Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/317

 and many other occupations, girls and women have made their way by merit and business enterprise, until the time has arrived in the opening years of the Twentieth Century when almost every vocation is open to women. Prejudice has slowly been overcome by efficiency, until a woman can choose among the occupations the one best suited to her qualifications and tastes as men have done in all the years of the past.

The friends of equal suffrage have never ceased to present their petitions at each succeeding session of the General Assembly and earnest workers urge the reform before the members.

Among the efficient advocates of the cause who in recent years have aided in the work, in addition to those heretofore named, may be mentioned Mrs. Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, the efficient president of the National Woman Suffrage Association, the worthy successor of Susan B. Anthony, and the Iowa woman who has attained greatest prominence in her chosen work; Mrs. Evelyn H. Belden of Sioux City, Mrs. J. B. Romans of Denison, Mrs. Adelaide Ballard of Hull and Mrs. C. H. Flint of Des Moines. For many years the Woman’s Standard, conducted by women, has been a most efficient aid in the reform work. In 1891 the State Association was incorporated under the name of “The Iowa Equal Suffrage Association.”

With the organization of the first woman’s club in Iowa, a movement was inaugurated the influence of which has been more far reaching than might at first thought be realized. The first step in this direction was taken late in the seventies; for a time the movement made slow progress, the clubs were few and limited in scope. From the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Women at Des Moines in 1885 dates the general awakening of the desire for a wider culture. Many of the clubs were devoted to study, others to philanthropy, church interests and social affairs. The study of literature, arts, sciences,