The Washington herald., 1914-08-16

stop forcfole feeding" thrown into the
Kings carriage should cause the imprts-
onment Of the thrower when Sir Edward
Carson may point a loaded gun at the
government with impunity. Another
shows the King and Queen seated at a
table with Mr.. Asquith at one end and
Lady Constance Lytton at the other, say
ing, If q conference on Home Rule, why
not one on Votes for Women"
Following the lead of the King in in
Viting Ulster rebels to q conference on
the Irish situation, Mrs. Pankhurst re-
Cuested an interview with the King, send
ing her message by two members of the
nobility. They were not allowed even to
give the letter to the Kings private sec
retary. They tried again the next day
and, being refused, they stood their
ground until arrested.
The church protest against forcible
feeding is rolling up its thousands. The
recent Trades Council in Perth, Scot
land adopted a resolution against forci-
BILE feeding, also one indorsing the suf-
frage demand. Forty representative men
of Kent tried TO see Mr.. Asquith to let
him know there was a demand for the
enfranchisement of women, but after sew
eral communications they were only Civ
en- the opportunity by five OF their num-
Der TO address his secretary. And-where
are the boasted liberties Of Englishmen?-
only twenty Of the number might pass
into Downing street.
Another and very significant Woman
Suffrage Union has been formed: the
British Dominion Overseas. Australia.
New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada
are the countries thus united. The two
latter want the help Of their enfrsnchised
sister countries, and all Immediately set
about doing something to help English
women by demanding an interview with
Mr.. Asqulth.
EnvIOus of MIIJIants.
The National Union Of Woman Suffrage
Societies resent the undue proportion Of
attention which the militant suffragettes
get from the press, and have recently
held a Queens Hall meeting to raise a
fund to give publicity to the constitution
al phases Of the work. Mrs. Fawcett
president, said the disorder of the pres
ent time was due to the mishandling Of
this subject by the government from the
beginning. 1t is to elucidate this point
that the history of the movement is be-
ing outlined in these letters.
The year 1909 ended with the sudden
dissolution Of Parliament. just before
which Mr.. Asquith addressed Our
ems Liberal Federation" expressing his
continued hostility to woman suffrage,
but saying that the insertion of a suf-
frage amendment to the reform bill
should remain an open question for the
House to decide. At this time the mat
ter was in the hands OF this women's
federation. Had they stood firm and said
they would withhold all support from the
Liberal party unless the claims Of wom-
en- were attended to, the party would
have had to yield: but they lost the op-
portunity, and although they have grown
more strenuous in their demands that the
Liberal party shall do justice to the wom-
en-, yet they have never been willing to
throw the party overheard for its fail
ure to do so.
Early in 1910 the election occurred. All
the suffragists had been working, each
group in its own way. The W. s. p. u,
with the policy Of opposing all Liberals,
friend or foe; the Freedom League and
the National Union made a point of
working for those who were favorable,
regardless ot party. and the latter society
secured "sn.O0O signatures of voters in sup
port Of tho measure. Two hundred and
forty-five candidates put woman suffrage
in their election platform and speeches.
This sufficiently answers Mr. Asquith's
objection that the question has not gone
to the voters. OF these who were friend
ly. a large number were not Of the Lib
eral party which came in with n greatly
reduced majority.
"The Cancellation Committee"
At this time the most important event
in the history OF the movement so far
took place. This was the organization OF
woman suffrage committee among
members Of Parliament. As the commit
tee included members of all parties, 25
Liberals, II Conservatives. Nationalists.
and Labor men. II was called the Con
ciliation Committee" Lord Lytton was
chosen chairman, and Mr.. H. n. Brails-
ford, secretary. To show that women
had neglected nothing that they might do
II should be mentioned that in 1887 Miss
Lydia Becker secured a Parliamentary
committee which proved helpful. and Sc
cured discussions and votes on the meas
ure. even up to 1906. But now for the
first time men made Il their own affair
and managed everything TO suit them
selves. They prepared a very simple and
much more limitedSbill than the women
had been asking for. for they wanted the
ballot on the same terms on which men
had it or might have IT, The committee
simply asked the Parliarnentary vote for
women who were on the municipal regis
ter. CWomen who were householders had
hdd the municipal vote since 1851 This