The History of Woman Suffrage Volume III Part 114

The central figure in the seal of California is the presiding G.o.ddess of that State, her spear in one hand, the other resting on her s.h.i.+eld, the cabalistic word "Eureka" over her head and a bear crouching quietly at her feet. She seems to be calmly contemplating the magnificent harbor within the Golden Gate. The shadows on the distant mountains, the richly-laden vessels and the floating clouds indicate the peaceful sunset hour, and the G.o.ddess, in harmony with the scene is seated at her ease, as if after many weary wanderings in search of an earthly Paradise she had found at last the land of perennial summers, fruits and flowers--a land of wonders, with its mammoth trees, majestic mountain-ranges and that miracle of grandeur and beauty, the Yosemite Valley. Verily it seems as if bounteous Nature in finis.h.i.+ng the Pacific Slope did her best to inspire the citizens of that young civilization with love and reverence for the beautiful and grand.

California, admitted to the Union in 1850, owing to the erratic character of her early population, has pa.s.sed through more vicissitudes than any other State, but she secured at last social order, justice in her courts and a somewhat liberal const.i.tution, as far as the personal and property rights of the "white male citizen" were concerned. By its provisions--

All legal distinctions between individuals on religious grounds are prohibited; the utmost freedom of a.s.sembling, of speech and of the press is allowed, subject only to restraint for abuse; there is no imprisonment for debt, except where fraud can be proved; slavery and involuntary servitude, except for crime, are prohibited; wives are secured in their separate rights of property; the exemption of a part of the homestead and other property of heads of families from forced sale is recognized.

So far so good; but while the const.i.tution limits the franchise to every "white male citizen" over twenty-one, who has been a resident of the State six months, and thus makes outlaws and pariahs of all the n.o.ble women who endured the hards.h.i.+ps of the journey by land or by sea to that country in the early days, who helped to make it all that it is, that instrument cannot be said to secure justice, equality and liberty to all its citizens. The position in the const.i.tution and laws of that vast territory, of the real woman who shares the every-day trials and hards.h.i.+ps of her sires and sons inspires no corresponding admiration and respect, with the ideal one who gilds and glorifies the great seal of the State.

For the main facts of this chapter we are indebted to Elizabeth T.

Schenck.[496] She says:

Out of the stirring scenes and tragical events characterizing the early days of California one can well understand that there came of necessity many brave and adventurous argonauts and many women of superior mental force, from among whom in after years the woman suffrage cause might receive most devoted adherents. For nearly a score of years after the great incursion of gold-seekers into this newly-acquired State no word was uttered by tongue or pen demanding political equality for women--none at least which reached the public ear. There were no preceding causes, as in the older States, to stimulate the discussion of the question, and even that mental amazon, Eliza W. Farnham who was one of the distinguished pioneers of California, gathered her inspiration from afar, and thought and wrote for the whole world of women without once sounding the tocsin for woman's political emanc.i.p.ation. Many of the women who braved the perils of the treacherous deep, or still more terrible dangers of the weary march over broad deserts, inhospitable mountains, and through the fastnesses of hostile and merciless Indians, to reach California in the early times, entertained broad views upon the intellectual capacity and political rights of women, but their efforts were confined to fields of literature. While this advanced guard of progressive women was moulding into form a social system out of the turbulent and disorganized ma.s.ses thrown together by the rapidly-increasing population from all parts of the globe, the elements were aggregating which in after years produced powerful, outspoken thought and earnest action in behalf of disfranchised women.

Here as elsewhere women took the lead in school matters and were the most capable and efficient educators from the days of "'49."

One of our permanent State inst.i.tutions, Mills' Seminary, was founded by a woman whose name it bears, and who, a.s.sisted by her husband, Rev. Mr. Mills, conducted the school for nearly a quarter of a century, until by an act of the legislature, she conveyed it to the State. Several princ.i.p.als of the public schools in San Francisco have held their positions for over twenty consecutive years. Mrs. Jeanne Carr, deputy state superintendent of public instruction from 1871 to 1875, was succeeded by Mrs. Kate M. Campbell, who served most efficiently for the full term. During Mrs. Carr's public service she visited nearly every county in the State, attending teachers' inst.i.tutes, and lecturing upon educational topics with great ability. For many years women have been eligible to school offices in California and there is not a county in the State where women have not filled positions as trustees or been elected to the office of county superintendent.[497] Mrs. Coleman has been reelected to that office in Shasta county, and Mrs. E. W.

Sullivan in Mono county has served for several terms.

