The Washington times., 1908-06-03
Votes for Women in England?


Female suffrage in England? It
looks like it, looks as though it
would come to the women of that
stolid and slow-going country be
fore it is given to their sisters Of
progressive and democratic Amer
lea. TheN events which have pro-
duced this prospect have not been
properly noticed in the United
States; but on a reading of the
London papers it is made more than
a possibility.
Mr.. Asquith has had little less
than the trouble predicted for him
when he assumed the leadership Of
the Liberals. Between the loss of
voters for candidates like Under
Secretary Churchill, on the ground
that he wobbled on free trade and
the open threats of his Home Rule,
Labour and other radical followers,
he has had a hard time TO keep his
aiority coalesced. In the face of
this situation he made a stroke
which brought to the support of the
government more radicals than he
was ever likely to lose. His master
move is thus reported:
On Tuesday Lady Carlisle, a noted
leader OF the movement in favor of
votes for women. begged meeting or
Radical ladies TO hold their hands and
have patience till Mr. AsquiJh had given
his answer TO the deputatiOn OF Il oeral
members of parliament favorable TO the
suffrage which was 10 walt upon him on
Wednesday.
ANY one with the slightest experience
of political life knew what this meant
III meant that pOurparlers mad been TAX
ing place between the su1ragistS and
the government; that terms OF surreu-
der had been arrived at, and THAT they
would be announced by the s,rime min
lister 10 the deputation. Those who took
this view mad not 10 wait long for con-
firmation. for Thursdays papers con
tained the text Of the cOncordat be-
tween the prime minister and the advo-
Gates Of Votes for Women
Mr.. Asquith did not agree TO in
troduce a bill creating a general
adult voting body. He made it rea-
sonably clear he was against such
a policy at this time. But he an
nounced himself in favor of il if
some one else put it into a bill, in
which event he promised rot only
not to vote against it, but to do all
in his power to have it made law
No one over there seems TO think
this last eventuality anything more
than a possibility now. But it is
distinctly within the range of rea-
sonable political happenings Be
yond any present doubt il makes
sure that the next campaign viii be
fought directly on the issue Of
votes for women.
In that event how are the old
liners to answer the Liberals and
the women whose cause the Liber-
ais have espoused? Here is the
form outlined for them in all Sc
rioussess by the Spectator:
When a woman asks us. why am /
not 10 have Vote We reply be
cause you are not a man..
That is the only reason. but il is suf-
/ fcieul To say this lu no way involves
the assertion that men are W1rtaier
than women. or that women are incapa-
BILE of high political thought. What 1t
| does assert is that only one sex can
wisely be given the final control Of
political affairs, and that II Is In the
| hands Of the male that nature has
placed the ultima ratio OF physical
/ force.
If that is all that can be said
/ against female suffrage by an oppO-
nent so resourceful as the Spec
tator, votes may easily be granted
TO our sisters of England. not in a
generation. or fifteen years, or ten,
/ but in five years or one.