The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-18
ES-ROBERTSON IS WARM ADVOCATE OF EQUAL SUFFRAGE
English Actor Says Woman
 Must Back Up to Her Re } probabilities
Fact That Some Women Do Not Want the Vote Should Not
 ThWart Progress

ThWart Progress
 .ewornan must buck up to her re- lanonsibilitiess, said Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson in speaking of the n l11n ber Aof women who have not avowed themselves in favor of the vote.
 The great English actor who is ma%S ling his farewell appearance in this city. this and tomorrow night, is an ardent advocate of suffrage for women
 Perhaps the most striking character tive, angular face and his deep-toned expressive voice Once you meet him i you are conscious of a strong yet sym fpathetic personality
 s.I haven't talked much about the sub ject in this country" said the eminent actor when I told him that on the ground that he favored votes for Wo- men I had come for his reasons, De lcause | thought that over here it was l a matter for yourselves to settle. But I feel very strongly on the subject have talked a great deal upon it in En gland and know 8 great many of { the mllitants personally
 .sOf course the vote itself is a mere side issue. The whole thing is open up everything to women. All sex bar riers should be thrown down and wo- men given an equal chance with men I in every endeavor.
 Sir Johnston talks continuously and IrehectdyeIy.
 q think the men here are much more civil about it than in England. They say very nice things about it and their general attitude seems to be one of leniency toward the question I At home they are very bitter and when you out-argue an anti, hell usually end by saying:
 z We'll. the fact is, don't want. la l. r-5 I
 My wife, continued Sir Johnston, 'sfs president of the Actors Equal Franchise League at home It is very splendid organization and grow ing all the time z
 T told him that we had a very strong ] and energetic suffrage organization in lConnecticut which hoped soon to have this state on the equal suffrage list
 But it will take longer for you peo-. pie in these older states to get it, 2, re- piled Sir Johnston, because you are so much more conservative, more like the people in England
 @The West, on the other hand, is so great and fearless and eager to try new things, that 1t is very natural that 1t should take up suffrage first. I have covered the West very thoroughly and I am very interested in the situation there. But you are all going to have it some day. Why, just think, eleven of your states already have it.
 There are a thousand things which woman can look after so much bet ter than a man." said the great actor, going back to the why for'' of suf- frage Even the, antis admit tIae,t she will wieId an enormous power bat they claim that she must keep this power sub rosa. If she has such a power sub rosa why not make it open and above board?
 | Most of the women at home of ofi- cia1 power, are antis but that is very natural since they now enjoy all the power possible and the franchise would not increase but rather decrease their power to a certain extent. Of course over there, there is still the rather mediaeval feeling that a wife is more or less goods and chattels.'
 Equal suffrage is going to Clear the a+mosphere of politics a great deal.s'
 t'But the antis claim that it hasn't accomplished that in the West I in terposed
 ssOh. but it has to a certain extent he said, .. for understand the situa- tion very thoroughly out there But it is still a very new thing and we mustn't regard the vote as a panacea for all evil bi1t must look into the fu- sture and see what it will accomplish for our children and our cl1ildren's children.
 There are a great many women who say that they do not want the L slaves said and still you gave them the franchise2''
 I suggested that it was the fear of the responsibilities attached to the vote that made most of the women not want it.
 woman must buck up to her re- sponsibi1ities,'' said the great actor.
 Talking of the Kulilitants and how they were suspending their activities and loyaIy supporting the government in this crisis, brought us to the war "The British are entirely to bIame,'' said Sir Johnston, flor not listening to their wise men and being prepared. As we have to pay for every piece of negligence they are paying for it at would have cost to be ready. My fa- ther said to me at the. end of the Fsranco-PrusHian wars
 T We'll we have allowed Trance to be huniHafed and although I may not live to see it. you will find that Ger many will attempt to humiliatei Eng land. and that she is even now prepar- ing to do so., Our wise men knew what was go-. ing on but many who ought to have known better seemed to have been hoodwinked
 Sir Johnston is to complete his tour within a few days and to sail for home on June 5th. His original plan was that this season would conclude his American tour but events of the war may cause him to return here in Oc- tober Tn that event he will follow a southern route and play cities where he has not before made his farewell appearance
 T don't think that the war will be ended then,'' he said. '.but one cauf only cling to the hope that it Hsi1r be- HTTfTx% %Tz1