New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-25
COMMONS DEFERS VOTE
ON WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Bitter Debate Opens with Sec
rotary Harcourt Scoring His
Colleagues in Cabinet.
WOMEN'S UNION FURIOUS
Speakers Ruling, 1t Is Said,
Finally Explodes the Prime
Minister'S Pledge'-Ques-
ton of Honor Involved.

IBy Cable to The Tribune
London. Jan. 2J.-There was a d.
verting scene in the House of COM
mons Yesterday when the discussion
started on the famous Grey amend
ment to the franchise bill Lewis haf-
court. Secretary of State for the Colo
MES. in a dazzling and witty speech
made a slashing attack on his own COL
leagues in the Cabinet and partcr-
larlv David Lloyd George and Sir Ed
ward Grey.
why" he asked. has not The FOR
egn Secretary appointed some femi-
nine ambassadors TO add to the gayety
Of nations As for Mr.. Lloyd George
and the Dickinson amendment, why
was no vote given TO domestic SER
wants?
My right honorable friend, re-
marked Mr.. HarcOurt, is more readg
10 take their threepences than to take
their opinions
Mr.. Harcourt averred that Sir Ed
ward Grey and David Lloyd George
were attempting TO use the Parliament
act to pass a proposal which had never
been before the electors, and which
would gravely imperil the stability'of
tina, admirable amendment TO the BIT
ish Constitution. He added;
Il am against any form of Parlia-
mentary suffrage for women, ON The
ground that il would be bad for the
state and bad for the women them
selves
Mr.. Harcourt maintained that j,
women were TO be enfranchlsed the
policy Of adult suffrage would he the
only one consistent with political non
esty and public justice. He continued
Mr.. Harcourt concluded that he did
not believe the majority of women
wanted the vote and that if it were
given to them il would contribute
neither TO the happiness Of their homes
nor to the safety of the country.
Mr.. Harcourts piquant sallies were
Of course immensely enjoyed by all
parties.
The comment of Lord Hugh Cecil on
the speech of Lewis Harcourt was as
follows:
His antipathy to the Grey amend
ment suggests that he has been re-
Gently spanked or has never got over
the inJignity of being born of woman"
Lord Hugh Cecil had an obvious
line in characteriZing Mr.. Har-
courts speech as the most damaging
he had ever heard against the present
government
The rest OF the debate to-day was Of
an uuintereSting character. and at u
o'clock the discussion was adjourned
until Monday when the leaders Of both
sides are TO be heard
The ruling of the Speaker on the
franchise reform bill has finally ex-
ploded the Prime Minister'S pledge TO
women according to a manifesto
issued this afternoon by the Women
Social and Political Union.
The union calls upon the government
10 withdraw the franchise bill and re-
introduce it in form giving votes 10
women equally with men. 1t says that
it is essential Sir Edward Grey and
David LLOYD George should resign I'M
less their colleagues in the Cabinet
agree to make woman suffrage gov
eminent measure
The manifesto adds that the govern
ment must have known long ago the
turn events would take. and can only
clear itself from dishonor by adopting
the course suggested
Thus as TO the bill itself every bod !.
N now agreed that ii Is doomed. II
is unlikely TO survive even to Monday.
The only question now is whether its
withdrawal will be announced before
the division is taken on Monday even
ing on Sir Edward Grey's amendment
or after the result Of the division has
been declared. The Cabinet, which
met yesterday, has not yet decided this
point
The Daily Chronicle" in a burst OF
candor. says: 1T would not be an e1i-
flying spectacle which the Cabinet
would present TO the country with half
IFS members going into one lobby and
half into the other on a proposal thlt
might in the end be Incorporated IN Il
government bill. If we can avoid that
spectacle so much the better. As i is.
without that open parade of conflicting
opinions. Mr.. Harcourt's speech lef; u
very disagreeable impression. Mr..
Lloyd George is well able TO give the
Colonial Secretary a Roland for his
oliver, but the sight of leading MEM
bers Of the same Cabinet employing
their weapons of scorn. raillery and
eloQuence against each other, although
vastly diverting 10 the spectator, Is not
conducive 10 the help of the party