ev. Anna Howard Shaw,
president and vice-president of the National Association, arrived in
San Francisco in response to a cordial invitation to assist in the
Woman's Congress which opened on the 20th. No meetings ever held were
more beautiful and inspiring than these, presided over by Mrs.
Cooper.[165] The best speakers in the State, men and women,
participated and every possible honor, public and social, was
conferred upon the two Eastern guests.

After the congress they accepted invitations to speak in San Jose, Los
Angeles, Pasadena, Riverside, Pomona and San Diego. The audiences
everywhere were large and cordial and their pathway was literally
strewn with flowers. They returned to San Francisco and again
addressed great audiences in that city and Oakland. Miss Shaw accepted
the invitation of the executive committee to be one of the orators at
the Fourth of July celebration in Woodward's Pavilion.

On July 2, 3, these ladies met with the State Suffrage Convention in
Golden Gate Hall. Under their wise counsel a board of officers was
elected which proved acceptable to all the members of the
association,[166] and a constitution was adopted which eliminated the
causes of past contentions.

The State was now thoroughly aroused over the submission by the
Legislature the preceding winter of an amendment conferring Full
Suffrage on women, which was to be voted on the next year. Auxiliary
societies were reported from Oakland, San Jose, Stockton, Los Angeles,
Fresno and other places and 300 new members were enrolled. The big
hall was crowded at the evening meetings and addresses were made by
Mrs. Sargent, the new president, Miss Anthony, Miss Shaw, Mrs. Cooper,
Mrs. Craig, Mrs. Blinn and others.

The officers elected at this time continued through all the long and
trying campaign of 1896, which is described further on. The amendment
was defeated at the election of November 3. The State convention was
called for November 5, 6, in order that the Eastern women might be
present, as they were to leave on the 7th. A magnificent farewell
meeting was held on the first evening in Metropolitan Temple, which
was crowded from pit to dome. The _Call_ declared, "It was more like
the ratification of a victory than a rally after defeat;" and at the
close of the convention said: "It furnished during its entire sessions
an example of pluck and patience such as should forever quiet the
calumny that women do not know how to govern themselves