Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-05

petltlOn 10 1ncIude some FORM OF SUI
frage for women in this amendment.
We were talking last evening with the
councillor to the queen, one Of the most
eminent lawyers and statesmen of Hol-
land. and he said it was only a question
of a few years until the full franchise
would be given to the women here. The
" omen Of Norway and Australia who are
here officially representing their govern
ments. which pay all their expenses,
brought the greetings Of the prime minis
tiers and their hope that the aim Of the
alliance might be speedily fulfilled.
The next congress will be held in Lon
don early in May Of 1909. The constitu-
tion Of the alliance, adopted in Berlin
In 1904, requires q meeting every five
years for the election Of officers and
the transaction of business, but as many
congresses may be held between these
dates as the executive board may think
justified by the demands of the interna-
tional work for woman suffrage. The
congress in Copenhagen In 1906 was fol-
lowed by the granting Of the municipal
franchise to the women Of Denmark. 1t
is the universal opinion here that the
present meeting has UNNECESSARILY ad-
vanced the cause in the Netherlands.
Britain's Strong Delegation.
One of the strongest delegations at the
congress was that from Great Britain,
twenty-five In number. Among them
was MiSS SHTyStdl TndCIullldIl, uOlQlnS
two honor degrees from the University
Of Edinburgh. The four Scottish univer-
stiles are entitled to two members of par
Lament. who shall be elected" accord
ing to the law. "by graduates Of the uni
grees from these universities exactly as
men do. they have been for several
years endeavoring to remove the barriers
which prevent their casting vote for
those members. Miss Macmillan has had
charge of their case through all the
courts, with an adverse decision in each,
on the ground that although the law said
every graduate 1t meant only every
male graduate-exactly the same interpre-
tatiOn as has been made several times by
the Supreme Court of the United States
in its decisions against the legal right of
women to vote. The case is now in the
house of lords, but possibly before it
comes up on the calendar there parlia-
ment will have enfranchised all the wom-
en- with the consent of the lords, and
Another interesting delegate was Miss
Margaret Ashton, a prominent member
of the Womens Liberal Federation, sister
Of the wife Of Ambassador James Bryce
Steele, a delegate from Scotland recently
allowed her valuable furniture to be sold
by the sheriff as a protest against tax
alton without representation. One Eng
lish delegate was obliged to remain at
home and take care of her young daugh-
ter. who has just now been released from
jail a physical wreck. She attempted to
present a petition at Premier Asquith's
door. and for this she was put into q
stone cell and kept in solitary conf1ne-
ment nearly month, refused books, pen
or paper and not allowed to see her
mother. She tainted in the prison chapel
where she was required to go for spiritual
consolation. Six Of the ''suffragettes' are
here as fraternal delegates from their or
ganiZation, among them two of the most
militant and dangerous. the venerable
Mrs. Despard sister of Gen. John French.
and a noted philanthropist, and Mrs
Ellington Grieg, looking like a little
Dresden china figure.
Farewell to the Congress.
The representatives of the press in all
parts of the world who have been re-
porting the congress have seemed an I'M
usually superior body Of men, physically
and Intellectually, and there have been
also many able women at the reporters
table. The great concert hall has been an
inspiring sight, with large flags of oil the
nationalities affiliated with the congress
grouped around the big organ, and filed
at every session with over 1900 eager.
enthusiastic listeners, and the garden at
terward has been beautiful sight with
the women of all nations gathered about
the little tables chatting over their tea
Music has been furnished by one of the
best military bands directed by a woman
The arrangements of the Dutch local
committee have been perfect, not a detail
omitted necessary to personal comfort or
the conduct of the meetings. The city in
the freshness and beauty of early summer
has called forth universal admiration.
while the hospitality of the Dutch people
has made lasting impression upon the
heart of every visitor.
1t is not alone in Amsterdam that So
cial courtesies. teas. dinners receptions
and big farewell banquet have been ex-
tended, but neighboring cities have well
coined the foreign guests. On the day
following the convention proper a special
train carried officers. delegates and
speakers TO Rotterdam, where the local
suffrage society received them on board