The sun., 1909-05-02
SUFFRAGISTS CAN'T AGREE
THE CAUSE IN ENGLAND HURT
BY DISSENSTONS.

Political Effects OF the Methods OF the
suIrasettes--Warm welcome for the
Women's international Congress
N,tabIe Male Allies OF the Women
LONDON, April 24.-By the time this
letter reaches the United States the cable
will t--ra been for several days bringing
news OF the Congress of the international
Woman Suffrage Alliance. The reports,
however will convey no idea Of the
complicated situation which has developed
here in regard to the enfranchisement Of
women.
That it has become burning political
mestion there 10 no doubt and thus 1t
is subjec to all the subtleties. evasions,
manipuations-in short, to all the triokery
and deception that enter into the game Of
unlitics. 1t is very difficult for an out
slder to get correct understanding OF
il for not only does every man tell the
story with party bias but so does every
woman. as all the women Of any conse-
.,iencs belong to one or the other OF the
PARTIES and naturally are influenced by
partisan feeling
For a generation the Liberal party has
pnsed as favoring woman suffrage. but
although it has had many years Of power
this never has been granted. Again and
again bill has passed it's first and second
readings with large majorities in favor.
but never has it been allowed to come to
the final stage The Cabinet or Ministry.
known as the Government. is the Uncle
Joe Cannon of the House OF Commons
and no bill can pass without its perms-
sion.
Ii allows members to present bills.
wrangle over them, make jingo speeches
for the deectation OF their constituents.
vote n couple OF times to redeem their
ante election pledges, and then IL says.
Now it is time for this foolishness to
STOP" Thus only what is known as Gov
eminent bill has any chance whatever, and
ihenesrly ight hundred members are COM
petely under the authority of the Cabi-
net The dozen or more Ministers are
largely dominated by the Premier. 30
that as a matter Of fact parliamentary
legislation in Great Britain depends tG
very great extent on one man. The
King has very little political power COM
pared 10 the Prime Minister.
In the present House Of Commons.
as was the case in the last, nearly two
thirds of the members are pledged TO
vote for bill enfranchising women. and
they have done so. but the Cabinet has
persistently refused to allow the final
reading. 1t was this exasperating situ-
alton which finally led to what is known
as the sufragette movement by num-
ber OF women who felt that they had
been iriaed with long enough.
Being told by Premier Balfour that il
they wanted to take their question into
practical politics they would have to
kick up fuss as had it from the lips
of a woman to whom il was said, they
proceeded TO do so in truly approved
British fashion. Not only have they made
woman suffrage political issue in Great
Britain which is not outclassed even by
the tariff but their kick has been heard
around the world, so TO speak, and is in
a very large degree responsible for the
sudden uprising OF women in all parts
ot the world Certainly il has contributed
more than any other cause TO the renewed
impulse OF the movement in the United
States, The suffragettes are the leaders
in the universal revolt OF the sex. and the
force does not and never will exist which
can quell this revolt until the just demands
OF women have been granted.
AT first this Womens Social and Polti-
cal Union was closely allied with the
Labor party. but almost Immediately the
Labor leaders endeavored to make the
women merge their claim with the strug-
Gle for adult suffrage, vote for every
man and every woman in Great Britain.
This they refused absolutely to do. but
stood on the demand for the franchise
upon the same terms as granted to men
which require at least the payment Of
rent for one room-bolding that after
this had been gained it would then
be time to strive for further extension.
They also fought the candidacy OF every
Labor party man for Parliament who
would not pledge himself to vote for a
woman suffrage bill
serious break with this party was
averted only by the efforts Of Keir Hardie.
Philip Snowdon and other leaders, but on
the whole this party has remained loyal
TO the women.
The original National Suffrage Asso-
ciation, composed Of women Of all party
heliefs. soon felt the quickening influence
OF this new movement and began to en-
gage actively in political work. The
method Of the members OF this associa-
ton has been TO 60 at once into con-
.titency where there was to be an cleo
ton and ascertain the position OF the
candidates AZ to woman suffrage. II all
we're in favor they took no part in the can-
vass; IL one or more were opposed they
spoke and worked to defeat them, know
ing how to do this as well as men. Thus
they have not really alienated any party.
for this is recognized as legitimate war
fare in politics.
The sufragettes on the other hand said:
The Liberal party is wholly responsible
for the failure to enfranchise women
and It shall be punished Therefore they
have fought the candidates Of the Liberal
party even though they we're pledged to
woman suffrage and worked and voted
for the bill, and they have done this even
when the ott- candidates were avowed
anti-sufragettes.
II is generally recognized that within
The last year they have been responsible
Tor the defeat Of eighteen Liberal can
didates. AS a RESULT this party is becom-
ing bitterly hostile to them and it win
NOT be appeased by the old association,
which had thought the fruition OF its forty
Years OF effort was near at hand.
year ago there was scarcely a doubt
mat at the next general election woman
sufra ge would be made part of the Lib
oral platform: now this is at least de-
tatable question, A lady who recently
lined NJ Mr. Aeop;tlts tclJ 80 .h.x -