Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-08
WOMEN MAY VOTE
IN OLD ENGLAND
Suffragettes Claim to Have 430
Members Pledged.
BILL IS UP IN COMMONS
Police Take Extraordinary Precau-
lions to Preserve Order.
MEASURE IS VERY POPULAR
Sir Campbell-Bannerman Addresses
the House Advocating the Cause
of Woman Suffrage.
Police Take Extraordinary Precau-
lions to Preserve Order.
IS VERY POPULAR

LONDON, March S.-The "woman's en-
second reading in the house of commons to-
day and which was introduced by Mr.. Dick
inson, liberal, although practically identi-
cal with the measure introduced by James
Keir Hardie. socialist, last year, has evoked
far greater general interest. The bill SIM
ply provides that women shall have the
franchise on the terms upon which it is
granted to men. The militant tactics
of the woman suffragists of recent months
and their bold raids on the house Of COM
mons itself, from which on several occa-
sions, they have literally been bodily thrown
out and scores of them imprisoned, have
given the question a prominence which it
hitherto had not attained. The house of
commons was crowded when the debate on
the proposed measure began. but only
women whose good behavior was guaran-
teed by members of parliament, were per-
mitted to enter the gallery.
Police Take Precautions.
All those who were connected with the
recent disorders within the precincts of
the houses of parliament were specifically
excluded and in view of possible disorderly
"suffragettes" in connection with the bill
extraordinary precautions were taken by
the police to bar the approaches to the
house of commons
The forces inside and outside the build
ing were doubled and special detachment
of police was held in reserve in the neigh
borhood. in spite of the fact that the mill
tant women had announced that they would
quietly await the vote in the house. after
which they would meet and decide on their
future action.
Suffrage Societies Active.
The suffrage societies were very active
throughout the morning trying to insure
the attendance of all the supposed support
ers of the bill, and they claimed to have
40 members pledged to vote for it. All
members who were considered to be in the
least lukewarm in the matter were admon
ished by telephone telegram this morn
ing that their seats would be endangered if
they failed to fulfill their pledges. 1t is ad-
mitted that many promises to support the
bill were given by liberals on the suppose
ton that the women if enfranchised would
vote for liberal candidates. but the return
of the large conservative majority at the
municipal elections in London Saturday
last. in which the women voted, tender to
members of parliament who nominally SYM
pathiZed with Mr.. Dickinson's bill have
been stricken with mysterious illnesses
which will not permit them TO attend to-
days session of the house of commons.
There were no fewer than sixteen motions.
Many Hostile Motions.
There were no fewer than sixteen motions
hostile to the bill placed on the table, while
just prior TO the opening of the debate
petition signed by 21CO0 women was pre-
scented protesting against granting parlia-
mentary suffrage to women. on the ground
that it would destroy their influence in their
own sphere of work.
After Mr.. Dickinson's opening speech in
support Of the bill. the premier, Sir Henry
CampheH-Bannerman, announced that it
was the intention of the government TO
leave the question to the free decision of
the house. Personally, he favored the gen.
eral principle of the inclusion of women in
the suffrage.
Women More Important.
The matter had assumed more Importance
OF late years owing TO the larger part which
women had taken in wage-earning and in
the professions. on many questions. contin-
ued the premier the opinion of women was
bquH 20 II not greater than that Of men.
He frankly stated that he was not en-
ignored with the present bill, because Ii
would not enfranChise to the necessary de-
IRE thC mass Of the working class wo-
ren and workmens wives He would vote
Tor the bill, however. as a declaration of his
opinion that the exclusion of women from
he franchise was not eXpedient Unsuitable
, politically right.