174 A Short History of Nursing The first public statement on these lines was made by Sophia F. Palmer, in a paper read before the New York State Federation of Women's Clubs, a very influential body of women in November, 1898. In this paper she specified the advanced position that American nurses would consider as right and just, in these words: "It is of vital im- portance that examining boards shall be selected from among nurses." Miss Palmer's argument was based on the principles accepted in the licensing of other professions and skilled trades, and claimed the broad foundation of citizen- ship. Nurses then formed state societies and prepared to approach the state legislatures with their ap- State peals. The work was arduous and societies g^-^g contests were waged in many in- stances, yet on the whole the progress of state registration was surprisingly steady and uniform. The campaign in New York was the most stub- bornly contested of all, and cost the life of Eva Allerton, then head of the Homeopathic hospital in Rochester, whose strength and skill were given to the direction of the legislative committee. When finally passed, the New York act placed the licensing of nurses under the Regents of the State University.
