The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-06
MAN And WOMAN
GOVERNMENT
IN ENGLAND
Why Great Britain Is Giving
The Ballot to It's Women
At This Time.
Realizes Government Is Job of
The Governed.
Statements of Many Distin-
guished Officials Who Value
The Political Freedom Of
Women.

YN Great Britain the question of
Il the participation of women in
r the government Of the country
Il Ii regarded Ga settled for all
time, The press Of the country
generally endorses the opinion which
one paper Expresses by saying. The
right OF women to the suffrage was
finally established by the vote of the
House Of Commons and will never
be questioned again" That vote
reached the overwh ehming proper
ton Of seven to one
Woman suffrage has been more
steadtastly opposed in Great Britain
than In any other country in the
world During tho last few years In
which 1t has been q political Issue Of
prime interest there. statesmen and
politicians have arrayed themselves
IN almost solid ranks against It. To-
day those same men are ranged UP
In equally solid ranks In itb favor.
What has brought them to this
change Of position has been the
proof and the realization that the
government has to depend directly
on women for those duties and quail
fications that were formerly sup
posed to belong to men only, All
over Europe today women are max
Ing the guns with which men fight,
tho shells which conquer the enemy,
the high explosives for tho battle
front. They are making aeroplanes
and driving them. They are working
the farms. They are running hospi-
tails. They are building houses for
tho soldiers. They have moved up to
the front as army cooks and stew
ards and ambulance drivers. They
are doing tho work OF mon ON rail-
roads and supporting families while
mon arc away at war.
Statements by Offfctals.
Mr.. M. Y. Kellaway parliamentary
secretary to tho ministry Of NUM-
lions, says: "Our armies In the field
have been saved by the efforts Of
our women. Holt a million women
are working day and night In our
munltion foctorios."
Tho Earl OF Selborne says; If II
were not for tho women, agriculture
would DO absolutely at a standstill
Wales."
Premier Lloyd George says that
without tho women tho war could
not have been carried on.
Sir Walter Long, MP, always a
consistent and bitter opponent Of
woman suffrage. voted for 1t in the
House Of Commons, saying. Not
only have women suffered and died
for their country In many of the
fields of war, but lot there be no
mistake, without their heroLsrn, self
denial, skill, physical strength and
end urance, this country could never
have successfully faced the crisis
thru which we arc passing"
Mr.. Asquith, the most implacable
foo woman's suffrage ever had In
England. says that in view Of wom-
ems aid to the government IT feel
It inposibls conAStently with Justice
or expectancy to withhold from
women tho power and the right OF
making their voices directly heard"
Man and Woman Together.
In q word, tho men Of England
have generously admitted that gov
ernment Ia not the Job Of man alone.
No moro L. II tho Job Of women
alone. 1t Is the job OF mon and
women together" Hnco mon and
women together render full service
to the government. This 10 as true
In peace time as in war time, but
war sharpens mons senses TO reali-
ties as distinguished from preju dices
and theories
In tho light Of those war times
women have been able to show that
they are at for any service for which
homo and country need them.
Make them part Of her govern
ment. Catch UP with England.