The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-13
Tho Check to Woman Suffrage in Great
RrItnin.


| The Check to Woman Suffrage in Great
Brltain.
| Now that VIC have before us full reports
| of the debates in Parliament on the Lords
amendment to tho London Government bill,
an amendment by which women were made
Ineligible for tho Office OF alderman or
councillor in the new metropolitan NUM-
cipallties, we cannot but recognize that the
woman suffrage movement in Great Bri-
tain has encountered a serious reverse.
The discussion turned undisguiScdly on tho
question whether even an initial step should
be taken toward the bcstowal OF the Parla-
mcntary franchise upon women and a neg
alive answer was returned by n large ma
iOrty In tho House of Commons, which,
hitherto, on several occasions, has en-
cOuragcd the advocates OF woman's rights;
not few distinguished Conservatives, as
well as many Liberals, having declared
themselves in favor of the entire political
equality of the sexes. It now looks MS II
the woman suffrage societies would have to
put redoubled pressure upon candidates for
seats In the next Parliament, II they are to
regain the lost ground.
1t will be remembered that the London
Government bill, which has now become n
law, provides for the local administration OF
the various stricts included in the wide
area for whose collective needs the London
County Council was instituted. When tho
bill was under discussion in the Commons,
an amendment was moved making women
eligible for the office of alderman or coun-
cilIor in tn" new municipal districts. The
Government did not oppose the amend
m"nt, and it was carried. When the meas
uro reached the House of Lords, Lord
DrNRAvEN, Of international yacht race
notoricty, movedto cxpungc this particular
clause, on the express ground that, were it
allowed to stand, its principle logically must
be extended to all the municipal councils in
tn" country. Lord SALISBURY defended the
clause, pointing out that the Commons have
merely given women the same right Of ac-
cess to the new councils that they then
enjoyed TO the London vestries, which were
to be superseded. 1t would he unreason-
able he said that under the cloak Of a
mere change in the name of the local
bodies, women should he subjected to q
parliamentary condemnation without any
proof that they had been unworthy OF the
trust with which they were already in
vested. He added that, us matter OF fact,
tn" new councils would have to consider
such questions as the housing OF the work.
ing classes, with which women are pc
culiarly fitted to deal.
The Prime Minister was supported by the
Archbishop Of York and Lord LoNDoNDER-
RY and, what is especially to be noted, Lord
KIMBERLEY, the leader Of the Liberals, as
serted that it would be contrary to practice
and to ordinary justice to deprive women
Of a privilege they already possessed and
that no supporter of the clause would be,
necessarily committed to woman suffrage
In the broadcast sense. The Lord Chancellor,
on the other hand, did not hesitate to up-
pose his chief. on the distinct plea that the
question at issue was, at bottom. no less
momcntOus than this: Whether or not,
for all purposes, and in respect OF all po-
litical power, distinction and disqualifca-
tiOn of sex should br maintained. The Duke
of DEMONSTRATIONS the same position, hold
ing that, II women We're allowed to sit In
town councils. the claim would be presently
advanced that they should sit in Paria-
mcnt. The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND
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