The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-09
SUFFRAGE GOES
OVER FOR A TINE
Great Interest in the House
Evlnced by Members of the
Various Parties.
PARTY LINES OBLITERATED
PRINCIPLE FAVORED BY BRITISH
PREMIER.

London, March s.-The women's en-
franchisement bill, which came up for
us second reading in the house today
and which was introduced by Mr.. Dick
inson, Liberal, although practically
identical with the measure introduced
by James Keir Hardie, Socialist. last
year has invoked far greater general
interest The bill simply provides that
women shall have the franchise upon
the same terms upon which 1t is now
granted to men.
The house of commons was crowded
when the debate upon the proposed
measure began. but only women whose
sood behavior was guaranteed by
members OF parliament were permitted
TO enter the gallery. All those who
were connected with the recent disor-
ders within the precincts of the house
OF parliament were specifically ex-
cluded and in view of possible disorder
ly demonstrations on the part of So
called ''suffragettes" in connection with
the bill, extraordinary precautions were
taken by the police to bar the ap-
proaehes to the house of commons.
The forces inside and outside the
building were doubled and a special
detachment of police was held in re-
serve in the neighborhood in spite of
the fact that the militant women had
announced that they would quietly
await the vote in the house, after which
they would meet and decide on their
future action.
ST. 'ragists Active.
The suffrage societies were very ac-
tive throughout the morning, trying to
secure the attendance of all true sup
porters of the bill, and they claimed to
have 430 members pledged to vote for
ii. All members who were considered
to be in the least lukewarm in the mat
ter were admonished by telephone and
telegraph this morning that their seats
would be endangered If they failed to
fulfill their pledges 1t is admitted that
many promises to support the bill were
given by Liberals upon the supposition
that the women, If enfranchIsed, would
vote for Liberal candidates. but the re-
turn of the large conservative majority
at the municipal elections in London
Saturday last. at which the women
voted, tended to dispeI this illusion, and
since then many members of parlia-
ment who nominalIy sympathize with
Mr.. Dickinson's bill have been stricken
with mysterious Illness, which will not
permit them to attend today's session
of the house.
There were no fewer than sixteen mo-
tons hostile to the bill placed upon the
table, while just prior to the opening
of the debate a petition signed by 21.000
women was presented, protesting
against granting parliamentary suf-
frage to women on the ground that it
would destroy their influence in their
own sphere of work.
Premier Favors Suffrage.
After Mr.. Dickinson's opening speech
in support OF the bill, the premier,
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman an
nounced that it was the intention of the
government TO leave the question TO
the free decision of the house. Person.
ally he favored the general principle of
the inclusion of women i'm the suffrage.
The matter had assumed more impor-
lance OF late years owing to the larger
part which women had taken in the
wage earnings and in the professions.
On many questions, continued the
premier. the opinion of women was of
equal if not greater value than that
of men. He frankly stated that he was
not enamored with the present bill be-
cause it would not enfranchise to the
necessary degree the mass of working
women. He would vote for the bill,
however, as a declaration of his opin-
ion that the exclusion of women from
the franchise was not expedient justi-
fla bic or politically right.
The debate was a repetition of the IA
Iniliar arguments for and against fe-
male suffrage and there was a COM
plete divergence from the usual party
lines, the rejection of the bill being
moved by Mr.. White, Liberal An at
tempt was made to close the discus
sion, but the speaker declined to ac-
cept the motion and the opponents of
the bin held the floor until 5 O'Clock,
when the sitting was closed automatic
ally They thus won the day. as this
practically kills the bill for the pres
ent session.