The first attempt to awaken the public mind to the question of suffrage for woman was a lecture given by Laura De Force Gordon in Platt's Hall, San Francisco, February 19, 1868. Although the attendance was small, a few earnest women were there[498] who formed the nucleus of what followed. Soon after Mrs. Gordon addressed the legislature in the senate-chamber at Sacramento, and made an eloquent appeal for the political rights of women.

Among the audience were many members of the legislature who became very deeply impressed with the justice of her demand, including the subsequent governor of the State, George C.

Perkins, then senator from b.u.t.te county. Soon afterwards Mrs.

Gordon removed to Nevada, and no more lectures on woman suffrage were given until the visit of Anna d.i.c.kinson in the summer of 1869.

The way was being prepared however, for further agitation by the appearance of _The Revolution_ in 1868 in New York, which was hailed by the women of California (as elsewhere) as the harbinger of a brighter and better era. Its well filled pages were eagerly read and pa.s.sed from hand to hand, and the effect of its startling a.s.sertions was soon apparent. Mrs. Pitts Stevens had about that time secured a proprietary interest in the _San Francisco Mercury_, and was gradually educating her readers up to a degree of liberality to endorse suffrage. Early in 1869 she became sole proprietor, changing the name to _Pioneer_, and threw the woman suffrage banner to the breeze in an editorial of marked ability.

The organization of the National Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation in New York, May, 1869, gave fresh impetus to the movement, and the appointment of Mrs. Elizabeth T. Schenck as vice-president for California by that a.s.sociation, met with the approval of all those interested in the movement. Soon after this Mrs. Schenck with her gifted ally, Mrs. Stevens, decided to organize a suffrage society, and at an impromptu meeting of some of the friends at the residence of Mrs. Nellie Hutchinson, July 27, 1869, the first a.s.sociation for this purpose on the Pacific coast was formed. There were just a sufficient number of members[499]

to fill the offices. This society grew rapidly and within a month the parlors were found inadequate to the constantly increasing numbers. Through the courtesy of the Mercantile Library a.s.sociation their commodious apartments were secured.

The advent of Anna d.i.c.kinson afforded the ladies an opportunity to attest their admiration for her as a representative woman, which they did, giving her a public breakfast, September 14.

Their honored guest appreciated the compliment; and in an earnest and eloquent speech referred to it, saying that although she had received many demonstrations of the kind, this was the first ever given her exclusively by her own s.e.x.[500]

Soon after Miss d.i.c.kinson's departure, Mrs. Schenck, much to the regret of the society, resigned the chair, and Mrs. J. W. Stow was appointed to fill the vacancy. The ladies having for some time considered the organizing of a State Society of great importance, it was decided to hold a grand ma.s.s convention for that purpose. There was need of funds to carry forward the work, and a course of three lectures was suggested as a means to raise money. This carried, on motion of Mrs. Stow, and her offer to deliver the first lecture of the course was accepted. All the members of the society devoted their energies to secure the success of the undertaking. Many of them engaged in selling tickets for the two weeks intervening, and on November 2, Mrs.

Stow gave her lecture to a large and interested audience, taking for her theme, "Woman's Work." The Rev. Mr. Hamilton followed, November 9, with "The Parlor and the Harem," and the Rev. C. G.

Ames concluded the course, November 18, with "What Does it Mean?"

The lectures were well received, and though not particularly directed to the right of suffrage for women, succeeded in attracting attention to the society under whose auspices they were given, and helped it financially. About this time Mrs.

Gordon returned from the East and took an active part in canva.s.sing the State, lecturing and forming county societies preparatory to securing as large a representation as possible at the coming convention. The following report of the proceedings is taken from the San Francisco dailies:

[Ill.u.s.tration: Laura deForce Gordon]

The convention to form a State Woman Suffrage Society, held its first meeting in Dashaway Hall, Wednesday afternoon, January 26, 1870. The hall was well filled. Mrs. E. T.

Schenck, vice-president of the National a.s.sociation, was chosen president, _pro. tem._, and Miss Kate Atkinson, Secretary. A committee on credentials was appointed by the chair, consisting of one member from each organization.[501]

During the absence of the committee quite an animated discussion arose as to the admission of delegates. Mrs.

