The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-01-27
WOMEN STORM
PARLIAMENT
Suffragettes Wild AT
Asquith When He
WithdraWS Bill
Vast Force to Hold MIIitants
In Check Mrs. PankhuTst
Frantic

2 London. Jan. 27-Votes for women in
Great Britain as far as this session
is concerned. .'died-a-borning, this
afternoon, when Premier Asquith arose
in the House of Commons and an
rounced that the government formally
withdrew the franchise reform bill.
He vigorously repudiated the charge
of tyranny imputed to the government
by some of the advocates of equal
suffrage and explained that the ca,bi-
net exceedingly regretted its inability
to carry out its pledge to the women
TO submit equal suffrage to a vote be-
cause of the ruling of Speaker Low
ther that the adoption of the Grey
amendment necessarily would entail
the re-introduction of the bill
A hush pervaded the Commons and
the galleries when the premier. made
his momentous announcement, put at
its conclusion a wild clanor broke
forth that put to the blush the demon
stration that greeted the passage of
Suffragettes in the galleries hissed
Asquith and Jeers and catcalls flew
about the chamber. Conservatives
cheered to the echo and the Speaker
era1 minutes.
The word quickly passed to the
Square and In the streets, and there
was pandemoniun1. There were
groanS and. Kisses and some of the
frenzied enthusiasts started to march
on parliament house but were quickly
forestaIIed by 1000 odd policemen and
detectives who picketed the neighbor-
hood.
the suffragettes would Immediately
resume their campaign of violence
partly was justified by the statement
of Mrs. Enmeline PankhurSt, leader
of the militants.
TN the action of Premier Asquith
is a scanda1ous betrayal of the wo-
men of England and we shall resume
our militancy forthwith until the gov
ernuent consents to introduce in this
parliament a bill specifically Qrovfd-
ing for equal suffrage" Mrs Panz-
The outburst OF Mrs Pankhurst
probably reached the ears Of Premier
Asuuith, for shortly afterward he was
quoted as saying. that he would prornT
ise to private members of the Com
mons facilities for introducing a, Suff-
ragette bill. early in the next session %
premier did not promise the support
of the ministry for the proposed bill,
saying that the members of the cab
met would vote unhampered, accord
ing to their. views.
When the news spread throughout
London that the bill was withdrawn,
thousands of nlf1itants thronged the
streets and were bitter in their de-
nunciation of the PREMIER Street
speakers Immediately began harangues
and the police were kept busy dispers-
ing them.
The police guard about the premier
was doubled and all cabinet members
were given protection. These officials
openly admitted that they feared vio-
lence-
A special cabinet meeting today de-
cided to withdraw the bill and when
the House of Commons met with
crowded galleries, to hear the debate,
spectators were disappointed
The proceedings lasted only a. few
moments.
Premier Asquith asked Speaker Low
ther If his tentative ruling announced
Friday about amending the franchise
reform bill, still held. Lowther re-
Piled that If the measure were amend
ed by the. Commons it would have to
be re-introduced. He announced that
this ruling would not apply to the
Grey amendment would would apply
to other amendments. Tt was then
that Asquith formally withdrew the
r1eaGafrR