t their reforms, woman
suffrage being one of them.

The Legislative Committee was composed of Mrs. Coffin, Mrs. Blaney,
Mrs. Edson and Mrs. Arthur Cornwall Juilliard. Senator Charles W. Bell
of Pasadena had continuously stood for woman suffrage in the face of
the opposition of the Senate and in the organization of the
Legislature he was made chairman of the Republican caucus. Assemblyman
A. H. Hewitt of Yuba City, also a staunch friend of years' standing,
took charge of the amendment in the House and when elected Speaker he
placed it in the hands of Assemblyman Cattell of Pasadena, who made it
his chief interest. The Anti-Suffrage organization of women for the
first time maintained a lobby at the Capitol. The amendment was
introduced in both Houses the first week of the session. The Judiciary
Committee of the Senate granted a hearing on the evening of Jan. 18,
1911. The crowd was so large it had to be held in the Senate chamber,
and gallery, aisles and lobby were filled. Mrs. Katharine Philips
Edson of Los Angeles introduced the speakers and Mrs. Elizabeth
Gerberding of San Francisco made the opening argument. Miss Maude
Younger spoke in behalf of the working women; Miss Ethel Moore and
Mrs. Cornelia McKinne Stanwood of the College Equal Suffrage League
represented the children and the women of the State; Mrs. Coffin,
speaking for the State Suffrage Association, urged the legislators to
stand by the suffrage plank in their party platforms. Mrs. Shelley
Tolhurst closed the appeal. Then Mrs. George A. Caswell of Los
Angeles, representing the women anti-suffragists, read a paper of
fifty minutes.

Possibly there was no measure before the Legislature in which deeper
interest was manifested or which had the urge of stronger public
sentiment. Lieutenant Governor A. J. Wallace of Los Angeles was a true
friend and Senator A. E. Boynton of Marysville, president pro tem.,
had for years loyally supported it. The Los Angeles delegation with
but few exceptions were pledged in favor. Many opponents of years'
standing, feeling the pressure of popularity, were prepared to
capitulate. Senator J. B. Sanford of Ukiah, who had long been a thorn
in the flesh of the suffrage lobby, attempted to block it but was
prevented by Senator Louis Juilliard and a spirited debate was led by
Senator Lee C. Gates of Los Angeles, a leader of progressive measures.
On January 26 the amendment came up for third reading and final
passage. There was no need