New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-23
The Situation Unique.

ne SITUATION unique
Premier Asquith probably will make
this clear to-day but however one may
look at the compact the spectacle pro-
lided 10y responsible ministers in a
conflict one with another ON ques-
ton that might double the electorate IS
unique. The fight really begins to-day
i'm the House Of Commons When the
government proposal for ALLEGATION of
time to the franchise bill will De dis
cussed.
An excuse for dropping the franchise
hin would probably be- welcome TO the
Government for another reason. The
Home Rule Welsh Disestablishmfnt
and other important measures will
carry The session well into FebruarT.
The tired legislators will then have
two or three weeks holiday. The ses-
sion will end about March II and the
new session will begin q day or TWO
later. Thus Parliament will practi-
eauy be sitting continuously through
.rt the wear. "a condition Of affairs eA-
trcmeIy distasteful TO the members Of
the House of Commons, yet unavoida-
bic if the government is 10 overcom =
the Lords resistance to important
measures like the Home Rule bill
which must Ice carried through the
House of Commons again in the ses-
s!ons of 1913 and 1914 before it caH
receive roval sanction.
A memorial signed 10y so influential
women. who are i'm favor of woman
suffrage but opposed to militant tao
tics. was sent to every member Of the
House of Commons tonight. The sig
uatorics include the Duchess of Bed
ford. Duchess of Marlborough. Duchess:
of Sutherland Warehouses of Down
shire. Warehouses Of Sligo. Countess
of GaIlaWav. Countess Of Fingall,
Countess of Warwick and a host Of
women i'm society. writer's and actresses.
The sunragcttes are making great
preparations to bring all possible press
ura ON the Commoners. They will in
dcavor 10 persuade them to support
the suGragette amendments Three
hundred working women identified
with the cause arrived here from the
provinces to-day Chancellor Lloyd
George will receive a representative
deputatiOn tomorrow. About l,Th'
,unragctte delegates will attend the
conferences while the franchise bill is
under discussion.
s. small sample Of the passions which
viii be loosed when the House Of
Commons begins tomorrow the debate
on the amendments to the franchise
reform bill was given yesterday after
noon during question time, Immediately
s-.er the session opened at 1 O'Clock.
Shouts of Traitor, Traitor" were
hurled across the floor of the House. be-
cause Premier Asquith refused TO lock
up the government "guillotine' and to
allow the suffragette amendments TO
the bin to he debated without any re-
strictions as 10 time.
Many OF Inc IeRlSIdtOlS tH'h"hH' u
angry gibes. and the noisy scene was
brought TO an end only by the speaker
rising and publicly reprimandinS the
member who had started the storm.
lobbies Seeth with Intrigue.
The Hobbies and precincts of the
houses of Parliament as well as the
political clubs and drawing rooms are
seething with intrigue.
Sir Edward Greys amendment Whlch
eliminates the word male from the
first clause of the bill If carried, opens
the way TO the enactment Of amend
ments which will enfranchise numeri-
cally varying army OF women. All the
members Of the House are left TO vote
as they please on this amendment, and
the division" is calculated 10 leave
the issue 10 Je decided by scarcely
more than a score of votes either way.
There is a strong suspicion that when
the votes have been counted the sunra-
eettes will find themselves disappointed,
largely because the militants Of the
party have alienated 50 many Of their
former supporters.
Should the women carry the day,
however, the fate Of the franchise OIL