upon the new Governor,
William P. Hobby, and ask that he submit a bill for Primary suffrage
for women at the special session of the Legislature soon to convene.

A few weeks later the special session was called to consider a number
of important measures asked for by the Secretary of War. On February
24 the suffrage leaders came to Austin and established headquarters at
the Driskill Hotel, determined to secure the Primary law in time for
women to vote in the July elections. While the women were interviewing
the legislators Mrs. Nonie B. Mahoney, prominent in Dallas suffrage
work, called on Judge Barry of that city, who seemed unfavorable and
finally said it would take 5,000 names of Dallas women on a petition
to change him. He dismissed the subject from his mind and returned to
his legislative duties. Four days later Mrs. Mahoney arrived in Austin
with a heavy suit case, opened it and unfolded before the Judge's
astonished gaze a petition containing the names, not alone of the
required 5,000 but of 10,000 of his townswomen!

Mrs. Cunningham and her committee again asked the Governor to submit
Primary suffrage for women to the Legislature but he delayed. So great
pressure was brought to bear on him that he finally consented if they
should present a petition to him signed by a majority of the members
of both House and Senate. After many hours of labor they were able to
comply with this condition and to furnish additional data to prove
that the bill would pass both Houses with large majorities. The
Governor did not submit it but he did submit the Primary Election
bill, and the Primary Suffrage bill was immediately introduced by C.
B. Metcalfe of San Angelo as an amendment to it. It passed the House
March 16 by a vote of 84 to 34 and the Senate March 21 by 17 to 4, and
was signed by Governor Hobby on March 26 in the presence of Mr.
Metcalfe, Captain Sackett, who also labored untiringly in its behalf,
Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Doom, Mrs. Elizabeth Speer and Mrs. McCallum,
members of the Legislative Committee. The handsome fountain pen was
purchased for the occasion by Mr. Metcalfe and after the signing
presented by him to Mrs. Cunningham. Judge A. S. Lattimore drafted the
bill in 1917 and Judge Ocie Speer of Fort Worth the one carried in
1918.[179]

This law gave women the right to vote at all primary elections and in
all nominating conventions and nominations are equivalent to an
election, as there is practically but one par