Gordon said the greatest possible liberality should be exercised in admitting persons to the right to speak and vote; that all who signed the roll, paid the fee, and expressed themselves in sympathy with the movement, should be admitted. After some discussion, Mrs. Gordon's views prevailed, and the names of those who chose to qualify themselves were enrolled. About 120 delegates were thus chosen from nine suffrage societies in different parts of the State. Many counties were represented in which no organizations had yet been formed. Some rather humorous discussion was had as to whether the president should be called Mrs. Chairman or Mrs. Chairwoman. The venerable Mr.

Spear arose and suggested the t.i.tle be Mrs. President, which was adopted. Mrs. Gordon said she had noticed that when questions were put to the meeting not more than a dozen timid voices could be heard saying "aye," or "no." The ladies must not sit like mummies, but open their mouths and vote audibly. This disinclination to do business in a business-like way, is discreditable. (Cheers). Mrs. Gordon's hint was taken, and unequivocal demonstration of voices was made thereafter upon the taking of each vote. Long before the time arrived for the evening session, the hall in every part, platform, floor and gallery, was crowded, and large numbers were unable to gain entrance.

The Committee on Permanent Organization presented the following names for officers of the convention: President, Mrs. Wallis of Mayfield; Vice-Presidents, J. A. Collins, C.

G. Ames, Mrs. Mary W. Coggins; Secretaries, Mrs. McKee, Mrs.

Rider, Mrs. Perry; Treasurer, Mrs. Collins. On motion, Mrs.

Haskell and Mrs. Ames escorted the president to the rostrum, and introduced her to the convention. Mrs. Wallis is a lady of imposing presence, and very earnest in the movement. Upon being introduced she said:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN--I thank you for this expression of your high esteem and confidence in electing me to preside over your deliberations. I regard this as a severe ordeal, but, having already been tested in this respect, I do not fear the trials to come. I shall persevere until the emanc.i.p.ation of women is effected, and in order to fulfill my duties successfully upon this occasion, I ask the hearty cooperation of all. [Applause].

Mrs. Stow gave the opening address, after which delegates[502] from various localities made interesting reports. An able series of resolutions was presented and discussed at length by various members of the convention, and letters of sympathy were read from friends throughout the country.[503]

From the first session, some anxiety was felt regarding the action of the State Society in affiliating with one of the two rival a.s.sociations in the East. The Rev. C. G. Ames of San Francisco, whose wife had been in attendance upon the Cleveland convention of the American a.s.sociation, was appointed vice-president for California, while Mrs. E. T. Schenck had been appointed vice-president by the National a.s.sociation. In addition to the names of officers of county societies appended to the call for this convention, both Mrs. Schenck and Mrs. Ames signed in their official capacity, as vice-president of their respective a.s.sociations. Under these circ.u.mstances it was not strange that a spirit of rivalry should manifest itself, but it was unfortunate that it was carried so far as to breed disturbance in this infant organization. The leading women looked upon Mrs. E. Cady Stanton and Miss Susan B. Anthony as among the first who organized the suffrage movement in the United States, and therefore felt that it was due to them that our California Society which owed its existence mainly to the efforts of Mrs. Schenck whom they had appointed vice-president for California, should show its loyalty, devotion and grat.i.tude to them, by becoming auxiliary to the National a.s.sociation. On the other hand, Rev. C. G. Ames, being an enthusiastic admirer of some of the leading spirits in the American a.s.sociation, desired it to be auxiliary to that. This conflict having been foreshadowed, a letter was written to Miss Anthony in relation to it. Her reply was received by Mrs. Schenck on the first day of the convention, breathing a n.o.ble spirit of unselfishness, advising us not to allow any personal feelings towards Mrs. Stanton or herself to influence us in the matter, but rather to keep our a.s.sociation entirely independent, free to cooperate with all societies having for their object the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of woman. Accordingly, the following resolution was almost unanimously adopted:

_Resolved_, That the California Woman Suffrage Society remain independent of all other a.s.sociations for one year.

The result was satisfactory to Mrs. Schenck and her sympathizers, but Mr. Ames seemed loth to relinquish his preference for the American, and the course taken had the effect of lessening his zeal and that of his followers, until they gradually dropped from the ranks. But the convention, despite the unfortunate schism, was a grand success. The sessions were crowded, and so great was the interest awakened in the public mind that a final adjournment was not had until Sat.u.r.day night, after four days of earnest, profitable work. The press of the city gave full and fair reports of the proceedings, though very far from endorsing woman's claim to suffrage, and men and women of all cla.s.ses and professions took an active part in the deliberations. But of the mult.i.tude who met in that first woman suffrage convention on the Pacific coast but few were prominent in after years.

