The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-16
SUFFRAGISTS IN A PAGEANT
REMARKABLE SCENES AT THE
LONDON CONGRESS.

REMARKABLE SCENES AT THE
LONDON CONGRESS-.
Parade Of the Women Work ors-- ExhiDi.
ton OF the Sufrrasettes Who Have
Served Prison Terms-Gains OF Wo.
man SufragoIThe ConEress's Work,
LONDON. May 5.-Fve years age the
most optimistic believer In woman suffrage
would not have dared to predict the scenes
that have been witnessed during these
wonderful days Of the International
Alliance Congress in St. James's Hall,
occupied all day and in the evening with
delegates from most Of the civilized
nations, and at the W great Albert Hal
meetings in the largest auditorium in the
world. That 1t could be filled with au-
diences who paid from n to five Bhillingf
admission and three guineas for boxes
certainly demonstrates that In London
woman suffrage is a live issue.
The first Of these meetings was held
under the auspices Of the National Aaso-
citation which is entertaining the congress,
it's president. Mrs. Fawoett. in the chair.
A woman played the big organ and the
singing was led by a woman c~ornetist;
the resolution-that this meeting, repro
sentative Of the movement in twenty-one
countries Of Europe. Australasia and
America, records it's satisfaction With
the progress OF women's e~nfranchise-
ment and is confident that rapid and
complete success awaits It in the near
future'-wss moved in an eloquent
speech by Ramsey Mcdonald, Liberal
Member OF Parliament. Mira. Chapman
Gait was among the speakers. and there.
as always in her own country. the gifted
orator the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw was
chosen to make the closing address.
The great feature of this evening was
the pageant Of women's trades and pro-
f~essions. the procession Of 1000 forming
a mile from the hall, each group carrying
the emblems Of it's calling and lighted Ian
terms. The streets along the entire course
were packed with crowds Of people whose
cheers might have penetrated to the House
Of Parliament and reused the members
to a n Of the revolution That was ex-
pressing itself this night.
Never again do we expect to behold 90
impressive a spectacle as the entrance Of
that pageant into Albert Hall. The on
tire orchestra space had been reserved for
them. and to the pealing Of the organ and
the shouts Of the audience they came
down the many long entrances. marched
around its vast circumference and up the
centre aisle, all standing until the last
had en~tered-suoh a body OF women a.
never before had been seen.
Down one broad entrance came the
M farmers with hoes and rakes and
implements of the dairy; the bee keepers,
the flower gardeners with baskets and
bouquets swinging from long poles, the
jam and pastry makers, the cooks, the
mattresses and the housewives with vari.
utensils. Down another aisle marched
the dressmakers. %milliners, fashion de-
signers. 'embroiderers. jewellers, wood
carvers, house decorators. photographers,
painters and scllptors, the last dressed in
white and holding aloft little images. the
painters with brush and palette.
Then came lace and silk makers, hos
iery workers, furriers. straw hat makers,
boot and shoe workers, tailoresses, cigar
makers, laundresses and shop assistants,
followed by printers. bookbinders, in
dexers. typists. stenographers. secreta-
ries, journalists. authors. musicians. sing
ers. actresses and a group unknown
In any other country-political speakers.
Filing down another aisle In stately pro-
ceesion marched doctors. surgeons, nurses
in costume. druggists. sanitary inspec-
tors, and teachers representing the 5000
kindergartners in Great Britain and the
II. 500 women tea cheers in the public schools
OF London. Then amid cheering and
clapping Of hands came delegates from
the 1888 900 women cotton spinners and
weavers. and as they held on high their
spindles and miniature looms We looked
at each other and murmured.
1Woman's place is in the home!'
Then the ranks opened and down
the long aisle came the chain makers who
work at the forge and the pit brow women
from the mines. women whose faces have
been blackened by the smoke and coal
dust until they never ian be washed white,
their sleeves rolled above the elbow and
their aprons and the little shaw wis tied over
their heads all 80 pitifully clean for this
memorable occasion. As they passed
through the ranks hundreds OF women
through the hall people sat in silence with
rolling down their cheeks.
TO these women, the hardest workers
in all the land, were given the seats OF
honor. the centre OF the front rows, while
behind them. gladly taking a subordinate
place. were many women wearing the
gowns with scarlet and purple hoods
indicating their university degrees. Never
was there such a convincing illustration
Of the complete democracy OF the move
for woman suffrage.
In the twenty page programme Of the
meeting were concise summaries OF the
wages paid to women in he various ocou-
and the hours OF work, seldom |
less than eleven hours Gven where they |
must stand at their tasks, and with aver
age wages Of 7 sh~illings-$l.75 a week
The vast majority of c~hainmakers re-
ceive net wages of three or -four shillings
Tor a weeks work Of sixty hours. and the
pit brow women an average OF two cents
hour. Is II n wonder hat at last
there is rebellion among the women Of
Britain? |
The second large demonstration OF the
week a the meeting in Albert Hall Of
the Women's Social and Political Union,
the original suffragettes. The members
Of the International Alliance sat in the
boxes reserved for them. each overhunR
with the banner bearing the name Of q
country. in no Official capacity but listen-
ng with keen interest TO the leading OK
g%onents Of militant womanhood, Mr..
fawoett. president OF the National SUI
Association OF Great Britain, and
Lady Balfour. president Of the London
declined TO attend, as did the
other English members. out those from
felt they were too far from home