The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-02-05

6A0 ! AS0A y00a SA0s
suffrage matters in England are on this
point Of new development, but we
know nothing positively at present"
and this represents truly the existing
condition. Nobody, constitutional OF
militant, oficial or private citizen, VIII
hazard q definite opinion as to the
next step.
In her address to the premier, Mrs.
Fhwcett appealed to him to find q way
out Of the "impasse'' in which not only
the s~ufragists but. also the liberal
party found themselves. and this cor.
rsctly expresses the condition. The
former are no more hopelessly up
against q stone wall on this question
than 10 the latter.
Why did Mr.. Asquith. after refusing
to receive = deputation at the time
thousands Of women were In London
for the Hyde park meeting. VOLUNTARY.
" agree to do 90 q week later? He
said 1t was because he understood
they had fresh evidence Of popular
support to lay before him!"
At the time one division Of the pill,
srims' had reached Oxford and was
holding q mass meeting. the prime
minister vas discovered incognito In
one Of the colleges there. evidently
seeing for himself what everybody
knows-that there 10 q tremendous
public sentiment behind this move.
msnt. He pretended to be impressed
ct the testimony Of the women as to
the friendship of the worktngmeh
shown all along the march. and yet for
Q number Of years this has been OK,
pressed by an overwhelming vote at
the conventions of the labor party.
Never was the willy politician more
In evidence than at this interview, but
the women matched him at every
point.
'"The liberal party will bow to the
will Of the people," he said.
How is that will to be expressed?"
they asked.
well, there is the referendum
would that suit your ideas?"
1.-TWO speeches have been made by
your colleagues on the referendum"
answered Mrs. Fawcett; zone said 1t
was the best way ever invented for
stopping anything and the other said
it was the best way of dealing with
wsman sufrage!"
The premier asserted that .the in.
terests Of women had not been unduly
neglected by the house Of commons
and Miss Royden asked him what de.
gree of neglect was "due?" She point.
ed out one instance after another
where the interests OF men has been
protected and those of women ig.
nored; declared that "even good gov.
eminent is no substitute for self-gov.
eminent" and that women had be.
come politically conscious and never
would be sent to sleep again."
There is but one way Of finding out
what the people think" said the prime
minister, land that is through the
representatives they send to parlia.
ment."
True" answered Miss Robertson,
"and there has been a majority
for women suffrage in the house OF
commons for 25 years!"
There is only one course open to
the suffragtst and that is to prevent
the return of the liberal party to DOW
er at the next general election. Eng.
l1sh women are trained in politics and
If the suhragists would lay aside all
minor difference and concentrate on
this one object, they could accomplish
1t. The Women's Liberal federation,
an annex of the liberal party. with a
membership Of over 100000. could do
this unaided. It would mean. of course,
the retirement from office Of the men
Of their own families and the defeat
Of the party to which Ghey always have
belonged. but many Of them are pre-.
pared to make this sacrifice. It seems
to be accepted on every hand that the
conservative party when it comes into
power again will grant some measure
Of suffrage to women. This will not
be- done asa matter Of principle. bu,
because 1t will not wish to subiect
itself to the experience Of the liberal
party ct. the hands Of women. and be.
cause the sentiment Of the country ia
% obviously in favor Of their en-.
REIMBURSEMENT.