The newly organized society immediately arranged to send a delegation to Sacramento, to present to the legislature then in session a pet.i.tion for woman suffrage. The delegation consisted of Laura DeForce Gordon, Caroline H. Spear and Laura Cuppy Smith, who were accorded a hearing before a special committee of the Senate, of which the venerable Judge Tweed, an able advocate of woman suffrage, was chairman. The proceeding was without a parallel in the history of the State. The novelty of women addressing the legislature attracted universal attention, and the newspapers were filled with reports of that important meeting.

During the year 1870 a general agitation was kept up. A number of speakers[504] held meetings in various parts of the State. The newspapers were constrained to notice this all-absorbing topic, though most of them were opposed to the innovation, and maintained a bitter war against its advocates. Prominent among them was the sensational San Francisco _Chronicle_ followed by the _Bulletin_, the _Call_, and in its usual negative style, the _Alta_, while the _Examiner_ mildly ridiculed the subject, and a score of lesser journalistic lights throughout the State exhibited open hostility to woman suffrage, or simply mentioned the fact of its agitation as a matter of news. But the brave pioneers in this unpopular movement received kindly sympathy and encouragement from some journals of influence, first among which was the San Francisco _Post_, then under the management of that popular journalist, Harry George, afterwards distinguished as the author of "Progress and Poverty." The San Jose _Mercury_ was our friend from the first, and its fearless and able editor, J. J.

Owen, accepted the office of president of the State woman suffrage society to which he was elected in 1878. The Sacramento _Bee_ also did valiant service in defending and advocating woman's political equality, its veteran editor, James McClatchy, being a man of liberal views and great breadth of thought, whose powerful pen was wielded in advocacy of justice to all until his death, which occurred in October, 1883. There were several county journals that spoke kind words in our behalf, and occasionally one under the editorial management of a woman would fearlessly advocate political equality.

During the year of 1870, Mrs. Gordon traveled extensively over the State, delivering more than one hundred lectures, beside making an extended tour, in company with Mrs. Pitts Stevens, through Nevada, where on the Fourth of July, at a convention held at Battle Mountain, the first suffrage organization for that State was effected. In February, 1871, Mrs. Gordon again lectured in Nevada, remaining several weeks in Carson while the legislature was in session. She was invited by that body to address them upon the proposed amendment to the State const.i.tution to allow women to vote, which amendment was lost by a majority of only two votes, obtained by a political trick, the question being voted upon without a call of the House, when several members friendly to the measure were absent. The author of the proposed amendment was the Hon. C. J. Hillier, a prominent lawyer of Virginia City, who, in bringing the bill before the legislature in 1869, delivered one of the ablest arguments ever given in favor of woman suffrage.

In 1871 Mrs. Gordon again made an extended tour through California, Oregon, and Was.h.i.+ngton Territory, traveling mostly by stage, enduring hards.h.i.+ps, braving dangers and everywhere overcoming prejudice and antagonism to strong-minded women, by the persuasiveness of her arguments. In September, while lecturing in Seattle, a telegram informed her of her nomination by the Independent party of San Joaquin county for the office of State senator, requesting her immediate return to California.

This necessitated a journey of nearly a thousand miles, one-half by stage-coach. Six days of continuous travel brought her to Stockton, where she entered at once upon the senatorial campaign.

Mrs. Gordon spoke every night until election, and succeeded in awakening a lively interest in her own candidacy and in the subject of woman suffrage. Her eligibility to the office was vehemently denied, particularly by Republicans, who were badly frightened at the appearance of this unlooked-for rival. The pulpit, press, and stump speakers alternated in ridiculing the idea of a woman being allowed to take a seat in the Senate, even if elected. The Democratic party, being in the minority, offered but little opposition, and watched with great amus.e.m.e.nt this unequal contest between the great dominant party on the one side, and the little Spartan band on the other. The contest was as exciting as it was brief, and despite the great odds of money, official power, political superiority, and the perfect machinery of party organization in favor of her opponents, Mrs. Gordon received about 200 votes, besides as many more which were rejected owing to some technical irregularity. Among those who took part in that novel campaign and deserving special mention, was the venerable pioneer familiarly called Uncle Jarvis, who had voted a straight Whig or Republican ticket for fifty years, and who for the first time in his life scratched his ticket and voted for Mrs. Gordon.

In July, 1871, California was favored by a visit from Mrs.

