New-York tribune., 1912-01-09

could do to her If she heard the things a
y woa1sn-a fellow country woman. and
''suffragist too-sai1 about her yesterday
% morning at the Berkeley Theatre.
This woman was Mrs. Ashton Jonson,
who was lecturing before the League for
Political Education in defence of Mr. As
Quith and in opposition TO militant meth
DDS" She had been quite concerned. she
said, over the rumors OF civil war" in
England until she found that the Pank-
hurst "sufragettes and the ultra-cOnserva-
tive anti-sufragists were working hand-in-
hand to defeat suffrage. That appealed 10
her sense of humor. even If she is English
Everybody in England, according to her,
s. ready to support Mr. Asquith's plan for
sathe1 woman suffrage amendment TO his
= manhood suffrage bilL-everybody except
Mrs. Pankhurst and the antis. There are
nine other suffrage so ,ieties, all for Mr..
Asquith and peaceful methods. AS TO num-
bers?
We'll really, you know" said she, Il
couldn't say how many supporters Mrs.
Pankhurst has now, because they are de-
serting her in such numbers. English woTn-
en-. YOU know. care more for freedom than
for anything else, and they rebel against
the spiritual (or mentaD tyranny Of the
Pankhursts. who won't admit any one is q
suffragist who doesn't believe in their
methods.
AS for the civil war all there is &c
II IS this: The miitants want their own
way and If they can't have It they mean
TO make themselves very disagreed bic. II
Is one-sided civil war. They are fight
ing lots OF people, but nobody IS hshtins
them Mr.. Asquith has promised to give
them every facility 10 offer their bill IN
Parliament Eleven TO nine Of the Cabinet
are on their side Parliament Is on their
side They talk of civil war, and nker
themselves 70 the Chinese hghting against
the Manchus. Who are the Manchus OF
England?
'"They call II a holy war. and go 10
church before battle 10 prepare themselves
for sudden death. yet the only ManchuS
they encounter are the nice. blue-coated
ood-natured London pOIlcemen-the dear
'5obbiesr Every woman loves the hobbies
And how did these Manchus conduct them
selves? Why, the women themselves say
they didn't hurt them. which is rather
funny, isn't itP
'.All the nine other women suffrage So
cieties regret and condemn violence. Any
body with political common sense laughs al
not when IL is clear that reforms can be
carried on without h. This so-caled mill
fancy Is perfectly senseless.
Neither is II safe. They say they never
hurt anybody with the stones they throw
That's no credit to them You can't say
Now. little stone. remember you mustni
hit anybody on the other side OF that win
dow. and expect a stone to obey yot
every time Being inanimate. II does as Il
pleases. and II Is only due to Gods provi
dence that the suffragettes haven't killed
somebody already
AS for the manhood suffrage bill, 1t 1!
not bolt from the blue as Mrs. Pank
hurst says. because for twenty years the
Liberals have been ighting for this very
bill / am perfectly amazed that anybod!
with any political knowledge or any inten
uon Of honesty could say so 1t is simply
not the case. won't say anything stronger
because | do not wish to seem 10 be dis
paraging Mrs. Pankhurst
The manhood suffrage bill was a neces
sity, however. for things we're I'm such
muddle nobody knew who did have vot
any more. with their mess Of Iatchkey ant
lodger and university qualifications 4
man had vote one day. and the next h
didn't This manhood suffrage bill sim
And now Mr. Asquith has promised Z
support any amendment that the womal
suffragists may propose. That's all he ca
90 honestly. Mrs. Pankhurst is asking hin
70 say he believes In suffrage when n
doesn't, TO make II a government bill whc
ne believes 1t is not for the best interest
Of the country, and she is demanding ina
NE nine conscientious members OF III
cabinet who are anti-sunragists shall sa
'ney are not and that they will vote 10
the suffrage amendment Unless these me
90 thus Belle their honest convictions
cannot be government bin, for the Cao
net must be unanimous-a majority
iayor OF a bill is not enough
How these sunragsts can ask sucn
ning-well, II beats me. II the influence
women In politics is TO be 10 urge hones
men 10 belle their principles ! shink
We're better no woman should vote.
Proud Of the government and the mn
honest men. and ! think Asdnith % e'
uaordinarily generous 10 allow the sunfa
sists such facilities as he mas az
weren't 30 honest he'd so over 20 'hs
ki1e, knowing a majority OF Parnadnef