New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-14
WOMEN WINNING
VOTE IN ENGLAND
Service During War viii
Be Repaid by Ballot,
William Hard Says
HELP TO SUFFRAGE
IN NEW YORK SHOWN
Northcliffe FaVorS Action,
Author Declares in Talk
with Mrs. Blair

English women, By two and a half
years Of hearty cooperation with men
in managing the vital affairs of the
nation, have done more 10 advance the
cause Of woman suffrage, not only IN
their own country but throughout the
world, than they could have done By
years Of idle waiting. When such a
leader Of progress as Lord Northc.itfe,
to cite only one instance, says that
after what women have accomplished in
this war they can't justly be kept from
voting /. is not difficult TO foresee that
suffrage will soon prevail in England
William Hara, the author, so de-
clared yesterday. NJ Hard returned
on the Kroouland after having made
prolonged study Of social conditions IN
England. His message 70 proponents
of suffrage for women in America was
delivered 10 Mrs. John Blair, repre-
senting the New York State Woman's
Suffrage Party.
Mrs. Blair called on Mr.. Hard in the
belief that his views on the improved
prospects Of the women In England
might have favorable influence on wom-
ems status iu America, particularly IN
reference TO New York. State, where
the women hope 10 win suffrage
through e referendum next autumn.
Already the movement 70 give
women voting privileges has taken CON
crete form IN England said Mr.. Hard.
"The politics of IL rs a popular feeling
that there must be @ revision OF the
electoral law. The idea is that the
men now excluded from voting because
Of certain qualifications should have
the ballot right. And people are be-
ginning TO say Since we must revise
the laws, why not while we are about
il revise it to include women In my
opiniou there has been a great change
Of mind in England toward women, and
] believe that this change is sufficient
20 bring about suffrage.
Committee Report on Vote
f. few weeks ago an historic incl
dent occurred In the House Of Com
mons. The Speaker Of the House ap-
pointed q committee 20 take up the
suffrage question. This committee was
instructed 10 bring in either unanl-
done 20 avoid controversy. The COM
mittee reported in favor Of a restricted
suffrage
1T was not extremely liberal; it
would impose upon women certain
qualifications az % age and property. a
little more severe than those as 90 men.
But the Dolu. Us chat it favored even a
partial suffrage, and this inevitably
will lead 70 full suffrage
an what way have women co0perated
in the handling Of the government
asked Mrs. Blair.
an every possible way" said Mr.
Hard. Owe in America cannot picture
with what whole-hearted enthusiasm
women have plunged into work. At
hotel in Liverpool, for instance, a
womar porter met US at the door. a
woman clerk assigned our rooms, girl
carried our valises, and they have girl
bellboys and girl bootblacks. They
have women conductors on the buses
and tramWays, women elevator opera
tors in the subways. These instances
are in the humber spheres.
"ln the more responsible positions
women are also evident. Not long ago
it was necessary 20 reappoint a COM
mittee on the supply Of nurses. That
ordinarily in England was a mans job.
They wouldn't have considered women
ft for so executive job. But now on
the new committee women we're ap-
pointed. Likewise women have been
put in charge of selecting help for the
public service from the employment
agencies.
In the munitions factories there are
employed between 100000 and 100000
women, and each factory has a woman
supervisor, whose duty it is 10 handle
the woman labor. These are all govern
ment jobs. so you can see the women
are working into the government ser
vice in a way unheard of before. Each
munitions factory has a tribunal OF
three members. Their duty is TO adjust
labor troubles, and one woman ls on
every tribunal. IL is no exaggeratlon
70 saw that l.OOO.0 900 women are to-day
employed in positions on account o. the
war-places made vacant by men or vo-
cations created by the war itself.
Northcliffe for Suffrage
ais there any wonder that there il
popular tendency to give women the
vote? I talked with many men IN au-
thority about IL. OF course the move
ment is not unanimous yet. The Eng
to admit that what always has been
should not always be. Lord Curzon was
opposed to IL. But Lord Northcllfe
said 10 me: 4 believe in woman suf-
frage now. After what women have
done in this war they can't justly be
kent from voting That is a message
which should cheer women everywhere,
for Lord NorthclifFe is a powerful man"
Mrs Blair asked Mr.. Hard how the
progress toward suffrage IN England
could be made 20 help il in America.
"Womens active cooperation in civic
pursuits is the thing in England which
has taken suffrage out Of the realm OF
theory and made it a live issue" he an
swored ut NAV be true that they also
sarve who stand and wait, but they
NAV have 10 wait a long time. Eng
lands example has shown that II would
be unwisc for women 10 say: We won
do ANYTHING until We get the vote.
Now il will not be so much that women
demand the vote az that the men want
10 give it TO them.
"If the recommendation for partial
suffrage now before the House OF Com
mons goes through il is not improbable
tbat women in England will have the
vote for national affairs sooner than
will their sisters in New York State.
In illinois the women have realized the
importance Of taking an active hand m
pubHc alfairs-more so than they have
In New York, ! believe. But II New
York women and women everywhere
accent the encouragement given them
nv English women they need not fear
hat suffrage for them will be long de-
layed.'
PATTEN LEADS IN RACE