The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-13
Weeks Gossip
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Hy w. HAMILTON RHODES.
 London, Dec. 12.--One of the most notable neetings ever held in support ot .votes for Women" took place In the Queen's Hall a few days since. It was a gathering of professional and industrial women. and had no ceunec- tion with any of the woman's suffrage societies, but so great was the demand for seats that the hall could have been n1led several times. Among those who sent messages of support were Miss Ellen Terry. Mme. Sarah Grand, Mrs. SidRwick, Dr. Jane Harrison of Cambridge. and Miss Dove of Wy combe, Among the women at the meeting were scientific workers, head rnistresses of high schools, doctors, lecturers, authors, artists. actresses. art Teachers, music and singing teach. clerks, gymnastic teachers. account ants, jolrnalists, dentists. sanitary in- spectors. heads of business hrma, nurses shop assistants, herb packers. clerk, typists. chemists. photographers, dressmaker. milliners. weavers. wind CTS. electrical workers, shirt and jacket makers, bookbinders, tailoreases cigar makers, clay pipe workers, ring spin ners, barmaids and factory workers, The most interesting figure Of all was that of the chairman, Mrs. Garrett Anderson, M. D.. the first lady mayor who half a century ago helped two or three others to roll the womanAs suf- frage petition up the floor of Westmin' stef Hall.
 Now an OId Lady.
 Mrs. Garrett Anderson. who for years was the head of the Women's Medical School in London. is now an old lady. although she has only just been chosen Mayor of Aldebufgh. But she Is still as eager as ever in the vause Of votes for women. when sne rose to speak. the thousands of wo- men all round her rose and clapped their hands. She seemed the ideal old lady-a small, slight figure, attiFed in black, with a refined. beautiful face, and silver hair peeping from bensath a large white widows cap, with long white streamers behind. Her hands were partly hidden by black silk nit tens. and she wore spectacles. She spoke in soft. silvery tones,
 +T have been a suffragist all my life" she said gently. with smile. T think I was born converted, have always thought. since was 2 girl that 1t Is unfair that women with property which is taxed should be placed in different position from men.H But, with a little shake of the head. she added that she was not In favor of all women, or all men having votes. She thought it better tbat those who had property at stake should keep a hand on the Exchequer.. She called atteFl- ton to the fact that one-fith of the workers in the country were women. "Ws will not discuss the best method of getting votes" she said. "but you all want the suffrage. and you cannot all work in exactly the same way" She added. amid loud applause. that personal sacrifice on the part of the leaders was the note of all great re- forms
 What nuFns Said,
 There were many hisses when Miss Gore Booth. on behalf of working wo- men, mentioned the name of Mir. John Burns. MT. Burns told us the other day" she said, 'sthat what is wanted is that the work of women should be enorThously curtailad. Don't you see that he would not have said that # women had votes?"
 The manageress of a factory, Miss Alice Clark, who said she had been in business aIi her life. made . little reply to the antf-suRragist women. 'sThey tell us that women's first place is in the home" she said ''but we find that women's werk is not considered worth more than bare subsistence, The mother Is not entitled to any part of her husbands income, although she gives all her strength and energy in the service of the home"
 Miss Tita Brand. the actress. an- nounced that an actresses league for womans' suffrage is about to be form ed. When Miss Mcillan. who had arr gued before. the House of Lords stood up to speak. the audience broke Into a great roar of applause. For some minutes the young Scotswoman stood smiling. while the applause continued. Then Miss 'McMillan, with a pretty seOtv tish accent said: We have been try ing to convince men for thousands of years that women are persons, Men have always thought they were some thing else. But year by year we seem to be proving q httle more that we are pefaons."
 A resolution calling on the Govern nent Immediately" to extend the franchise to women ''as a necessary protection for the workers under mod ern industrial conditions was Carried with enthusism.
 Mir. c. E. Hobhouse. the ParIiamen- tary Secretary of the Treasury, stated in the House of Commons this week that the total number of applications for old-age pensions So far has been