Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-22
BERNARD SHAW
PENS REBUKE.OF
iSQUITH ACTION
Author Declares That Premier
Glasses Women Not as HUI
man Beings, but Rabbits.

pecIal Gable TO The American.
LONDON, June 21-George Ber-
nard Shaw's letter to The London !
Times criticising the British Govern |
ment for its "cat and mouse" treat |
ment in the rearrest Of Mrs. Emme-
line Pankhurst just before the funer-
al Of Emily Wilding Dawson has
caused widespread comment.
Il am quite confident that when /
say that the moment chosen for the
arrest Of Mrs. Pankhurst Saturday
last made the proceeding a revolving
one I am giving expression to the
feelings of a large body of your read
ers," says Shaw. There was no
necessity to rearrest her until after
the funeral Any official or minister,
realizing the situation, would, If he
had a spark OF decent feeling, have
taken care to order a postponement.
Situation Unrealized.
"As no such order was given we
must conclude the Government does
not vet realize the situation. May /
call attention TO two new COnsidera-
tions2 The first is that II is now clear
that the plan of the Home Office is,
first, to relieve the worst tension of
public opinion by turning Mrs. Pank-
hurst out of prison, and, then, by rig
idly imprisoning her In house in
which she has taken refuge, produce
all the effects of the closest COnfine-
ment, while escaping responsibility
which would attach to those effects
IL they occurred In prison.
at is alleged Mrs. Pankhurst's con-
Hitinn serious II is quite
clear it can not be very favorable, as
Mrs Pankhurst is not made of iron.
Suppose Mrs. Pankhurst dies, will the
Government, merely because 1t has
contrived she shall die out of Hol-
loway, still cry We don't care as it
did by arresting Mrs. Pankhurst be-
fore Miss Davison's funeral instead
Of after it?
Not Of the Human Species.
My second point is in the newly
declared attitude Of the Prime Min
lister in his debate on the Dickinson
bill Mr. Asquith for the first time
opposed franchise for women ex-
pliCitly on the ground that woman
is not a female Of the human species, |
but a distinct and inferior species |
naturally disqualified from voting as |
the rabbit is disqualified from voting |
This is a very common opinion. |
Mohammeds efforts to disCredit it |
fourteen centuries ago We're lost on |
many Arabs as completely as on Mr. |
Asquith, but 1t makes the position |
extremely uncomfortable. A man |
may object to the proposed extension !
of suffrage for many reasons. He |
may hold that the whole business of |
the popular election is a delusion and |
that votes for women is only its |
reduction to an absurdity.
Where the Question Differs.
He may object to It as upsetting |
a convenient division of labor between |
the sexes He may object to it be- |
cause he dislikes a change, or is in |
terested in business or practices !
which women would use political |
power to suppress, but it is one thing |
to follow the Prime Minister who |
advances all. or some, or any Of these |
reasons for standing in the way of |
votes for women and it is quite an
other thing to follow the Prime Min |
lister who places ones mother on the |
footing of a rabbit
MANY men would vote for any |
thing rather than be suspected of the |
rabbit theory. 1t makes il difficult to |
vote for the Liberal party and then |
look the women of ones household in |
the face
THE situation is that If Mrs. Pank- |
hurst dies pubic opinion viii con
slider the Government, for which Mr. |
Asquith is in effect fully responsible, |
will have executed her Mr.. Asquith |
will not be moved by that in his |
opinion. It will matter just as much |
as killing a rabbit l can not con- |
vince him he is mistaken, but / can |
assure him that very large section |
Of the public will not agree with |
him.
Il suggest that the authorities |
having had to let Mrs Pankhurst out |
of prison should now let her alone. |
There was something to be said for |
letting her out; there is nothing to |
be said for pursuing her now. She |
is out with game of cat and |
mouse that will produce on the pub |
lie a feeling of vindictive assassina- |
ton if she. like Miss Dawson, should |
seal her testimony with her blood"