Stanton and Miss Anthony, who awakened new interest wherever their logical and eloquent appeals were heard. Their advent was hailed with joy, and they received marked attention from all cla.s.ses, the clergy not excepted. Every lecture given by them drew out large a.s.semblies of the most influential of the citizens. Indeed, they received a continual ovation during their stay in San Francisco. After Mrs. Stanton returned to New York, Miss Anthony remained and traveled in California, Nevada, Oregon and Was.h.i.+ngton Territory several months, speaking at conventions held in San Francisco and Sacramento, besides lecturing in all the princ.i.p.al towns, winning for herself great praise, and a deeper respect for the cause she so ably represented. A complimentary banquet was tendered her in San Francisco on the eve of her departure eastward, at which eighty guests, distinguished in art, literature and social life, sat down to a sumptuous collation spread in the Grand Hotel.

In the early part of that year, 1871, Hon. A. A. Sargent and wife returned to California from Was.h.i.+ngton, his term as representative having expired, and both took an active part in the work of woman's political enfranchis.e.m.e.nt. Mr. Sargent, with commendable bravery, which under the circ.u.mstances was indeed a test of courage, delivered an address in favor of woman suffrage at a convention held in San Francisco, just on the eve of an important political campaign, in which he was a candidate for reelection to congress, and also to the United States Senate. Of course, those opposed to woman suffrage tried to make capital out of it against him, but without avail, for that able and distinguished statesman was elected to both offices, his term as representative expiring before he would be called upon to take his seat in the United States Senate. His n.o.ble wife, Ellen Clark Sargent, took an active interest in all the woman suffrage meetings, and in November, 1871, was appointed, as was also Mrs.

Gordon, to represent California in the National convention to be held in Was.h.i.+ngton in January, 1872.

During the session of the California legislature in 1871-2 a delegation from the State Society visited Sacramento and was accorded a hearing in the a.s.sembly-chamber before the Judiciary Committee of that body. Addresses were made by Mrs. Pitts Stevens, Mrs. A. A. Haskell, Mrs. E. A. H. DeWolf and Hon. John A. Collins.

During the session of 1873-4 a bill was pa.s.sed by the legislature making women eligible to school offices, and also one which provided that all women employed in the public schools should receive the same compensation as men holding the same grade certificates.

Mrs. Laura Morton has filled and ably discharged the office of a.s.sistant State librarian for the past ten years. Mrs. Mandeville was deputy-controller during the Democratic administration of Governor Irwin, and proved herself fully capable of discharging the duties of that responsible office; while for several years women have been elected to various positions in the legislature and employed as clerks.

July 10, 1873, the Woman Suffrage Society was incorporated under the laws of the State, with Mrs. Sarah Wallis, president. Mrs.

Clara S. Foltz, a brilliant young woman who had begun the study of law in San Jose, knew the statutes permitted no woman to be admitted to the bar, and early in the session of 1877 drafted a bill amending the code in favor of women, and sent it to Senator Murphy of Santa Clara to be presented. Five years before this, however, Mrs. Nettie Tator had applied for admission to the bar at Santa Cruz. A committee of prominent attorneys appointed by the court examined her qualifications as a lawyer. She pa.s.sed creditably and was unanimously recommended by the committee, when it was discovered that the law would not admit women to that learned profession.

Following the presentation of Mrs. Foltz' bill, Mrs. Knox Goodrich, Laura Watkins, Mrs. Wallis and Laura De Force Gordon were appointed by the State Society a committee to visit Sacramento during the session and use their influence to secure the pa.s.sage of the "Woman's Lawyer Bill," as it was termed, and to pet.i.tion for suffrage. Mrs. Gordon, who was also reading law, was in Sacramento as editorial correspondent for her paper, the _Daily Democrat_ of Oakland, and had ample opportunity to render valuable service to the cause she had so much at heart. The bill pa.s.sed the Senate by a vote of 22 to 9, being ably advocated by Senators N. Green Curtis, Judge Niles Searles of Nevada county, Creed Haymond of Sacramento, and Joseph Craig of Yolo. In the a.s.sembly, after weeks of tedious delay and almost endless debate, the bill was indefinitely postponed by a majority of one. By the persistent efforts of a.s.semblymen Grove L. Johnson of Sacramento, R. W. Murphy, Charles Gildea and Dr. May of San Francisco, the bill was brought up on reconsideration and pa.s.sed by two majority. The session was within three days of its close, and so bitter was the opposition to the bill that an effort was made to prevent its engrossment in time to be presented for the governor's signature. The women and their allies, who were on the watch for tricks, defeated the scheme of their enemies and had the bill duly presented to Governor Irwin, but not till the last day of the session. Then the suspense became painful to those most interested lest it might not receive his approval. Mrs.

