Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/310

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EPOCH V.
309

the people for ratification or for rejection, thus requiring six years to act finally upon the matter. After the adoption of the initiative amendment to the constitution, however, this handicap was removed, and the supporters of the equal suffrage amendment submitted the question to the voters at every election until it was ratified in 1912. The vote for equal suffrage was in 1906, 36,902, and against 47,075. In 1908, for 36,858 and against, 58,670. In 1910, for 35,270, against 58,065. In 1912, for 61,265, against, 57,104, a majority of 4,161.

Equal Suffrage Becomes a Law. After Equal Suffrage was passed it became a law by the Governor's proclamation November 30, 1912. At the request of Governor West Mrs. Duniway wrote the official proclamation announcing the adoption of the amendment, which successfully closed one of the most spectacular and persistent campaigns known to the history of any state in the Union. Because of her advanced age. Mrs. Duniway was unable to be present at the Executive Office to witness the Governor subscribe his signature to the document; hence Governor West, out of consideration for what she had done for Oregon women, went to her home in Portland, so that it might be signed in her presence. In order to give Mrs. Duniway further recognition as the foremost apostle of Equal Suffrage for Women, the Governor, after the document had been recorded by the Secretary of State, gave it to her.

Copperfield Placed Under Martial Law. Illegal sales of liquor being the most prevalent violation of the law at this time, Governor West was determined in his purpose to prevent illegal sales of intoxicants in the state. Although it was still lawful to operate saloons, his warfare against all infractions of the law governing them was waged without fear or favor. As the result of his efforts, Governor West was enabled to demonstrate to the people of Oregon that the law can be enforced; and in this way he encouraged the