The important issues debated on the National Stage were heatedly discussed on the local level. Ridgefield suffragists worked tirelessly to convince those in power to “vote for women” and pass the 19th amendment despite “Anti” suffrage sentiments. As leaders of the Ridgefield Equal Franchise League formed in 1911, Mrs. Laura Allee, Mary Olcott, Mrs. James Stokes and others (including men like Laura’s husband, Dr. William Allee) wrote articles for the Ridgefield Press, spoke at meetings at town hall and other gatherings, and even took curtain calls at the intermission of a traveling dog show wielding a “Votes for Women” banner!
