women occupied the beautifully decorated platform. During
the afternoon a reception had been given in the artistic home of Mrs.
Emma Shafter Howard.

The convention for 1900 was held in San Francisco as usual, December
14, 15. Mrs. Annie R. Wood was elected president.[168]

One of the largest auxiliary societies is that of Alameda County with
a dozen branches. The presidents have been the Rev. J. K. McLean, Mrs.
M. S. Haight, Mrs. Alice M. Stocker, Mrs. Isabel A. Baldwin, Mrs. H.
J. D. Chapman and Mrs. Frances A. Williamson.[169]

The San Jose Club was formed for campaign work, Nov. 14, 1895, with
fifty-four charter members. It has continued to hold weekly meetings
under the presidency of Dr. Alida C. Avery.[170] There are a number of
other efficient clubs in Northern California.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION: As early as 1868, and for many years afterwards,
Mrs. Laura De Force Gordon addressed the Legislature in behalf of
political rights for women, and from then until the present time there
have been few sessions which have not had the question brought before
them. A large number of legislators, lawyers and leading women have
contended that the constitution of the State is so worded that it is
within the power of the Legislature to confer the full franchise by
statute, but bills for this purpose always have been defeated by a
majority who hold that this can be done legally only by an amendment
to the constitution adopted by the electors. Mrs. Nellie Holbrook
Blinn has spent many winters at Sacramento in the interest of suffrage
bills, and Mrs. Clara S. Foltz has frequently made legal arguments
before joint committees. Beginning with 1891 Mrs. Sturtevant Peet,
president of the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union, has
remained through every legislative session representing that
organization, with bills for temperance measures, suffrage and other
matters of especial interest to women. During all of these years the
suffrage bills before the Legislature have been reinforced by great
petitions and hundreds of personal letters from the women of Southern
California.

In 1889 Miss Sarah M. Severance, State Superintendent of Franchise for
the W. C. T. U., went to Sacramento with a large petition asking for
School Suffrage. Mrs. Gordon, a practicing lawyer, already had
prepared three bills asking for Municipal and School Suffrage
including the right to hold every educational office. All were
reported favorably from the Senate c