The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-15
TELLS WHY WOMEN
TURNED MILITANT
With Contempt and Pigeon Holed
Progressive Measures
AN INTERESTING ADDRESS
Mrs. VI L. BiaxilI, Formerly of South
crn England, Describes Suffrage Sit
uation as 1t Was When Wars Trag-
edy Broke Upon Country.

I'VE all know the question" said
Mrs. v. l. Blaxill, Of Southern Eng
land, addressing the Equal Suffrage
League on the subject of why Eng
fish Women Want Suffrage
1t Is question of return for money
expended. If we enter a shop for the
purpose Of buying a dress, how would
we feel II someone said to US, Let me
spend your money and select this
dress; can do this so much better
than you can Nearly every one of
US would rebel When our money
goes for government expenditures,
should we not have some say in the
contracting OF those expenditures?
Tho women OF England feel that they
should Women of England pay the
penalty of transgressing the laws
they feel they should have a say in
the making Of laws II England la to
have the democratic government she
processes to have, there must be free
dom for all the people--not for only
half the people"
Progress Has Been Blocked.
Mira Blaxill then cited the number
OF welfare measures which the wo-
men OF England had tried In vain to
pass without the aid OF the ballot.
namely: safe building laws health
laws, minimum wage laws. equal
guardianship laws, to protect their
own interests outside of the home as
well as within the home. At last
when they petit'oned Parliament for
the vote. their petitions were ignored.
both Parliament and press maintain
ing a policy of absolute silence. AL
most in despair, they sought an inter-
view with the prime minister. He
received a large delegation OF them.
but did nothing for their cause When
they attempted 20 see him again. after
notifying him that they were coming,
he ordered the metropolitan police to
treat them In any way they pleased
and they were treated as no decent
men would treat any class OF women.
ut was after this treatment" said
Mrs Blaxill. that they turned to mill
fancy. and then the press, which
had before ignored them. gave them
headlines several inches long am
not n militant did not. when in
England. belong TO the militant or
eanization, nor was IN sympa thy
with It's methods. but I must say in
Justice to them that Mr.. Asquith was
the direct cause Of their rnilitancy."
Mr.. Asquith has had change OF
heart since the war broke out and
English women have stood by their
government SO nopiS-
Have Done Noble Work.
Mrs. Plaxill then spoke OF the won :
derful work Of the women OF England
since the beginning of the war stating
that everyone now admits that wo-
men have earned the right TO vote
The speaker was introduced by Mrs.
q. Harvey Clarke, who was chairman
OF the afternoon. In thanking Mrs.
Blaxiil for her most interesting ad-
dress. Mrs Clarke referred to the fact
that some Englishmcn were now bless
Ing Mrs Pankhurst for her efforts in
behalf OF the Serh!ans. citing an In
stance which had come directly under
her notice.
Mrs. F l. Jobson announced the
sale OF eggIess goodies for Saturday
Mt the Jefferson Market.
Immediately preceding Mrs. BIaxilrs
address the fourth lesson Of the SUI
frage school was discussed. On next
Thursday afternoon there will be a
review OF the four lessons previously
under consideration.
Announcement was made OF a mass
meeting to take place at tho CITY All
d!torium on February l at Sis o'clock.
the speaker being Mrs. Carrie Chan
man Gait. president OF the National
and International Suffrage ASsoCia-
tons. whose fame as an orator is
worldwide.