The Washington herald., 1907-03-17

promises to be a widespread movement
Of the women in England against the
granting Of the electoral franchise TO
their sex has been started here. and is
designed TO come into sharp conflict with
that of the woman suffragists.
The action of the latter. particularly
their invasion Of the House of Com
mons, and the subsequent imprisonment
of many of the leaders for riot, has
caused a pretty general feeling Of some
thing akin to disgust-to, at all events.
disspprobation-and the result is the In
ception Of this counter-agttation.
The basis of its principles and belief is
that the vast majority of the women Of
Great Britain do not want the franchise,
and that the leaders Of the suffragists
represent but themselves and a very un-
important section of the feminine COM
munity. The anti-suffragists hold that
wOman's proper sphere is the home. and
that sewing and knitting and other house
hold duties are more congenial and more
proper than association with the ballot
box.
Among the women who are prominent
IN this new movement are Georgiana,
Countess Of Guilford: Mary, Countess Of
Ichester; Countess of Desart, Viscountess
Downe, Lady Rose Weigan, Lady Dorothy
Nevill. Lady Hayersham. Lady Annette
de TranOTd. the Hon. Lady du Cane. Lady
Buchanan Riddell, Lady Dun Lady Mag
nus, and others almost equally distin-
guished
New Movement Starts Well.
The enthusiasm all over the country in
favor of the nsv movement is most ex-
traordinary Only a fortnight ago the
women who shrek for suffrage We're con-
tlnually before the public gaze. and Inc
voices Of the women who do not want
the vote were drowned. The position is
fast becoming reversed
Some Of the most important shops in
London have written for forms Of pro-
test against the granting Of votes TO wo-
men, which their employees wish TO sign.
The protest has been signed by the en-
tire feminine staffs of some Of the hos
pitals. from the matron TO the youngest
wardmaid
Thousands Of women who do not want
the vote have sent letters and telegrams
to Miss f. K Taylor, OF Hyde Park
street. who is acting as honorary secre-
tary 10 the anti-woman's suffrage move
ment- II may safely be said that no DO
litical proposal Of recent years has aroused
so widespread an antagonism among wo-
men Is that 10 confer votes on women
The movement has not been officially
ollristened yet said Miss Taylor yes
terday. 1T is almost too large a uues-
ton 10 be hampered by a name either Of
an association or a society.
1t practically means the union Of all
the Womanly women Of England Later
on Te may organize the extraordinary
volume of opinion our appeal has brought
10 light into an association, but there fs
time though for that
We wish 10 point OUt that the result
Of our appeal has been marvellous for the
following reasons" continued Miss Tav-
Tor; 1T must be remembered that rEe
protest has only been circulated during
the last fortnight; that no meetings have
been held, no literature has been dis
tributed and there has been practically
no organization"
What the Leaders Say.
Miss Taylor has received a large mum,
Der Of letters and telegraus Of support
and enc0ura cement.
The Dowager Countess OF Desart
writes: 1t is a pity that women should
wish 10 be the rank and file Of the army.
instead Of being content 10 officer II
from superior heights
/ have signed the protest. writes Lady
Hamilton-Gordon. and d number Of my
friends are doing likewise. We should be
the laughing stock of Europe Il. the wo-
mans suffrage bin were passed.
There is a mistaken idea that women
with large properties should be aggrieved
because they have not a vote I cannot
understand why this should be the case.
Landed property IS so well represented
IN Parliament. Women have an enor-
nous sphere before them in guardian
ships &c Let them develop these before
thinking Of the franchise
Women do not realize their power OF
nfluedce- II they wish any great and
feasible question brought before Parlia-
ment, there are always members OF Par !
lament who are ready 10 do So"
i feel very strongly" writes Lady Rus
sell Reynolds, the injustice of forein.
the vote upon thousands Of women who
do not want II. which woulC be the case
II the Woman's suffrage bill were passed. /
Ny truest sympathy goes out to the
cause i have good reason TO believe that /
vote are ir vast majority"
Premier for Franchise Bill.
Meanwhile the woman suffragists are
not idle. and have just scored a victory
IN securing from the premier a promise
10 vote for their bin. which measure has
been introduced in the House Of Commons
by Mr.. Dickinson. This proposes that
neither sex nor marriage shall be a dis
qualification from the franchise II a wo.
man possesses the same qualification as
would enfranchise man.
This means that any woman ratepaver
shall have vote and that a married
woman who is q joint cccupier or rate
payer with her husband shall also be en-
titled TO vote
The Dill also proposes not only to con-
fer vote on al female ratepayers and
occupiers on the same terms as on the
other sex. but TO extend the LOGGER fran
chise to females.
The object Of the promoters OF. the bill
has been 70 avoid creating a new class of
franchise.
The names on the back Of the bill, in
addition TO that Of the introducer.. are Mr..
Stuart Corrie Grant. the Hon. Geoffrey
Howard, Hart Davies, P. SnOwden. and
Cameron COrbett
The committee responsible for the cir
culation Of the protest against woman's
suffrage state that II will be presented
to the prime minister before the second
reading of the woman's suffrage bill.