Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-08
WOMEN TO
 THE FRONT Enfranchisement Bill fin English House of Commons Creates
 a Sensation
SOCIALIST MEASURE
So Say Opponents of BiII.-It is the Same Bill as Was Presented By Kier Hardie About One
 Year Ago.

London, March S.-The "Woman's enfranchisement bill'' which came up for it's second reading in the house of commons to-day and which was in- troduced by Mir Dickinson, liberal, although practically identical with the measure introduced by Keir. Hardie, socialist, last year. has evoked great interest The bill simply provides that women shall have the franchise on the same terms upon which it IS now granted to men. The militant tactics of the women suffragists of recent months and their bold raids on the house of commons itself. resulting in the imprisonment of scores of the female crusaders, have given the question unusual prominence. The house of commons was crowded when the debate on the proposed measure began, but only women whose good behavior was guaranteed by mem- bers of parliament were permitted to enter the gallery.
 All those who were connected with the recent disorders within the pre- cincts of the house of parliament were specifically excluded and in view of possible disorde:ly demon- strations on the part of the .'suf- fragettes' extraordinary precautions were taken by the police to bar the approaches to the house of commons. The forces inside and outside the building were doubled and a special detachment of police was held ill re- serve, in spite of the face that the militant women had announced that they would quietly await the vote in the house, after which they would decide on their future action.
 The suffrage societies were very ac- tive throughout the morning, trying to insure the attendants of all the supposed supporters of the bill and they claimed to have 43O members pledged to vote forit All members who were considered to be in the least lukewarm were admonishel by telephone or by telegram this morn- ing that their seats would be endan- gered if they failed to fulfil their pledges. It Is admitted that many, promise to support the bill were given by liberals on the supposition that the women if enfrnnchised would vote for liberal candidates, but the return of the large conservative ma jority at the municipal elections in London Saturday last, In which the women voted. tended to dispcl this illusion and since then many mem- bars of parliament who nominally sympathized with Mir Dickinson's bill have been stricken with mys- terious illnesses which will not per- init them to attend to-day's session of the house of commons. There were no fewer than sixteen motions hos tile to the bill placed on the table. while just prior to the opening of the debate petition. signed by 21.oOO women. was presented. protesting against granting parliamentary suf- frage to women, on the ground that 1t would destroy their influence in their own sphere of work.
 After Mir Dickinson's opening speech in support of the bill the pre- mier. Sir Henry Campbell Zimmerman that it was the intention of the government to leave the ques- ton to the free decision of the ..ouse. he favored the general principle of the inclusion of women in the suffrage. The matter had as- sumed more importance of late years owing to the larger part which wo- men had taken in wage earnings and in the professions.
 On many questions the opinion of women was equal to If not greater than that of men. He frankly stated that he was not enainored with the present bill. because it would mt en- franchise to the necessary degree the mass If the working class women and wives. He would vote for the bill. however. as declaration of lis opinion that the exclusion of women from tho franchise was not