Three weeks later came the next important event in the history of the Congressional Union—the launching of a Woman’s Party on July 5 at the Blackstone Theatre in Chicago. At this time Chicago was the center of publicity; the strategic point as far as the press was concerned. The Woman’s Party Convention met before the Conventions of the Republicans and Democrats. The reporters, gathered there and waiting in idleness for these later occasions, looked upon the Woman’s Party Convention as a gift of the gods. Helena Hill Weed presented a report of the Credentials Committee, of which she was Chairman. She said: This is not a delegated body. It is a mass convention of all members of the Congressional Union to form a Woman’s Party, made up of enfranchised women of the eleven full Suffrage States, and of Illinois, where women may vote for President of the United States. There are two classes of delegates in this convention—members of the Union in these twelve Suffrage States, who have the right to speak and vote in the convention; and members of the Union in the thirty-six unfree States, who may speak from the floor, but may not vote. As registration is still going on, it is impossible to give a final vote of the number of delegates attending. Over fifteen hundred delegates have already registered. Maud Younger was temporary Chairman of the Convention and keynote speaker. She said in part: A new force marches on to the political field. For the first time in a Presidential election women are a factor to be reckoned with. Four years ago, women voted in six States—today in twelve, including Illinois. These States with their four million women constitute nearly one-fourth of the electoral college and more than one-third of the votes necessary to elect a President. With enough women organized in each State to hold the balance of power, the women’s votes may determine the Presidency of the United States. The Woman’s Party has no candidates and but one plank, the enfranchisement of the women of America through a Federal Amendment. Anne Martin was chosen permanent Chairman of the Party; Phœbe A. Hearst, Judge Mary A. Bartelme, Vice-Chairmen; Mabel Vernon, Secretary. The Party platform, adopted unanimously amid cheers, reads: The National Woman’s Party stands for the passage of the Amendment to the United States Constitution known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right of Suffrage to women: