New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-26
SUFFRAGE IN BRITAIN
SUFFERS A SETBACK
Asouith Government Has Writ
.uaIIy No Alternative to Drop
ping Franchise Bill.
DANGER TO THE CABINET
Questions Are, What Is the
Line up in House of Com
mons and Will Militancy
Be Resumed?
IBy cable 70 The Tribune. J

London. Jan. 2J.-There is every rea-
son to consider the prospects OF woman
suffrage dead for this session. The
Ministry is split wide open on TINS
question. and the Opposition is also
split. There has not been at any time
any solid ground for hoping That
woman suffrage would really ne
adopted as part Of the franchise DILL
but il did not seem a week ago such
great danger to the existence of the
government 1t seemed then as though
there would be quite an active fight IN
the House and some lively and inter
esting debates. and public anticipation
was kcenly whetted by the preliminary
talk during the week.
In fact. the doom of the measure was
foreshadowed by the Speakers ruling
that the adoption of an amendment TO
the franchise bill favoring woman suf-
fragc would probably so change the bill
as To make it TO all effects and pur-
poses a new one. and would require re-
drafting and reintroduction; but even
with all that had gone before and all
the whisperings there had been as to
the situation in the Cabinet, the real
truth was nowhere publicly appreci'
ated.
The introduction of Sir Edward
Crews amendment precipitated the
storm. Lewis HarcOurt developed all
the facts in the case and left nothing
more 10 the imagination. Woman sur
fragc is thus dead for this session. and
the only question now seems TO he
whether the House is To have chance
TO vote on Sir Edward Grey's amend
ment. so that the country can see just
what the lineup is. This is the ques-
ton 70 be decided by Premier Asquith
as a matter between him and his con-
science. which is TO say. his promise TO
Tie women that there should be a free
expression by the House without ref
crcncc 10 the tactical needs Of his
party.
The proceedings of the latter end Of
the week put the government in very
bad position. Appearances may be
saved TO some extent by withdrawing
the franchise bill without considering
the Grey amendment, but this course
will be considered by many. the equiya-
lent to Mr.. Asquith's breaking his
pledge to the women. and ii is eX-
tremcly doubtful if it would not put
him and his government in an even
worse position before the country than
To chance a vote in which the amend
\ ment of one of the principal members
u of the Cabinet would in all probability
= be defeated. and largely by the votes
of government supporters. In either
case. Mr.. Asquith is in an extremely
difficult position.
The next question is, What are tn,
women going TO do about il? The
anti-miltants see the hopelessness OF
their cause for the present and the
futility of attempting 10 proceed at the
present session. Even the militants
seem willing to agree on this, but there
IL nothing yet in their attitude or dec
W SllON llldl NllNg w Iipl
purpose to carry out their threats OF
resuming militant tactics with greater
fury than before.
When the franchise bill was taken uT
at the beginning Of the week they said
II woman suffrage is not adopted this
session what had gone before would be
mere pin prick TO what would come.
Well. woman suffrage will not be
adopted this session. 1t is not the fault
Of the government. The women have
been at least honestly treated. II is
now for the militants TO show how far
they are capable of bringing sane judg-
ment 10 bear on the situation. Because
woman suffrage has been struck dowr
this session II does not mean that the
last hope has gone. 1t is question
that cannot be killed. but the militants
by their mistaken tactics can do q
great deal toward delaying solution
of the problem.