The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-27
ENGpANp,s MANHOOD SUFFRAGE

Lie QIldS S 4oSSNASAA
growing wider. For a long time 1t
has been confined to women, and as
such has been fairly academic. They
have, however. made some violent
demonstrations. One Of the series Of
demonstrations took place a few days
ago, making work for the London po-
lice, but changing no mans opinion.
But early in this month. Mr.. Asquith.
the prime minister. received a depu-
tadon Of members Of parliament.
who presented him a memorial sign
ed by ninety members Of the house of
commons and recommending the
adoption Of adult suffrage pure and
simple; that is to say, in favor Of CIV
ing every mar and o1na in the
United Kingdom Of the right age.
Mr.. Asquith was most complaisant
IN regard to universal manhood SUI
frage, but he maintained his we'll
known attitude against rome suf-
frage. Speaking for himself" he
said. and not for the government. he
must part company with them when
they said man must include woman"
He repeated his assurance that a bill
giving women h right to vote would
have a clear road in the house OF
NOdS44AOADt "AsoO0S 6SSCAA41SAS cup
port and therefore having to make its
way on its own merits. The cabinet is
said to be acutely divided IN this SUBJ
tect. and Mr.. Asquith's promise not to
invoke tho power Of the caucus on
division in ministerial sentiment. But
in regard to manhood suffrage the
political advantages are all on one
side. It is. in Mr.. Balfour's vivid
phrase. an electoral bribe." and the
somewhat rugged course upon which
Lloyd Georges compulsory insur-
ance bill against sickness now finds
itself makes 1t highly desirable that a
new political jock%-o'-lantern should
be swung out before the British cleo
torate. In replying to the deputati0A
Mr.. Asquith. after getting rid Of the
woman, said:
But, OF course. a much larger
question was raised by the me-
mortal. His own views on the
subject had been frequently ex-
= pressed and he thought they
We're fairly we'll known. He
would take that opportunity Of
repeating them. AS late as Feb
ruary in the present year, in an
address on that subject, he had
said. We believe that a mans
right to vote depends upon his
heing a citizen. 4. . Every man
ought to be entitled to one vote
and NJ more" He had long been
Of opinion that there was only
n way IN which the question
could be settled on a rational and
lasting foundation. and was
by abolishing once and for all,
the fpchn}ca1itics Of nrooA-<
listing. such as lodger, property
owner. rated occupier. resident
householder. and so on; so that
the man who satisfied the condi-
lions he had laid down should be
automatically vested with the full
power of the franchise. He
forecasted that would he the
principle on which legislation
would proceed. IT was
the intention Of the government
to introduce a. measure next ses-
sion with the object of CARRYING
that principle into effect. Be-
You'd that they would not expect
him to go.
1T Is a little droll. with the kint
Of England on his way to be
rowned as emperor Of India, ant
with the forms OF speech in ordinar,
use Implying that every man in the
British stands is the subject Of thi.
king. to hear Mr.. Asquith's use Of the
word Citizen" Mr.. Asquith, however
III this use, has merely dropped fctior
and given the fact. He. as prime
minister. is the real ruler Of the Brit.
ish empire. and his title to rule rest.
wholly upon the support Of his fel.
iow-cittzens The entire monarchia
outfit OF England is pure fudge excep'
Tor spectacular and imaginative pur
poses. 1t is as near to being a mer.
figure OF speech as anything going
before which man keeps a straigh
face. How long will it last as a fig
IRE of speech is something of a ques
tion by reason Of Mr.. Asquith's an
nounced purpose to establish man
hood suffrage In the British Islands,
In all probability Mr.. Asauith ca,
make the house Of commons registe
his will in this matter. The Enrlisl
liberals passed the last great reform
ct In 1884. They said at that tim
mat the settlement then made woul
last FOR a generation. Well, that per
lod Will have elapsed if VIC suppos
that Il bill ON this subject should b
HSiN w Wy lhc AOuSc OF lords 10
two years after it's passage next Yea
by the house of commons. Mean
while the old-fashioned Liberal Of tn
days OF Gladstone and Bright ha
Very nearly disappeared, and the mai
body Of the coalition which Mr.. Al
Huith leads has become Radical. o.
as he likes to call it. progressive, wit
n strong tendency toward Socialism
This change furnishes the natural so
for an extension of the right of su>
frage; and under the limitations no
put upon the house of lords, III
house of commons, given the REQUIRE
period of time. can do as 1t will.
very short bill would not only mai
the change. but would also affor
small opportunities for opposition. al
Stunning that such a measure would |
opposed. We are by no means sur
however, that it would be oppose
Bonar Law. the new Unionist lea,
or has not as vet had time to for,
shadow his policy; but it is a ia
likelihood that he would not brea
his force In useless opposition. tt
Unionists are as much in favor Of OF