New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-18

win the coming week the woman SUI
fraCe movement in Great Britain. which
has been carried on without ceasing for
more than forty years. will reach it's
crisis If the present parliamentary pro-
Sramme is carried out and the govern
ment franchise bill comes up for its third
reading. 1t will be remembered that
more than a ear ago. after Prime Min
lister Asquith had given his promise to
allow a final reading of the Cancellation
bill Ga compromise measure which would
fully enfranchise those women who now
have municipal suffrage. he suddenly
introduced what WAS then called the
manhood suffrage bill. 1t proposed to
remove all the qualifications now exist
ing for men, which, slight as they are
deprive about 100000 Of a vote. but
made no provision for charging the
franchise rights Of women. This came
like bombshell TO those who were lead
Ing the suffrage movement and in re-
Spouse TO the storm of indignation ME-
Asquth renewed his pledge To offer
every facility for the Cancellation bill
and also to give fun opportunity for
amending his proposed bill so that II
would include women.
The suhragistS were greatly discour-
aged. however for they knew how little
chance there was for an amendment Of
private member To a government bill.
and public sentiment which had been
in favor of the Cancellation measure was
appalled, at the thought Of adding not
only all Of those men. but mass OF
women also TO the parliamentary rolls.
This caused disaffection among their
supporters in the House of Commons.
which was intensified by the action Of
the militant branch Of the suf!ragists,
who had come into existence during the
last five years. Their demonstrations in
Parliament Square and at public meet
ings gave excuse to those who were not
very strong in the faith, and when the
bill came 10 a vote. in March. 1912, IL
was defeated by majority of IA out
Of 434
This could hardly be attributed to the
"militants.' however, for among those
who voted for IT were Mr.. Balfour, Bonar
Law. George Wyndham. Alfred Lyttleton.
Lord Robert Cecil. Sir Edward Grey and
seventeen Cabinet Ministers. It could
have been saved by the Irish members,
who heretofore had supported the woman
suffrage BILL but by direct order Of John
Redmond thirty-five voted no and most
Of the others did not vote at all. At the
critical stage OF their Home Rule bill
they considered II expedient to sacrifice
the women rather than displease Asquith
a similar exigency arose last November
when Philip Snowdon moved an amend
ment TO the Home Rule bill which would
give a vote for the proposed new Parlla-
ment to all who are now on the local
government register in Ireland. This
would include about 10000 women. 1000
Of whom own and manage their farms
This received 141 ayes. all from the Labor
party and Conservatives; 3l4 noes, the
solid Irish vote and the Liberals under
the party whips" They were quite sat
isfed with Home Rule which would per-
nit one-half the people to rule the other
half
The suffrage associations, with the eX-
ception Of those in Ireland, had not made
the fight for this amendment, although, OF
course. they would have been glad TO see
IL adopted. and they were not especially
disappointed al the failure Of the concil-
iation bill The "miltants" had, in fact.
repudiated IL utterly. All felt that the re-
suit of their struggle should be a larger
measure Of suffrage.