The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-12
Lloyd George Champions Cause of Women, and
 Asquith Opposes It
GREAT FIGHT WILL
 BEGIN THURSDAY
Sharp Line of Demarcation Divides Cabinet Into Two Hostile Camps. Fight to Be More Interesting
 Than One for Home Rule

London. February 11.-(Special1- Chancellor Lloyd George openly and vehemently championing the cause of votes for women," and Premier As quith set sternly against it-that is the situation among the government leaders on the suffrage question as the opening of parliament draws near When the national legislature con- venes next Thursday there will begin the greatest fight for enfranchisement of women fin the history of the British empire.
 The taking Up the eudgel for equal suffrage by the chancellor of the eN- chequer marks an epoch in the evo- lution of the suffrage qhestion. Never before has a high government official in England espoused the cause. The fact that he and the prime minister are at loggerheads on such an in- tense issue Is commented on by some as signalizing the advent of a na- tional crisis.
 Other big and just as important problems will be threshed out during the coming session of parliament, dom inant among them being the clash over homo rule for Ireland, but not even home rule will develop a more spec tacular fight than that over suffrage.
 Two Hostile Camps
 sharp line of demarcation divides the entire cabinet into two hostile camps. While the "antis," led by Pre-. mier Asquith, have majority of the holders of portfolios on their side, their margin nehbers only two. They also have considerably more followers in parliament, enough so as to make sue cess for suffrage at the coming session a possibility only by means of unfore- seen developments that would be re- garded as little short of miracles, but the fight will be just as fiercely and as strenuously fought by Lloyd George and his associates as if they had tangible things on which to hinge expectations of victory. The suffrage sympathizers are hoping to create so much sentiment for votes for women at the coming session that the proposition will be due for passage in the next par liament.
 The National Anti-sunrage league on the one hand and the National Union of Women Suffrage Societies on the other are laying their plans deeply for the final strokes of the campaign, which will be waged with fierce zeal by both sides.
 Chancellor to Hold Meeting
  to request the arrangement of a meet ing to create sentiment for suffrage, and it will be held a week from next Saturday in Albert hall, eight days after the opening of parliament and just about the time that things will be- gin to move In the house. As time goes on 1t becomes more and more apparent that the difference over the suffrage question threa tens to cause a rupture between I.loyd-Georg and the pre- mier. Already animosity exists be- tween them, and it Is predicted that before the session is far advanced they will be directly hghting each other on personal basis.
 It Is difficult to see how disaster to the liberal party can be ayerted. The more thoughtful liberals confess they are dis turbed at the serious danger which IS looming ahead. Looking at the liberal party we find the cabinet, the ministry, ministerialsts in the house of commons and liberals In the constituencies divided into two hostile camps.
 Lloyd George himself will introduce the bill to get the commons to accept suf- frage his effort being In the nature of an amendment 10 the reform bill The ingenious device by which, under cover or the plea that the matter IS non7party one, the endeavor will be made to get the house of commons to accept the pro- posal without government responsibility, 
 will probably only add to the acrimony which will be displayed on the floor of the house. The duels which will take place between Asquith and Lloyd-George are certain to be among the interesting polit- icaI features of the year. They will not, however, be nearly so interesting as the duels conducted in the privacy of cab met councils. The latter cannot be known to the public but their efforts will soon be made apparent in parliament
 Army of Speakers
 A small army of street and hall speak CTS will get busy with their final telling arguments for 'the cause" soon as King George has opened the parliament in state. To the masses of printed propa- ganda already sent out will be added fur ther masses of circulars and pamphlets. The "antis" will be just as busy as the pros
 Rival Claims
 "The campaign which we are planning will sweep over all the nation," said an official of the Anti-Suffrage league to- night Tn hundred different ways our organization is being perfected and new branches are being formed.'
 Showing the identical state of affairs within the ranks of the opposition, lead clared We realize it to be a tremendous occasion, and are making our plans for the greatest fight we have ever attempt ed. Seventeen organizers are at work throughout the country putting forth their last final strokes. We are not only ar- ranging meetings and securing converts, but are seeing that pressure is brought to bear on members by their constit- uents.' sso
 Mrs. Emmaline Pankhurst, foremost woman suffragette of England, proclaimed her confidence that the bill of the chan cellor would be passed by parliament we are laying our straws so as not to leave anything to chance" she said "and expect to see the sceptics get one of the greatest surprises in the memory of man when the vote is taken.'