The sun., 1916-08-27
WOMEN IN BRITAIN
CLAIM WAR RIGHTS
Insist on Franchise II Privi-
legcs Are Granted to Men
in Army.
CITE THEIR SERVICES
Asquith Informed Them Gov
eminent Appreciates La
bors in Strife.
CITE THEIR SERVICES
ssseis, corrsspe~lsace 10 1ns ses.

SSecfoi C0rrsspoHlsNce TO b SeS.
LONDON, Aug. i6.-As 10 only natural
women are taking the greatest Interest
in the contemplated introduction Of .
new basis for the Parliamentary fran
chise, for they are afraid that the Gov.
eminent may overlook the services Of
women.
LAN May M. Asouish assured ne
President Of the National Union Of
Women's Suffrage societies that he and
hs colleagues deeply recognised and
appreciated tho magnificent contribution
which the ONE Of the United King.
dom had made to tho maintenance OF
our country's cause"
The point Mrs. Fawcett. Al president
Of the National Union Of Women's Suf-
frage. lays particular stress upon Ii the
familiar one Ohat II in the promised
registration bill II Gas proposed merely
to provide that absence on war service
should not ~disQualify . nan otherwise
dualined from being placed on the regis
ter. the National Union Of Women's
Suffrage would not make that q ground
for raising the question of the enfran-
chisement Of women. but that II II were
proposed to alter the whole basis Of the
franchise and 30 make war service In
itself . Qualification then they would
undoubtedly claim . similar privilege
for
Want Women IncIuAel.
This In a lain that most persons
would consider as perfectly reasonable
and Just. The view consistently main
tanned by the suffrage societies has
been. hat no extension OF the suffrage
should take place which does not include
ut least some women.
This Is the rock upon which their whole
Parliamentary case IL based. That the
women's argument has a basis of sub
stantiality Is shown by the fact that
Lord Robert Cecil. who Is a membe OF
the Cabinet and one OF the ablest OF
It's younge members. states he agrees
with Mrs. Fawcett to make war service
a qualification would mean a large addl-
ton to the register. and would be n long
step toward manhood suffrage. lie him.
self would not assent TO any alteration
In the franchise or in registration
which substantially increased the num-
Der % voters u1!ess !; included soine
measure OF enfrarchisment Of women
Many SACRIFICES Made.
The whole attitude OF the public to-
ward this veXed question has been al
tered by the war, FOR the public never
can forget the sacrifices made by women
and the noble way they have come for
ward to shoulder the burdens left thNu
a. a legacy by their brethren In the
field. Many instai ~ of the devotion
OF women who are engaged In war work
might be quoted In this connection. but
the following nay be taken as symbol
ical Of them all:
a woman more han forty years old
started training In q munitions works
rear London. During her second week
some machines were temporarily out OF
order. and the foreman. not knowing
that the woman was "a learner. ASKED
her TO put every pressure on her owr
machine TO increase the output.
The average output was 100 shells
on his particular day the woman
learner turned out 4o5 shells. all Of
which passed through the gauge. She
worked continuously for seven and q
half hours. except for half an hours IN
terval for tea. The result was that she
disjointed all tho fingers Of her righ'
hand. which had to DO strapped up fol
some days.
The war work OF the women Of Eng
land has brought the franchise percep'
tibly carer their grasp,