The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-10
SUFFRAGE CAUSE
. BADLY DAMAGED
Misunderstanding Cam
paig-n. Brings Revul-
sion of Feeling.
CONSPIRACY ACT
NOW is ENFORCED
Harassed Government Compelled
to Make Drastic Move Against
Militant Women, Who Final
ly Have Exhausted Patience
of Good-Natured London.
Cabinet Is Split.

(SPcctdI Cdpie 10 Inc Tunes plSpatCl.)
London, March EVEN the mos; ar
Ident supporters of female suffrage, out
side of II relatively small ring OF the
most extreme militants admit that the
past weeks doinEs have done enormous
damage to the cause. Many indivi-
duals who have hitherto upheld woman
suffrage now publicly disavow 1t,
while important ncwsrap crs. Which
have been its sturdy champions. have
sorrowfully joined the chorus OF dis
approval.
Nothing could more plainly show the
real serious nature Of this public dis
approval than the action taken b. the
government in putting in force the law
OF conspiracy. AS has roen fuliy 'cN-
laincd, the Cabinet is hopeiessly split
On the woman suffrage question. and
but for the pressure of ether and more
vital matters. that split in view OF
the projected franchise bill. would
alone be sufficient to en6anger the on
istence OF the Cabinet. But with home
rule. the ESTABLISHMENT and olsen
dowmcnt OF the Welsh Church and the
manhood suffrage bill in front OF It.
with the deadly insurance bill losing
by elections or decimating majoritics
behind ii. and the coal strike right on
top of it. the government has sunk it's
differences OIL the female suffrage
question and, bowling tc the force OF
public opinion, has adopted the meas
ure frs; suggested by the press and
pu, into force the Law against con-
spiracy.
Action Forced On Government.
Hitherto thcse violent dcmonstra
lions Ivy the sumragists have been &c
Enrded by tho general public very
much in the light OF joke. but the
past weeks orgies Of window smash
ing have caused an extraordinary re
vulslon in feeling. which. as stated
above. has been strong enough TO force
action on a reluctant harassed GOV
crnment.
The reasons for this change OF pub
lie opinion are. as usual mixed. For
one thing. the Joke has lost its saTor
by repetition. Then the spectacle OF
smashed windows ~ unoGenGlnS
;radcsmen over four miles OF streets
in The heart OF London caused Il feel
Ing Of real anger and disgust in the
minds OF ordinary people, which was
increased BY similar snashings on the
Following days. Another thing which
has robbed the militant ones OF much
sympathy and tolerance IS the knowi-
edge which the public now has of their
forces. Al first these dcmonstrat !oas
OF violence were made by women who
were evidently sincerely convinced OF
the justice OF their cause and mad been
stirred TO frenzy by genuine fetycr.
or, as some might prefer to say, by
zeal and fanaticism; but now scores OF
those arrested come from Scotland. the
north OF England ana the Midlands,
ana these declare themselves 70 have
no occupation" These are now known
10 be merely morcenaries OF all ages.
from mere girls. well below any fran
chise age. 10 middleae:d women, whose
normal sphere. Judging from their ap-
pearancc. would probably be domestic
service. They are brought TO London
or enlisted hero. and receive a weekly
wage allowance which averages 20
shillinss. which is doubled when they
are in Jail. and in return therefor
they do whatever they are called upon,
from distributing leaflets to sma shing
windows. The knowledge OF this has
had very strong effect ON the public
mind.
Good Nature Exhaustcd.
The good nature OF A London crowd
has long been proverbial. The police