ward a bill asking for some form of
suffrage was presented to the Legislature, accompanied by great
petitions signed by representative people, and an unremitting
agitation was kept up throughout Southern California, until a strong
sentiment was created in favor of the enfranchisement of women. Among
those who championed the cause in the Legislature in those days were
R. N. Bulla, R. B. Carpenter, Edward Denio and W. S. Mellick. U. S.
Senators George C. Perkins and Stephen M. White also gave their
influence in its favor.

In the autumn of 1892 the Southern California Woman's Parliament was
organized. While the fact was emphasized that it was "not a woman's
rights society;" the suffragists saw here an opportunity for good
work. The whole membership of their various organizations went into
this parliament and were active promoters of all the enterprises taken
up, fully realizing that, sooner or later, in a body where all phases
of woman's work--in the home, the church, the school and society--were
discussed, woman's political limitations could not fail to receive
attention. They were not mistaken for in a short time its sessions
might properly have been called "woman's rights meetings," but none
were more careful not to mention this fact than the "strong-minded"
members. The women who were afraid to be seen at suffrage meetings
were being so quietly converted that they had no idea of it. The
sentiment grew and grew--and so did the suffrage association--until,
after consultation with various members of the Legislature, it was
decided to ask for an amendment to the State constitution which would
enfranchise women.

Meanwhile the Los Angeles Suffrage Association called a convention of
delegates from the southern counties in April, 1894, and a central
committee was organized consisting of one representative woman from
each voting precinct. This was productive of systematic work, and when
the Legislature the following winter submitted an amendment, workers
in every city, town, hamlet and school district were ready for the
campaign.

County campaign committees were organized of which that of Los
Angeles was the leader, and from its headquarters the main work was
carried on. These, consisting of four large rooms on the second floor
of the Muskegon block, a fine stone building in the business center of
Los Angeles, were donated by T. D. Stimson. They were handsomely
furnished by friends with every requirement for office work a