Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-22
BERNARD SHAW
PENS REBUKE Of
A5QUITH ACTION
Author Declares That Premier
Glasses Women Not as HUI
man Beings, but Rabbits.

peclal Gable TO The American.
LONDON, June 2i.-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 Tire 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, II he
had a spark Of decent feeling, have
taken care to order a postponement.
Situation Unrealized.
LAS no such order was given we
must conclude the Government does
not yet realize the situation. May /
call attention to two new considera-
tions? The first is that 1t 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 a 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
If they occurred in prison.
1T is alleged Mrs. Pankhurst's con-
ditiOn is very serious. 1t is quite
clear il 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.
Mohammed's efforts to disCredit it
fourteen centuries ago were 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 1t as upsetting
| a convenient division of labor between
| the sexes. He may object to 1t be-
cause he dislikes a change, or is in
terested in business or practices
which women would use political
power to suppress, but 1t 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 1t is quite an
other thing to follow the Prime Min
lister who places ones mother on the
footing of rabbit
MANY men would vote for any
thing rather than be suspected of the
rabbit theory. 1t makes it difficult to
vote for the Liberal party and then
| look the women of ones household in
the face.
| Inc situation is that II Mrs. Pank-
| hurst dies pubic opinion will 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. 1t will matter Just as much
as killing a rabbit. I can not con-
vince him he is mistaken, but can
assure him that a 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 a 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"