony and Mesdames Hooker, Minor, Duniway, Johns, Sewall, Perkins, Colby, Spofford, Brown, Blake, Gougar and Foster Avery. The Woman's Tribune thus described the result: At the business session, January 24, 1889, they reported in substance as follows: _Name, etc._--The association to be called the National-American W. S. A. The annual convention to be held at Washington. _Chronology._--The next annual meeting of the joint society to be--as it would be for the National--the twenty-second annual Washington convention. _Work._--To be for National and State legislation protecting women in the exercise of their right to vote. _Representation._--As provided in the new National constitution. Where two associations exist in one State and will not unite, both are to be accepted as auxiliary societies. An earnest debate followed. Miss Anthony threw her influence strongly in favor of union and carried many with her, even those who openly expressed themselves that their judgment would be to continue the two societies. The vote was then taken on union, thirty voting for, eleven against. Miss Alice Stone Blackwell and Rev. Anna H. Shaw were present on behalf of the American Association, accepted the deviations from the propositions as presented by that association, and felt reasonably certain that it would endorse their action. [Illustration: Autograph: "Yours for equal rights, Alice Stone Blackwell."]