The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31

hold the first Of the seasons
meetings this week. After months
of silence, dust and darkness. the
clubhouses are filed with sunshine,
laughter and voices again, and. brown
and invigorated, madame has returned
to her duties on committees or boards
1t is noticeable this autumn that there
Is a marked tendency for experiment
in all the clubs and that the monthly
programs are in every case full of in
novations and surprises. Civic clubs
have suddenly. decided to annex a
dramatic section, social clubs are be-
ginning to show deep interest in pro-
baton courts and settlement house
work, and. altogether, the idea of wild
ened interests and larger sympathies
seems to have seized hold of them all.
Perhaps at the root of all this is the
fact that women are learning, for the
first time in the history of the world.
that there is power and inspiration in
organization, and that a few hundred
women doing very little bit of good
are more effective than a few women
doing much.
The banquet room at Pioneer hall
presented a most attractive appearance
on Saturday, when $50 of the members
and friends of the Pioneer Women of
California met there for the annual
luncheon. This affair is always the
opening of the clubs year, and is one
of the most pleasing events on the
calendar. On Saturday the long tables
were decorated with blossoms of bright
yellow chrysanthemums, daisies and
coryopsis. The delicious repast was in
terrupted by several toasts and short
speeches. and fine music was played all
during the meal. Mrs. Anna Young
Reed, the clubs president, introduced
the speakers, aftersa few words Of well
come. and the toasts, The Common
wealth of California" The Pioneers"
'sThe Former Presidents and The Alb
sent Members" were given standing In
conclusion several old songs were sung
in unison by the club.
One of the most important weeks in
the history of equal suffrage closed on
Friday last, when the members OF the
organization took a daring stand for
their cause. The news of their refusal
to accept the vote of thanks offered
them at the close of the republican con-
vention will be repeated far and wide.
and will prove an inspiration to other
women who are working for the ballot
all over the world. me stand was taken
on the spur of the moment by Mrs gnes
Pease of Utah, who has been a voter in
her own state, and who has attended
many political conventions. The en-
thusiasm aroused in the suffragettes'
ranks by her courage, and their indig-
nation over what they considered an
extremely prejudiced hearing. have had
the effect Of stirring up more genuine
interest in the suffrage cause than has
any preceding event or effort, and re-
suits have aleady proved that the epi-
soGe was a very beneficial thing for
the work. Several recruits to the ranks
were accepted at the meeting called by
Mrs4 Coffin at the close of the conven-
tion, and among the old members a
fresh interest and earnestness were
displayed that promise to carry on the
campaign with renewed vigor. Their
efforts will now be directed toward
the campaign in January, when the
request for an amendment granting full
suffrage will come up before the legis-
1ature. From the first the members of
the league have taken decided stand
in opposition to partial suffrage. hold
ing that If a woman is intelligent
enough to vote on school matters She
is sufficiently intelligent to take a
share in others as we'll An all day
meeting will be held at the headquar-
ters in California street today.
The members of the Laurel Hall club
will gather for the first reunion of the
season on September 3 when they will
ne welcomed by the recently elected