New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-01
By Ida Hustled Harper.

the bill before the Parliament Of Great
Britain, closed by saying: IF measure
for woman suffrage can be postponed be-
yond February 10 il will be too late TO re-
ceive the veto or Parliament act; there
will be no further chance for years TO
come and the betrayal of the women b.
tn Liberal party will be complete
This Is precisely the situation created
by the action of Speaker Lowther in the
House Of Commons last Monday. The
Nation one of the most conservative or
the English papers, said few days be-
fore the bill was TO come up:
There is a majority in favor of woman
suffrage in the House of Commons, and
as the decision rests with that body with
out regard TO party, no consideration
should interfere with the House express
II fails to do so. women viii! nave every
justification In declaring that they nave
once more been betrayed.
Without waiting for the action of the
House, the Speaker himself did the be
traylng" and it is the height Of absurdity
10 say that this was not prearranged with
Premier Asquith. the most astute poEd-
clan In Great Britain.
After HdNl0S eh0duste0 SNtly
known to diplomacy or chicancTy to de-
feat woman suffrage. Mr.. Asquith com
mitted the browning act of trcachery last
November in introducing The manhood
suffrage or government franchise DILL
asked for by nobody, not wanted by ms
own party, proposing 20 give vote %
every worthless and degraded man in the
kingdom and to exclude all women. This
came so near driving 20 mutny even the
constitutional sufffagists hat he flew
to cover, and by every promise possible
for a political leader 20 make he pledged
that the fullest opportunity should he
given to amend the bi,! so "a to include
women and the government would accept
any such amendments.
The militant branch Of the suffragists'
who under truce had not made dem
onstration for nearly year, rejected ms
pledges with scorn and dcrision. ana
every prediction made by them as to the
utter insincerity of these pledges mas
been more than fulfilled. Til" consttu-
tional branch, which Is even more CON
servative than are the suffragists OF IN.
United States. accepted these promises N
good faith and worked Loyalty with Sir
Edward Grey. Lloyd George and other
Cabinet ministers who were apparently
striving TO amend the bill. There are at
least four hundred of those law-a6idinS
suffrage societies, composed Of the lead
ing women OF the country. who have oeeh
flouted and outraged by this latest move
Of the Liberal government. To hoId the
"militants" responsible Cor II in the slight-
est degree is to show entire ignorance D.
the situation.
The Primo Minister'S Game.
Mr. Asquith gave his solemn pledge that
no party pressure should be put upon any
member. but that every one should DC
wholly free 10 vote as he pleased, and yet
for several weeks The Daily Citizen ana
Daily Herald organs OF the LABOR
party. have been exposing the 'Caoine'
conspiracies." government plots, bach
stairs politics" and shabby intrigues
that have been going on 10 defeat any
amending Of the bill. At the last mo-
ment all had failed MIR Asquth himself
said 10 a gathering OF prominent anu
suffragists: "Thc majority Of my Cabinc,
arc in favor OF woman suffrage. IL was
evident that he and John Redmond To-
eether could not prevent some Amendment
The farce was almost played out. Lloyd
George had received large deputatlon
OF working women from all parts OF the
kingdom and said to them Il am CON
vinced that We shall win and win very
soon
Only few hours later, on the same
day. when all were ready TO enter upon
consideration OF the bill, and Mr. Asquith
had lust said again II have decided TO
leave this question to the free judgment
Of the House" the mine was sprung by
Ronar Law. the Unionist leader, always
professedly strong supporter or woman
suffrage.
"WilI the adoption Of an amendment to
,bis governmcnt franchise bill so alter II
that IL will have TO be withdrawn he
asked
Yes" answered Speaker Lowther. III
would 80 enlarge the scope 'or the pi"'
which was introduced TO deal only win
male suffrage. that the government would
have 10 drop it,
The Prime Minister had won. the women
had lost, Next day. when the House con-
yened. LLOYD George declared that the
hill mad been so drafted there was not
.upeestion that an amendment for woman
.uffrace would not come within its scope
and M precedent existed for the Speakers
ruling Lewis Harcourt VINO has LOT
years been one Of the worst enemies 'he
women have had in the Cabinet. mace
slashing speech against George and theh
the two men went arm-in-arm 10 a music
hall in search OF still further amusement :
On Monday, The day which the govern
mont had for weeks been promising the
,,onen should see the voting on their
o,,endment Premier Asquith announced
chat the Cabinet had decided to withdraw
its franchise Dill
The present session is so near the emo
II &c useless to think OF introducing any
r.w hills and those which are introduced
az the next session cannot nave the ad-
vantage Of the Parliament Act. THIS pro-
,,,des that a bill rejected by the Lords
I'D CON, back on two succeeding years
-, tho House OF Commons becomes law
without their consent AS the present
tIouse will have reached its time limit
before then and new election VIII be
necessary. woman suffrage ~ apparently
postponed indefinitely. II would De TWO
wears at least before bill could be sent
"a the Lords and two more before the
House could pass it over the veto IL would
De sure TO receive.
Liberals Trsachsry to Women.
.,,- ..,on,ant is calm and unexagger-