Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/683

 VIRGINIA 667 ment to the State constitution. They were led by Mrs. Valentine and brief addresses were made by Mrs. Stephen Put- ney of Wytheville, Mrs. Lloyd Byars of Bristol, Mrs. John H. Lewis of Lynchburg, Miss Lucy Randolph Mason of Rich- mond, great-great-granddaughter of George Mason, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights; Miss Agnes Randolph, great-great- granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson, founder of the University of Virginia; Miss Mary Johnston, Mrs. Sally Nelson Robins of Richmond, author; Miss Elizabeth Cooke of Norfolk, Miss Ja- netta FitzHugh of Fredericksburg, Mrs. Kate Langley Bosher of Richmond, author; Miss Roberta Wellford of University; Mrs. George Barksdale, Miss Marianne Meade and Miss Adele Clark of Richmond. He received them courteously but not seri- ously and paid no attention to their request. During the year organization of the State into legislative and congressional dis- tricts was begun. Norfolk was the place of the annual conven- tion in 1916 when in leagues were reported. This was a legis- lative year and all efforts were concentrated on the Assembly. 1 From January 29 to February 2, 1917, a very successful suf- frage school was conducted in Richmond under the auspices of the National Association. Later when the services of this asso- ciation were offered to the Government for war work the league dedicated itself to State and country and endeavored to carry out the plans of the National Board. The president, Mrs. Valen- tine, was the first person in the State, on request of the Gov- ernor, to speak in the recruiting campaign and other members took part in it. At the annual convention held in Richmond in oember a resolution not only again endorsing the Federal Suffrage Amendment but pledging members to work for it unanimously adopted. Virginia sent the largest delegation in her history to the national convention in Washington in De it emphasis was laid upon enrollment of those who desired 1 From year to year delegate* from the Equal Suffrage League went to the State political convention!, taking for an endorsement of woman suffrage. The Republicans, the minority party, always received them courteously and a few times put the plank in thrir platform. The Democrats always treated them with discourtcny and never endorsed woman suffrage in any way until 1920. whrn they "commended the action of the General Assembly in passing the Qualifications Bill contingent upon the ratification and proclamation of the igth Amendment."
 * mber and it was upon the advice of the returning delegates