Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/365

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MISSOURI
351

At the State convention held at Macon in May, 1918, Mrs. filler was re-elected. Owing to the splendid organization of e St. Louis League it was able to invite the National Suffrage Association to hold its Golden Jubilee in this city in 1919. It was eld March 23-29 inclusive at the Statler Hotel with two evening lass meetings at the Odeon, and was declared by Mrs. Catt to ave been "the best convention ever held anywhere." A large roup of women worked indefatigably for weeks in advance to nake it a success but to Mrs. Gellhorn, chairman of the Local Arrangements Committee, must go the chief honor. Second aust be placed the name of Mrs. Stix, who had raised the funds o defray the local expenses.

On the evening of March 28 was held one of the mass meetings. The large auditorium of the Odeon, beautifully decorated or the occasion under the supervision of Mrs. Fred Taussig and Mrs. Everett W. Pattison, was filled to overflowing. On the stage were Mrs. Catt, Dr. Shaw and the other national officers, also the speakers of the evening, among whom were Governor Henry J. Allen of Kansas and Miss Helen Frazier of England. Suddenly music was heard from the back. It heralded the Missouri delegation, composed of Mrs. Miller, Mrs. David O'Neil, Mrs. W. R. Haight and Miss Marie B. Ames, who had been in Jefferson City for ninety-six days working in the interest of the Presidential suffrage bill and had just returned with the joyful tidings that it had passed both Houses! 'The delegation was met at the door and escorted down the center aisle by Mrs. Gellhorn, holding aloft a banner bearing the words, "Now we are voters." The large audience rose spontaneously and amidst deafening cheers and wild waving of handkerchiefs and hats the women ascended to the stage, where they were individually presented to the audience by the presiding officer, Dr. Shaw, who 'congratulated them and the rest of the women of Missouri on the great victory. [Full account of convention in Chapter XVIII, Volume V.]

To celebrate the success of this great convention and especially the winning of Presidential suffrage, the St. Louis League at its annual meeting in April gave a "victory tea" in the Statler Hotel. The guests of honor were Senator James W. McKnight and