n the constitution:

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

Remembering the hard struggle by which the right to practice law
had been secured to women, and the danger of leaving it to the
caprice of future legislatures, Mrs. Gordon drafted a clause
which protects women in all lawful vocations, and by persistent
effort succeeded in getting it inserted in the new constitution,
as follows:

ARTICLE XX., SEC. 18. No person shall, on account of sex, be
disqualified from entering upon or pursuing any lawful
business, vocation or profession.

The adoption of this clause, so valuable to women, was mainly
accomplished by the skillful diplomacy of Hon. Charles S.
Ringgold, delegate from San Francisco, who introduced it in the
convention and worked faithfully for its adoption. Thus
California stands to-day one of the first States in the Union, as
regards the educational, industrial and property rights of women,
and the probability of equal political rights being secured to
them at an early day, is conceded by the most conservative.

About the time Mrs. Foltz and Mrs. Gordon were admitted to the
bar, they, as chief officers of the State W. S. S.
(incorporated), called a convention in San Francisco. It convened
in February, 1880, and was well attended. Mrs. Sargent took an
active part in the meetings, occupied the chair as president _pro
tem._, and subsequently spoke of the work done by the National
Association in Washington. Several prominent officials, unable to
be present, sent letters heartily endorsing our claims; among
these were Governor Perkins, State Senator Chace, and A. M.
Crane, judge of the Superior Court. Addresses were delivered by
Judge Swift, Marian Todd and Mrs. Thorndyke of Los Angeles, Judge
Palmer of Nevada city, and others. The newspapers of the city,
though still hostile to the object of the convention, gave very
fair reports. In September following, the annual meeting of the
society was held, and made particularly interesting by the fact
that the proposed new city charter, which contained a clause
proscriptive of women, was denounced, and a plan of action agreed
upon whereby its defeat s