The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-02
Woman Suffrage Wins.

The women of England, in three years
of devotion, courage and zeal III the
cause of their country at war, have ac-
compIished for their sex that which 10
wears of militant suffragettism in time
of national peace had utterly falied 10
achieve. Not only have they evoked
from Premier Lloyd George, III the House
of Commons, stirring speech commit
ting the government squarely 10 the
principle of woman suffrage, but they
have also won to tine frank and active
advocacy OF the suffrage cause such but
ter opponents as former Premier AS
ouitb Andrew Bonar Law, chancellor OF
| the exchequer, and Colonial Secretary
| Long; and have seen the House OF Com
mons, by vote of 34l to 62, place itself
on record in approval OF franchise re.
form program including the extension OF
| the suffrage to women, with six months
residence or the occupation Of business
premises as the only qualifications for
voting. Indeed, the prime minister, IN
| his speech, went so far as to express
willingness to make the qualifying Pc
| Rod three, instead OF six, months
Coming simultaneously with the an
nounced formal recognition OF women IN
the new political regime in Russia, TINS
| governmental self commitment In Eng
| land marks stupendous stride Tor the
cause of woman suffrage in general, IL
palpably sets the pace for the rest OF
Furope, for the considerations which ae-
tuated it in England and in Russia are
equally potent in France, in Germany IN
! Austria. in Belgium, in Serbia-in short,
/ in every belligerent nation in this world
ehattering war It is neither more nor
less than well-earned and generous
recognition of the splendid sacrifices
which women have made, and are max
| ing, as munition workers, as nurses, as
| farmers and in thousand and one other
| lines of vitality important endeavor. Mr..
Asauith, in moving for prompt legisla-
ton to give effect to the conference rec
concentrations, spoke broadly and com
! prehensivelv when he said: The opposi-
ton to woman suffrage always was based
solely on considerations Of public eXpedl-
encv. The women have now worked out
their own salvation. The war could not
be carried on without them"
| II is incontrovertibly true that, with
the exception of the actual bearing OF
arms in the field, there IS hardly serv-
ice which has contributed to maintenance
of the cause Of the allies in which wom-
en- have not been as active and efficient
as men; and that this rule applies with
equal force to the women representing
the central powers. Premier Lloyd
George emphasized patent truth when
he suggested that, quite apart from the
assistance which they might render by
their counsels during the reconstruction
period after the war the sufferings which
women have voluntarily and uncom-
plainingly undergone entitle them TO a
voice in the government Of the nation
which they have helped to preserve; and
to denv them that boon would be un-
lust. inequitable and ungrateful-an out
rage, in fact
1t is still possible that the women OF
England may have to wait until after
the war for complete recognition OF their
title to the franchise, but woman sui
frape in some form in England is as
sured. England and Russia are taking
a tremendously progressive step. The
views expressed by Messrs Lloyd George
Bonar Law. Asquith and Long, so dia-
metrically different from the views which
all four formerly held, cannot fail to
Influence the remaining opponents into
support of the suffrage proposition. In
any event. the opposition now. as repre-
scented in Wednesdays debate. Is so weak
a. to appear virtually negligible. Il Is a
case where chose who came to scott re-
NAMED to pray; for the conduct Of Eng.
Ilishwomen during the last three years
free from even a suggestion of suffra-
gette militancv. now excites the admira.
ton of the world Manchester Union.