Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-29
LLOYD GEORGE DECLARES
FOR W0MAN'S SUFFRAGE
Welcomes Recommendation Made in
Program for Electoral Reform
Moved by AsQuith.
OTHER MEASURES APPROVED
Premier Pays Warmest Tribute to
Woman's Work During War. and
Thinks Voice Due Them i'm Recnst.
ing Of Whole Industrial Fabric.
nv Nssocintcd rrcss.l


LONDON. March oS.--rrcmicr LLOYD
House OF Commons to-day in favor Of
woman suffrage.
The Premier said he welcomed the
recommendation in favor of woman
suffrage which was made in the pro-
gram for electoral reform moved to-
day by former Premier Asquith.
The other reform measures also were
approved by the Premier. who said
that, in tho opinion Of the government
II would be n national waste it tho
results of the conference at which the
reforms were outlined should he thrown
away Hc favored generous cxtcn.
sion Of tho electoral franchise bv re-
ducing 10 three months the period for
qualifying for voting, and by assum-
ing the qua liflcationS of every soldier
and sailor.
The Premier. paying tho warmc est
tribute TO woman's work during the
war. especially the devotion, coura Ee
and zeal OF women munition makers.
said that when. after the war. tho ma
ton came to rccast tho whole. indus
trial fabric. to give women no voice
therein would be an outrage: II would
be incquitahle. unjust and ungrateful
and he believed that the country would
not sanction such injustice for
moment.
WOULD AVOID POLITICAL
CONTROVERSIES DURING WAR
lIc agreed Ia tho dcsirability OF
avoiding all political controversies dur
ing the war. Parliament To be elected
after peace was declared would have
to solve uuickly the problems which
would determine thc course OF things
in Great Britain and tho empire for
generations. and unless he was mis-
taken in tn" temper Of tho people. they
did not intend 10 intrust this trc-
m"ndoES reconstruction to any partv
machine: they meant. he believed to
take IL into their own hands There
fore. he declared that he was glad that
mon OF all political faith had agreed
upon a basis for an clcctoratc. millions
of whom made sacrifices for their
country.
After intimatins that the govern
ment was not prepared to adopt pro-
portional representation tho Premier
concluded by expressing the hope that
the House would show the same spirit.
not merely Of conrilation. but OF good
sense, and carry through the recon-
mendations substantially i'm tho form
in which they we're made and without
the bitterness of 4 political controversy.
HOUSE VOTES APPROVAL
OF FRANCHISE RETOs MS
Tie House OF Commons hy A ma
jority OF 10. to-day expressed APP
proval Of Legislation on the lines rf
the Speakers conference recommrria-
tions for franchise reforms. The small
minority against such u measure rep
resented not the actual opponents o.
reform. but rather members who were
desirous of postponimg legislation OF
such a contentious charactcr until rf-
ter the war.
The great feature OF the debate WAS
the frank acceptance by eX-Prcmie.
AsDuith and Andrew lsonar Law Chan
cellor of the E:Xthcqucr. of womaus
right to vote as a result OF their war
sacrifices and services and Premier
Lloyd Georges whole-hcartcd accept
ance Of the conference rcccmmnada-
tions. except proportional representa-
ton. lie was even willing to go still
further and make the qualifying period
three instead OF six months
small party in the Contr,onS dur
Continued on Second Pagc)