Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-25
Over Woman Suffrage Bill
In British Commons.
Sec. HaFcouIi Attacks Cabinet
Promoters Of The Legislation.
Motion to Remove the Word Male
From the Francise Reform Bill.

London, Jan. 24.-The critical Stase
was reached, this afternoon, in the 10
years struggle to obtain votes Tor Wo-
men. which was started in the House
OF Commons by John Stuart Mil.
Alfred Iyttelton immediately after
Question time moved the amendment
standing in the name OF Sir EDWARD
Grey. the foreign secretary, to elm
mate the word male" from the fran
chise reform bill and thus open the
way to the extension of the parliamen-
fary vote to women. The movers ar
garments were along familiar lines. he
urged that the trend of recent legls-
lation was to require women to be
called into the councils of the nation.
They had. he said, already been called
to assist in numerous departments.
Lewis Harcourt, secretary of state
for lie colonies, who has not forgot
ten the attempt made some months
aao by the Suffragettes to burn down
his ancestral home at Nuncham
park. oxford, made a bitter assault on
his colleagues in the cabinet, Sir Ed
ward Grey and David Lloyd George,
and on the whole project.
He said 1.-THE adoption of methods
of violence is an indication of the aNpe
of mental balance we may expeetsirol1na
women if they get the vote
Mr.. Hareourt averred that Sir Ed
ward Grey and David Lloyd George
were attempting to use the Parla-
ment act TO pass proposal which haa
never been before the electors ana
which would gravely imperil the
stability of that admirable amend
ment to the British Constitution. de
added: "I am against any form OF
Parliamentary suffrage for women on
the ground that it is bad for the
state and bad for the women them
selves
Mr.. Harcourt maintained that it
women were to be enfranchised the
policy of adult suffrage would be the
only one consistent with political
honesty and public justice. He con-
tinued. why does the chancellor of
the exchequer desire to exclued 1000,
900 working women! Surely not be-
cause they are mainly domestic serv-
ants. The chancellor of the exchequer
does not fear to take their pence for
insurance Does he fear to take their
opinion ."
Mr.. Harcourt concluded that he did
not believe the majority OF women
wanted the vote AMI If it were given
them it would contribute neither to
the happiness of their homes nor 10
the safety of the country.
Commenting on the speech of Lewis
Harcourt, Lord Hugh Cecil said;
His antipathy to Grey's amend
ment suggests that he has been re-
Gently spanked or has never got over
the indignity of being born of wo-
man"
Mr.. Harcourt's speech. Lord Hugh
declared, was the most damaging he
had ever heard against the present
government.
After further discussion the debate
was adjourned. until Monday, when
the leaders of both sides are to be
heard
The ruling of the Speaker on the
franchise reform bill has Finally ex-
ploded the prime minister's pledge to
women" according to a manifesto is
sued, this afternoon. by the Woman's
Social and Political Union
The Union calls upon the govern
ment to withdraw the franchise bill
and re-introduce in form giving
votes to women equally with men. 1t
says that it is essential Sir Edward
Grey and David Lloyd George should
resign unless their colleagues in the
cabinet agree TO make suffrage a ma
tional movement. EM rc yi'