Gordon, as editor of a Democratic journal, a.s.serted her claims to some recognition from that party and strongly urged that a Democratic governor should sign the bill. Aided by a personal appeal from Senator Niles Searles to his excellency, her efforts were crowned with success; the governor's message sent to the Senate, when the hands of the clock pointed to fifteen minutes of twelve, midnight (at which hour the president's gavel would descend with the words adjourning the Senate _sine die_), announced that Senate bill number 66, which permitted the admission of women to all the courts of the State, had received his approval. There was great rejoicing over this victory among the friends everywhere, though the battle was not yet ended.

The same legislature had pa.s.sed a bill accepting the munificent donation to the State of $100,000 from Judge Hastings to found the Hastings College of Law, on condition that it be the law department of the State University, and the college was duly opened for the admission of students. At the beginning of the December term Mrs. Foltz, who had been admitted to the District Court in San Jose (being the first woman ever admitted to any court in the State), came to San Francisco, and with Mrs. Gordon applied for admission to the law college. The dean, Judge Hastings, himself opposed to women being received as students, told them it was a matter that must be laid before the board of directors, but that they could attend the lectures _ad interim_.

Three days later they were informed that their application had been denied. Satisfied that the law was in their favor, they immediately appealed to the courts. To save time Mrs. Gordon applied to the Supreme Court and Mrs. Foltz to the District Court, simultaneously, for a writ of mandamus to compel the directors to act in obedience to the law which, the pet.i.tioners claimed, did not discriminate against women in founding the State University or its departments. The Supreme Court, wis.h.i.+ng perhaps to s.h.i.+rk the responsibility of acting in the first instance, sent their pet.i.tioner, Mrs. Gordon, to the lower court, which had in the meantime ordered the writ to issue for Mrs. Foltz; so it was decided to make hers the test-case, and by the courtesy of Judge Morrison, now chief-justice of the Supreme Court, Mrs. Gordon was joined with Mrs. Foltz in the prosecution of the cause. The board of directors of the college consisted of the chief-justice of the Supreme Bench and seven other lawyers, among the most distinguished and able in the State. The case attracted great attention and deep interest was taken in the proceedings. Judges Lake and Cope, who were ex-justices of the Supreme Court, a.s.sisted by T. B. Bishop, another learned pract.i.tioner at the bar, were arrayed as counsel for the defense against these comparatively young students in the law, who appeared unaided in their own behalf. After one of the most interesting legal contests in the history of the State these women came off victors, and the good-natured public, through the press, offered them congratulations. But the defendants would not yield without a stubborn resistance and carried their cause on appeal to the Supreme Court; hence many months elapsed before the final struggle came, but victory again rewarded the pet.i.tioners, the Supreme Court deciding that women _should_ be admitted to the law department of the State University. Although excluded from the benefit of the lectures in the college, Mesdames Gordon and Foltz had improved their time in study, and in December, 1879, both were admitted to the Supreme Court of the State, after a thorough examination.

Prior to this legal contest, in the summer of 1878, when delegates to the const.i.tutional convention were to be elected, Mrs. Gordon, urged by her friends in San Joaquin county, became an independent candidate only a week or two before the election.

With Mrs. Foltz she made a very brief though brilliant canva.s.s, attracting larger and more enthusiastic audiences than any other speaker. Mrs. Gordon received several hundred votes for the office, and felt compensated for the time and money spent by the great interest awakened in the subject of woman suffrage.

As soon as the const.i.tutional convention a.s.sembled in September, Mrs. Gordon, although still pursuing her legal studies, was able as a newspaper correspondent to closely watch the deliberations of that body and urge the insertion of a woman suffrage clause in the new organic law. The State Society delegated Mrs. Knox Goodrich, Mrs. Sarah Wallis and Mrs. Watkins to join Mrs. Gordon in pressing the claims of woman, but the opposition was too strong and the suffrage clause remained declaring male citizens ent.i.tled to vote, though a section in the bill of rights, together with other provisions in the new const.i.tution, renders it quite probable that the legislature has the right to enfranchise women without having to amend the organic law. At all events the new instrument is far more favorable to women than the old, as will now be shown. The agitation of the question of the admission of women to the Law College, which began during the session of the convention, led that body to incorporate the following provision in the const.i.tution:

ARTICLE II., SEC. 18. No person shall be debarred admission to any of the collegiate departments of the State University on account of s.e.x.