Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/609

 SOUTH DAKOTA 593 What won the State? Persistent, intensive, quiet work. We had few meetings of our own but we used those of every one else, from women's aid societies to Rotary clubs, political rallies and Fourth of July celebrations. We did not plan parades, but wherever patriotic sentiment expressed itself through a parade we were in it. We cir- cularized the voters in groups again and again lawyers, business men. farmers, etc., with literature adapted to each group. We circu- lated a petition and 95 per cent, of the women to whom it was pre- sented signed it. We sent every organizer we could command into delinquent counties, having the cooperation of the local women. In the evening street meetings were held. The workers left literature in every home and posters placarded on every wall space. They left suffrage stories with the newspapers and the spoken word in the ear of all who would listen and they left the morale of the local workers at high water mark. The signed petitions were printed and mailed to the voters in each county with our final circularization. Ninety- eight per cent, of the newspapers were favorable and in spite of paper shortage and the demand for war publicity they never failed the women. In addition to news stories, editorials, etc., they uni- versally used the plate material which the National Association fur- nished. As much as any other one thing perhaps, this plate material helped to win the campaign. All political parties endorsed the amend- ment, Republicans and Democrats making it a part of their platforms. In June Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, corresponding secretary of the National Association, came to South Dakota and with Mrs. S. V. Cihrist, vice-president of the State League, and Mrs. McMahon, a school of methods was held in the principal towns. The women were taught how to organize and were grounded in the new aspects of the campaign. Mrs. Catt was ill and could not come, which was the greatest blow the campaign had; however Mrs. Halsey W. Wil- son, national recording secretary, took her place very acceptably. Among the organizers Mrs. McMahon mentioned Mrs. I. E. H. Stevens, Miss Stella Crosley, Miss Gertrude Yatkins, Miss Josephine Miller, Miss Liba Peshokova and Miss Ida Studio and But this efficient, faithful little bund could not have won the campaign alone. South Dakota State women will per- haps never realize how much they owe to Mrs. John 1-. Pyle, president, who gave herself absolutely to the winning of tlu-ir political freedom. She was at her desk from early in the morn ing until 1 1 o'clock and later at night. Nothing was allowed to stand in the way of her complete service. The best there was in her she gave to the cause and she has the gratitude of those for whom and with whom she worked. Ably seconding her efforts were Mrs. Christ, vice-president; Mrs. Frank Meyer,