of the country, the people must prepare for emergencies. As the early settlers were in constant fear of famine, the mission of saving and storing grain was given to the women of the Relief Society. From the time the movement was inaugurated, in 1875, until the World War, nearly fifty years later, the organization had constantly on hand a large supply of wheat and a substantial wheat fund.
On various occasions when great disasters have occurred, the Relief Society has contributed wheat and flour. A notable example was the contribution of several carloads of flour sent to San Francisco at the time of the earthquake and fire. At the time of the World War, the Relief Society had on hand 100,000 bushels of wheat, which was turned over to the Food Administration.
In addition to L. D. S. Relief Society women who have functioned throughout the State, there have been other able groups of church and club women who have carried on activities in the larger centers. As a result of their vision and labor, some forward-looking welfare institutions have been established in the State, such as the Orphan's Home and Day Nursery, the Neighborhood House, a home for the aged, and the Children's Aid Society.
The women of Utah were early interested in suffrage and intermittently had the franchise, even in territorial days. When Utah received statehood in 1896, the Constitution permanently bestowed upon them the power to vote. Because of their political privileges, Utah women became active participators and conspicuous figures in the National Woman Suffrage Movement. To support this great cause they sent delegates regularly to the National Suffrage Conventions. The first woman State Senator in the United States was a Utah woman, who served in 1897. At the same session of the legislature another Utah woman sat in the House. Since this time women have regularly been elected to the legislature.
The spirit of the Utah pioneer woman is the heritage and inspiration of the Utah woman of today, who, sheltered, protected and free from actual hardships, is yet imbued with the same spirit of progress and development. She is still pioneering, but in newer and different fields, in modern education and in humanitarian movements.
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