Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/669

 VERMONT 653 by Laura Moore." Miss Scott, her companion and co-worker, who passed away in her Q2d year, left a bequest of $1,000 to the association. At the convention in Rutland Oct. 12, 13, 1908, among the speakers were the Reverend Mary Traffern Whitney and Mrs. Annette V. Parmelee, State superintendent of press. The asso- ciation voted to become auxiliary to the National Association. A letter was read from former Governor Fletcher D. Proctor, declaring himself in favor of the movement and willing to assist it. Signatures to the suffrage petition this year included the names of Governor George H. Prouty, Lieutenant Governor John Abner Mead and Secretary of State Guy Bailey. In 1909 the convention held at Barre June 4, 5, decided to concentrate its efforts on a State constitutional amendment to be voted on in 1910. A press report of the convention said: "Henry B. Blackwell, although 84 years of age, is a command- ing figure and his voice as it rings forth in tones of conviction is more like that of a man in his prime than of one who has passed his four-score milestone." It therefore was a great shock when the news came on September 7 that this far-visioned leader had passed from earth. The State suffragists owed him a debt of gratitude which could only be repaid by carrying forward his life work. In 1910 and 1911 the association so sadly bereft by death held no convention but the work did not cease. Miss Chase, now a national organizer, formed new leagues; Mrs. Parmelee sent out 3,057 pieces of mail, circularized the clergy, conducted thirty- seven debates, wrote 131 newspaper articles, furnished leaflets to ninety W. C. T. U. units, sent Woman's Journals to every graded school and every library in the State and circulated litera- ture at the county fairs. She also prepared a leaflet, Seventeen -ons Why Women Should Vote, wrote and superintended the production of a play entitled A Mock Session of the legisla- ture and spoke at legislative sessions, churches, granges and parlor meetings. She was ably assisted in this work by the sec- ry, Mrs. C'anlk-ld, who had charge of the large Vermont and Hampshire u-nt at the State I air at White River Junc- tion, where speeches were made, literature distributed and sig-