Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-25
SUFFRAGE FOR WOMEN
Notable Phase of English Po-
Iitical Life Today.
CLAM0R0US ADHERENTS
Some Features of the Present Great
Struggle.
WORKERS EXTREME TACTICS
Movement Which First Amused
London Has Now Compelled
Unwilling Recognition.
WORKERS EXTREME TACTICS
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
| LONDON, December 25.-There is no
! phase of English political life at the pres
ent moment more curious and interesting
than the development of the woman's suf-
| frage movement. 1t is not at all impos-
sible- that its clamorous adherents will
wiring from one party or the other within
comparatively short time the full adop-
ton of their program. Their agitation
has pretty well survived the stage of ridi-
cule and they have at last reached the
position of faction which conlpels politi-
cal recognition.
The writer attended the first meeting
of the doctors league for women suffrage
held at Queens Hall recently. 1t was a
public meeting only in a restricted sense.
admission being by ticket only, and every
precaution being taken to exclude the
little brown dog" agitators, who copy the
Suffragettes' own methods and break up
every suffrage meeting to which they can
gain admission. So there were no live
rats or offensive chemicals to distract and
terroriZe the female portion of the audi
ence.
There were prominent speakers. but Is
rael Zangwill was the most enjoyed He
assured his audience that the struggle
for women suffrage was not a dual but
a duet. Just as the cowl did. not make
priest, SO petticoats did not make a
suffragette, and there are many suffrag-
cites in trousers. He denounced the IA
grant injustice of denying women equal
recognition with men in their work in the
professions. No matter how badly a
woman might paint she could not be
elected member of the Royal Academy.
Social Side of Problem Attacked.
Rev. Reginald John Campbell, pastor of
the City Temple, attacked the social side
of the problem. arguing that suffrage for
women would help to cure prostitution.
because the resulting legislation would
tend to put womenS labor on par with
that of men in its financial recompense.
1T is damnable,' he exclaimed. Ito
educate women and then deny them living
wage. 1t is the resulting poverty which
chiefly recruits the army of prostitution.
Lord Russell criticised some OF the ex-
trema tactics of the suffragettes in break
ing up all public meetings. but the audi
ence, which was composed two-thirds of
women. did not agree with him, and
there Were many Kisses. He pacified
them by assurances of sympathy with
their cause.
1t is said that the secret OF the militant
features of the suffragettes campaign
which first amused and has now COM
PEELED unwilling recognition of their
claims by the leaders of both parties in
England is the advice given to the suf-
fragette managers by former Prime Min
lister Balfour more than a year ago. He
told them that only by extreme agita-
hope to gain their point. One may i'm
agine that Mr.. Balfour is now sorry that
he spoke.
1t was significant that at the above
meeting, although the speakers discussed
all manner of objections 10 woman
suffrage. not one touched the fundamen-
tai one which governs most DIRECTORS In
this country, namely, that ii would fail
to secure the sole object of all suffrage
that is the expression OF the popular
will. Such a small proportion of women
would vote that the result would be
grossly unrepresentative. and. therefore.
undemocratic The suffragettes have
made no attempt to prove that English
women as whole want the ballot.