The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28
0 N WHO %HUNTv0TERS.
THEIR HORk rs 4 RECOGNIZED
BRANCH or PoLITICS Nv ENGLAND.
To we-ea T. Assieses the Tpsk 81 Eeep-
tuE Track OF Voters - or Hesrs-ThsT
Are 0rganired and Werf bT SysteE.

- NNN4IN - AA8sAEN - AE.@ Nv
tu9 Track OF voter. ~ or H~esrs-TheT
Are orEasisss sad werf ~ Syste-.
The newly born Woman Municipal League
comes into the political world by invitation. In
this respect II parallels the introduction OF Eng
llsh women into political life.
The three great political organizations Of
women in England were called into being By
the ovorshadowing prominence Of home rule
The Primrose Danes first entered the field.
The Liberal Federation. the organization
Of the Glsdstonisns, followed. This was
counterchecked by the Liberal Unionist
Federation. The alliance OF these leagues with
the parties which called them into existence IL
not one OF sentiment There IL inevitably much
pretty talk about affairs and fires which Il per-
tinent to such a controversy. But there is no
echo OF this in the more strenuous press OF
sfsirs. The members Of these leagues are 40
tive political workers, and according TO . pro-
gramme which, in perfection OF detail, is nos
surpassed by the machinery Of Tammany Hall.
The work OF the women on the platform dur
ing the elections, the hustling of Mrs. Stanley.
and the achievement Of the wife OF the Govern
ment whip singing her husband into Parliament
are things which the telegraph made known In
this country, and they appeared 10 he rather In
the nature OF rare and entertaining incidents,
such as the lncursions OF J. Ellen Foster. the
comSative Helen Cougar. and the imprisoned
aAaA ''4 Oh ~ N'AANA = y N"N W WONA
in the hands Of women in England is Of the
quie.- unrcmitten sort. and they pursue It ss
steadily and in n much moro mattsr-of.fact
manner than women here do their charities.
This office Of political secretary 10 ~ well un-
derstood and as clearly defined in England -
that OF district leader Is in this city. with the
possible disadvantage Of having q stated salary.
This lady was brought up in the country, the
daughter Of n rector. Familiar az people are in
thia cnuntry vvith fha anfrft ~ advaptura thas
inspires women to throw themselves and their
fortunes into the life Of the town, there Is moth
ing here that parallels the advent Of this
demure little woman into active politi-
cal life In London. This lady's political dis
trict was in Chelsea. and one Of the toughest
parts of London. As she described her work,
she Is Mt the head Of a committee OF women Of
her district which cooperates with the LIBERAL
Cnionist COMMITTEES Of that district. The dis
trict is divided up among the women Of the COM
mittee, who make a house-to-house canvass.
Once q month. or sometimes more frequently.
they have public rallies at different halls. At
these there is usually some well-known speaker
from outside the district. but the discussion II
maintained by the voters themselves.
The rallies are unimpartant compared 10 the
persistent work that the English political system
entails. American elections being held at stated
times, the political work il compressed into
W h'F "'NhFs IN tsAA A@its ~ iSt
as elections for members OF Parliament are con-
cerned. you know neither the day nor the hour
In which a general election may be precipitated.
IL Is for this reason that the effort TO educate
public opinion. to get a purchase on the individ-
ual voter In view Of the questions now pending.
IL never relaxed. For such work men have not
the time. and they have called Ia aud eagerly
accepted the services OF women.
tenn. and entails a tremendous amount NJ labor.
In a series Of large. fiat books, ruled with refer
district is enrolled. On one line are set Town his
residence, his occupation. whether married or
slasls; sn of e Fl. TPS SIldiiifsi aG 81 i II. %e6 Il isfs f Sia an
In such a district as Chelsea the population 10
largely iGom ,Rs;s ,S Of lodE r. ;sfiov change , ,
and ward is what these faithful and
View Of a political situation intended
70 come about every seven years; but which may
the Chelsea boob, the address. Of one todGer
When the voter is kept well under the eye his
case Is likely 70 require individual treatment.
his wife before the subject is broached. In this
way the political ~visitant studies her ground and
book. The women are frequently desirable
allies: II Is an intsrestinE Sorollary out q the
district IS one Of the chief dinieuities
the Women Won H are found nd in NIX sSSe d= dS@r S5 having sss gay
chat. Their work Is neglected, their houses Ill
hossse FOR his meals, When he Secomes praetIcai,
~ inaccessible 10 the political yisitor: &C.
S Sona og with THIS p pooa s.si To or iu thsTe as I've
vice. domestic, stimulus. and pertinent and
such as ono woman can give another. tending To
ditions OF sweetness and light. This has been
not one Of the least valuable results OF the
EFFORT 10 choose and capture the elusive voters,
bat 1, is one that was not In the, least antici-
pated in laying out the plan OF work.
lets, and other publications. With these the
political visitor is well supplied. When tho
brief but careful investIgation OF political life
English women are much better acquainted with.
and much more alive To, the political questions
are 10 the political questions that affect them:
this knowledge and interest fall naturally into
place, and are not worn either like a breastplats
The last and more important duty Of the po-
litical secretary and the women OF her commit
tee Is to see that their voters register. This
business OF reaisterinH = not done AZ with ns.
they Grst cut. leaving only the space Tor the
voters name, which he nils himself. This blank
r frs earr,Td 10 ouf f8s s,, man s. S,resf' sfssm 5essh rs nm
him. When his application Is signed the po-
litlcal secretary pqts Il In an envelope, afiIssths
registration orire. To keep the business OF vot-
ing before him is = further duty but one in
the committee OF men.
This Is the work the women OF England are
doing. and with a thoroughness OF organization
that equals III at OF the political organizations Of
men. II should be added here that into none OF
these political leagues Of women the question Of
woman suffrage Is allowed To enter. Lady
stanley. who Is at the head OF the Liberal
tnionist League. is one of the chief opponents
OF woman suffrage. Mrs. Leonard Courtney.
her most active Vice President. is one Of It's
most ardent supporters. Lord salisbury, who
i at the head OF the Prtmrnse Danes, IL q be-
lever in woman suffrage, His son law has
charge OF the bill. Lady Gwendolin Cecil.
MS uAuEHtFF. Uses her DEN IN DnAlI or
the suffrage cause. The mother and sisters ~
Mr.. Balfour are energetic advocates OF IL. Mr..
Gladstone, on the contrary, and the women OF
his family are opposed to II. The question Of
home rule, for or against, T. considered impor-
tant enough 10 efface lesser distinctions. Al the
same time, the political activity OF women in
England has inevitably furthered the cause Of
woman suffrage. Women now vote 10 every
election. except for members Of Parliament.
CuriOuslyl enough. IL Is for the election OF mem-
beers 81 Parliament that their most earnes; eff
forts are engaged.