calls and also to prevent the violation of the law which forbade any
lobbyist to enter the floor of the House after the session had
convened. The burly doorkeeper, who was against the suffrage bill,
could not be trusted to enforce the law if its enemies chose to enter.

Events proved the wisdom of this precaution. A number of favoring
legislators who started to leave the House during the fight were
persuaded to return and the doorkeeper soon told Mrs. Trout she would
have to go into the gallery. As she did not move he came back
presently and said that Benjamin Mitchell, one of the members of the
House leading the opposition, had instructed him that if she did not
immediately go to the gallery he would put a resolution through the
House forcing her to do so. She politely but firmly said it was her
right as a citizen of Illinois to stay in the corridor and remained at
her post. As a consequence no one entered the House that day who was
not legally entitled to do so. During the five hours' debate all known
parliamentary tactics were used to defeat the bill. When Speaker
McKinley finally announced the vote--ayes 83 (six more than the
required majority), noes 58--a hush fell for an instant before the
wild outburst of applause. It seemed as if there had passed through
those legislative halls the spirit of eternal justice and truth and
the eyes of strong men filled with tears.

Politicians declared it was a miracle, but it was a miracle made
possible by six months of unceasing toil, during which the suffrage
lobby worked from early in the morning until late at night and were
shadowed by detectives eager to acquire testimony that would prejudice
the legislators against their measure. It was most encouraging to the
workers when they won over Edward D. Shurtleff, who had been for years
Speaker of the House and was acknowledged to be one of the most
astute men in Springfield. His practical knowledge of legislative
procedure made his advice of the greatest value. Representative Scott,
who introduced the bill in the House, was a highly esteemed member who
refused to present any others so that he could be free to devote all
of his time and energy to this one, and others were equally loyal.
Mrs. Trout's leadership received the highest praise from the press and
the politicians of the State. The Illinois Legislature led the way and
within a few years bills of a similar nature had been passed by those
of fourteen other States.

The