The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-29
.llOID-G[ORGE AND
AsQU|TA ENDORSE
VOTES FOR WOMEN
Former Premier. Once Suf-
frage's Archfoe. Pays Flo
i cuent Tribute to Cause
tOMAN'S SUFFERING
WINS RECOGNITION
Notable Service to Britain In
Time Of Stress Breaks Down
Stone Wall Of Age-Long An
taaonisrn and Custom

SgOAS W 0A "a
tasonism and Custom
InnAsa. March ss--wfthin grasp
Awvn % defea4 In the house Of COM
1 Howswsr. = fuii day's debate on all
anG1ss r. tAs question. with Premier
IA41d. oeosge and sx-Pramief Asouath
aonlng eat strongly IN favor Of II.
aMg1bk equal franchise aeaxer maj
ynnngY thna e Ov0r has been In Eng
- naaror fhan ~ boldest cham
- hAd hopsd - bring Il this time
- 3 climax ox the days session, the
tAo1n vutsd With na3crity OF 27s IN
AnNW Sk tnnAe11ake eeocecrl reforms
- eualined ~, IL rscsnt conference
hsaAsd ~ o. ssaker q the com
s<usaa. ThAk program dSd include wo-
Hcwsvsr. when Ne question came
up Of ank1nw On toniA hts vote. Chan
caIlor Of the ExchsQusr Bonar Law
announced thar tn government viii
draft . bin providing for the reforms
---except two; woman suffrage ana
rroportionaI representation.
He explained that the government
had not entirely made up III mind on
these issuss. nor had parliament been
given an opportunity to make clear
! 1uM where II stands on them.
When the bill comes MP for reading
some time after Faster. he added.
1t u3il he easy to move amendments
providing for woman suffrage and =
defluite settlement may then be reach-
Cd.
London, March 3s~-The dAy N
woman suffrage In England II dawn
ms
In an elonuent. chivalroua speech
In the houec Of commons this AFTER
NOON Herbest H.. Asquith. Kha. -
premier was the archfcc Of the Mil-
..'isAnts. who hated him not Iess than
me alta them. pleaded that the tina
h~d, come when women should b
; -a.coEnised A. equal 70 men. for they
ga earned this right in the sweat
1. their browr and with the blood Of
:, h~tr hearts during more than two
ars OF world war.
shortly after Asquith had taken his
seat. Premier Lloyd George spoke the
r-urd that comes tn the fore-nghters
equal franchise throughout the
- orid a. Z message OF the new free
-om.s
Tloyd-<3errwe Welcomes n
The government. Lloyd-Georwe an
.ncuuced. welcomed the electoral re-
noFm program moved by Mr.. Asqusth.
rNfs program was worked out At .
resent conference presided OVER BY
~ speaker Of the house Of commons.
Hesldea vnuaan suffrage, II cunAder-
a6ly Mheealisee the whole electoral
xyxtsni Of the United Kingdom,
~ Ignore these Recommendation
Or throw them away. the premier
said. wcuid ~ ind~fensfhie national
wnStel
The prime minister evrn went fur
.her than the original promoters Of
the reform measures. He said the
electoral franchise should be gener-
DUSTY extended by reducing to \
sr4mester the period now in voFue
- qualifying the casting OF votes.
Moreover, the qualifications Of every
,e3A3eF and sailor should he taken for
granted.
The feelings with which the bulk
,0f ne members listened to the speech
% ~ the present and former premiers
wSrs those Of election and admitting
epprCbatfon. II was az II both meant
IA pay = debt OF gratitude AsQuith
Is he suffragists who ceased their
N1o&D4kCQ 1uu GNSbS tS8AIhSb&e1 &8s~@esON
,t6e instant England was enxulfed IN
mo world war: and Lloyd -Gccrxe TO
40 aaht3ng forces Of the country who
No rushed TO It's defense ana 20
valtantiy stuck TO II.
KaDt Peace for Three YcaxDL
Aauuitf virtually expressed this
thought hy referring 70 the fact that
sor three years the suffragists had
kent the peace. had quietly. patiently
waited, all the while doing their bit
for the nation Thousands OF them
.had offered--and lost--their sons or
husbands on the altar of patriotism.
FOR three years, the former premier
aaid, there had been no occurrences
~ the "detestable campaign which
had disngured our public life"
1t could not he said therefore, he
added that he and his followers had
Yielded to force what they refused to
weld TO argument. He paid a glowing
tribute to the part the women have
been and are taking in the war. In
every branch OF activity. he said. the
women have taken a hand for the
veal. When the war is over
they must have a voice in decisions
Affecting these and their former
activities. he argued
Unbounded rejoicing prevailed to-
.sight wherever champions Of woman
k,oies gathered to discuss the parlia-
.ff,entary discussion which they hailed
~ the forerunner Of final triumph.
In quarters hostile to equal fran
srhjse there was gloom. Also there
are many members OF p7~''ament.
Who while they favor wome frage.
nnn0ge reform while the r.o,' is still
soi,.. Both factions are cxr ,...n to put.
f1r a stir fight when the matter comes
IN, for final settlement. One sign OF
TIM was already given by Arnold
Mnrd. sol, OF Mrs, Humphrey Ward.
fhc novelist who announced he would
move All amendment postponing the
sfholc matter until the war Is over.
This dld little to discourage the sur
CONTINUED on Second Pagc.)