New-York tribune., 1909-10-31

tn their conscience they believe TO be most
mischievous 80 the state. and certain TO
lower the moral influence OF women as q
sex"
NINE THOUSAND ANTS
had the honor of an invitation TO be
present at the first annual meeting Of the
English Anti-SufraEe Association. the
wonaan's National Suffrage League,
held IN London on June IS. After a short
address by the chairman, Lady Jersey. in
which she called attention 10 the above
new development in the history of ma
4ions the honorary secretary. Mrs. Arthur
somervell read the report of the first
wears work from which il appeared that
The league has 20 Tar achieved Its hrst
object by giving a distinct check 10 the
woman suffrage movement The initial
meeting was held on July 2l- 1908. quot
Ing from the report; AT the present time
the league numbers. roughly, about nine
thousand members. It has formed ninety
Eve branches in Great Britain and Ire
land. and has held at least four hundred
meetings, which have been reported al
headquarters, apart from other meetings
Organized by individuals, Of which we hear
only by chance"
IN sn,te OF the difficulties incidental TO
speakers. - re league 7oes on increasing,
and II is ona Of the mo. encouraging signs
that Il IS TO a great .ent spreading 1t
set. as new districts are constantly putting
themselves into relation with the central
organization without any initial action from
us The extraordinary success OF our petit
ton Opposing parliamentary suffrage for
wornen) is only one Of the many indlca-
tions OF the real opinion on this question
now that the tactics of the suffragettes
have forced the matter TO an issue. Dur
ing the fve months from October TO Feb
ruary without any organized canvassing,
except IN -four constituencies, our petition
ran up to 254 GO signatures. We also have
q great many thousand signatures at the
o1sce We claim that our action, as
sisted by the vagaries OF the militants and
the division OF opinion as to what they
really want, IN all sections Of the suffrage
marty. has entirely changed the political
situation since this time last year.
There is every indication that the English
nublic is getting bored with the suffra-
rettes, and is absolutely uninterested in
the suffragists.''
VOTES FOB WOMEN NOT DEMANDED
The English anti-suffragists have an un-
.nswerable argument in the conditions OF
The suffragists demand that women shall
receive the vote on the same terms as men
Men vote either because they have prop
ertv or because they are householders. J. e,
owners or tenants OF any dwelling house
or part of a house. OF because they live
In lodgings at an annual rental unfur-
rixhed. OF not less than fle- What woman
would possess any Of these qualifications?
Women who have property of their own,
women householders. women who pay at
least fIo a year for their lodgings. A girl
who earns her living ana pays not less
than 80 a year for her lodgings would
have the vote. II she married she would
lose the vote. unless she and her husband
could afford TO pay two separate rents for
two seperate tenemeH3 lodgings, so
that both Of them would be put upon the
register.
II follows that most Of the unmarried
women OF the working classes. as well as
the vast majority OF the married women
OF all classes. would be excluded from the
franchise. Therefore the eufragists are
not renIly demanding votes for women, but
sots for well-to-do women.
II the vote fs really necessary TO women
II Is not likely that TIE working women Of
England will be content 10 remain practi-
oaNy excluded They win ask for universal
suffrage. they viii demand that all men
and women over twenty-one have the vote
Bus this would result in petticOst govern
menti There are more than million and
q quarter more women than men in the
British tsses There would. therefore be
Al enormous preponderance OF women
voters, end the government OF England
would pess into the hands Of its women
ENGLISH WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERN
MENT.
Local government is the domestic work
OF the naten. the enlarged housekee ping"
aAvocauad In this country by Miss Jane
Adams. and il calls for exactly that stten-
don to detail, careful organization and
scononny OF means which make for a good
housewife. The Engiehwoman has had
hw share In local government since ig7Q
whsn women were first elected on 0choo,
hsards. They have acted as poor law guar