The San Francisco call., 1896-06-20
Q ore s,s we were out Of the room, without word

TIE next step was to secure a minority re-
port In order to bring it before the conyen-
ION, ana we mad the assurance OF c. wesley
Reed OF San Francisco that this should be
done. he kept his word although he also had
other nights on hand, and although he en-
9eangered them by standing for woman sui
lrage; This minority report, although prop
eTl! drawn and signed by four members OF the
ptatiorm committee, including the chairman
oI thls committee, was "smothered" by the
secretary OF the convention and its chairman,
MI. Gould. Every other minority report was
read and acted upon by the convention. That
alone on woman suffrage was held back. In
yam Mr. Reed protested, the chairman ignored
MIN and called for vote on the platform as
wnole. 1t was adopted with a roar, and our
fight was lost!
1t was near midnight. We had sat two long
Gays in the convention, had slept but little,
were worn out and verc, very wrathy. At this
luncture John p. Irish addressed the conven-
uon, stating that very dis t1nguished LADY
was present etc, etc. and would they hear
Miss Susan B. Anthony? Thinking it was too
late Tor her TO do any hahn, she was received
with loud applause. 1t is impossible TO say
what Mr.. Irish and the convention expected,
but they got rebuke for allowing such action
on the part of their chairman and for treating
the women OF the State in this unJ just and un-
democratic manner that caused hush to
fall upon the whole body. 1t was a dramatic
and Impressive scene, one not to be forgotten.
At its conclusion there were loud cries Tor
Anna Shaw. The little fighter was at the boil
ing point, but she stepped upon the platform
with smile, and, with that sarcasm OF when
she is complete mistress, she supplemented
Miss Anthony's remarks. As she stepped down,
half the convention were on their teet de-
manding the minority report.
The chairman stated that it was too late for
that, but resolution might be offered. The
original resolution was at once presented, and
then there was an attempt to take a viva-voce
vote, but our friends demanded roll call. IL
resulted in 149 ayes and 420 noes. Mr.. Gould's
own county voted almost solldly IN 1aVor;
Alameda County, led by W. w Foote, gave 80
noes and 3 ayes, yet this county sent in the
largest petition Tor woman suffrage of any IN
the State. The vote in detail will be consId-
cred hereafter. Suffice it to say we secured
what we went after-a vote OF the convention.
The moral and politi effect of this vote is
discussed by Miss Anthony in further on.
When we went out of the convention hall
into the moonlight we found James Phelan
awaiting us with several carriages, into which
we were placed with great kindness and cour-
tesy by that gentleman and sent to our hotel;
l wish 1t were possible to give the names OF all
who stood by US so bravely in position dlfh-
cult for US and for them. We know those
names by heart and they will be remembered.
Miss Susan B. Anthony had the follow
ing to say:
For the Democratic convention to give 149
votes for woman suffrage resolution was
really a greater victory for our cause than was
the almost unanimous vote OF the Republican
Convention OF a month ago. The Republicans
nave from time TO time, when there was no
practical issue at stake, passed favorable reso-
luuonS; but never before, in any State where
an amendment was pending, did any Repub-
lican convention put its imprimatur upon 1t
until that OF California. at Sacramento, on
May ), 1896. So that, Father Solomon TO the
con trary, something new under the sun" did
happen then. 1t was great and grand step
forward that presaged triumph for Us al the
polls on November 8. 1t was what most ear
nestly hoped, but hardly dared TO expect
The Democratic party, on the other hand,
had never, either in State or National conven-
ton, had favorable resolution presented for
discussion, much less adopted, while in several
of the States, when amendments were pend
ing, resolutions most bitterly denouncing
woman suffrage have been adopted. Hence,
when the California Democracy q Sacramento
allowed the presentation, discussion and roll
call of Il fuli-fedged woman suffrage amend
ment resolution as follows "Believing in the
Jeffersonian doctrine, that Governments derive
their just powers from the consent OF the gov
erned,' the Democratic party of California, in
convention assembled, hereby expresses its
approval OF amendment No. IL, conferrlng the
right OF suffrage upon the women OF the State,
and 149 delegates shouted AYE, 1t was
vastly longer stride forward for the Democracy
than was the full vote OF the Republicans.
The parties in California now stand three
with solid planks and one with quarter of q
plank. This means that the editors and
orators OF the dominant Republican party and
OF the Peoples and Prohibition parties will, If
they write or talk against woman suffrage,
oppose one of the principles of their own
PARTIES and those OF the other great party
viii, if they oppose the amendment. go
counter to the vote, the wish and the VIII of
one-fourth of the members of the Democratic
Convention.
Hence, you see, I am rejoiced over the
action OF each and all of the state conventions
OF California, since each did splendidly con-
sidering its antecedents; and am profoundly
grateful for the promise that these platform
utteranees give tor the best of educational
help for our amendment by the bringing be-
fore the rank and file OF the voters ful and
free discussion of the merits OF the question.
1t is the first campaign during the last thirty
years in which the great Repu blican party has
thus pledged itself to help us; the first time
any great daily paper like THE CALL has ever
given itself to help us and the very first time
that the Democratic party has ever given US
even fourth OF promise not to oppose US.
How can l do other than feel sure that with
all these powers on our side victory viii
perch on our suffrage banners in November
next?
The State Suffrage Association next
Tuesday will remove from 1880 Folsom
street 10 its new headquarters in the great
Emporium building on Market street.
The rooms selected are numbers 563, 564
and 565 on the fifth floor. One of the
apartments will be fitted as a reception
room and the others as offices for the
president and working officers.
A stenographer and typewriter will be
added to the staff of the headquarters and
the rooms kept open day and evening.
Mrs. Ida Harper chairman OF the press
committee, will be in constant attendance
to supply information. 1t is the intention
of all the members of the association 10
remain at work until after the election in
the interest of the cause of woman's
suffrage.