, aimed at the women, that no lobbyists
should be permitted on the floor of the Assembly. To the amazement of
every one the women began to secure votes. The Judiciary Committee
recommended the amendment and it came up as a special order. Speaker
Philip A. Stanton was an avowed opponent, as was Assemblyman J. P.
Transue, floor leader, both of Los Angeles. The San Francisco
delegation, under the direction of Assemblyman J. J. McManus, lined up
with them. The debate lasted an hour. Assemblymen Otis, Telfer,
Juilliard and Hinkel were among those speaking for the amendment. The
atmosphere seemed favorable but at 12 o'clock, when the vote should
have been taken, to the amazement of its friends, Mr. Johnson moved
for a recess until one o'clock. In that hour every possible pressure
was brought to bear against the amendment. When the session reconvened
the galleries were packed with persons there in the interest of the
race-track bill and the suffrage lobby were compelled to sit on the
steps. Without preliminaries the amendment went down to defeat, Mr.
Johnson refusing to ask for reconsideration.

The members of the suffrage lobby toured the State, telling the story
of the legislative defeat and showing what would be the benefits of a
direct primary law. During the Chautauqua meeting in the Yosemite in
July, through the efforts of Assemblyman Drew of Fresno, an entire day
and evening were granted for an excellent suffrage program of a strong
political flavor with Mrs. Ray, Mrs. Coffin and Mrs. Gamage in charge.

1910. The reform element in the Legislature did succeed in enacting a
direct primary law, which, although imperfect, enabled the voters for
the first time in the history of the State to speak for themselves.
Stimulated and encouraged the Republican State convention of 1910 met
in San Francisco and was dominated by the progressive element. The
good government forces had been successful in Los Angeles and had
unanimously included the suffrage plank in their county platform, J.
H. Braly assisting in this result. Santa Clara county under the
leadership of Charles Blaney had done likewise, and the delegates came
to the State convention prepared to force its adoption. It needed that
solid front of eighty-three votes from south of the Tehachapi and the
militant argument of the sturdy Santa Clara delegation to bring the
San Francisco leaders into line. The amendment plank was taken up by
the Resolutions Committee, of which Harr