The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-06
LADY ASTOR IN
 TALK TO WOMEN
 VOTERS IN BRITAIN

Plymouth, Nov. 6.-Lady Astor yes terday made her first official speeches in the campaign which is 10 deter mine whether an American lorn No- man shall be the first Of her sex to sit in the House of Commons. She told The Associated Press correspond ent that sine thought it quite appro- prlate that a daughter of Virginia, the first English settlement in the United States, peOpled by West Coun- try folk, should become the repre- sentative of that section of England in Parliament.
 At noon Lady Astor drove in her carriage to the AImshouse, where, during twenty minute stay, she greeted. talked with and chafed goodnaturedly with nearly fifty resi- 1 dents-and old women.
 She asked one of them how. she 1 was feeling, and the woman answered ''nidding." whereupon Lady Astor re- called that in Virginia. they frequent ly said: Just loafin,' and acEin ! round"
 i She invited each to attend a. wo- mems meeting to be held in the afternoon and asked each to vote for her. Many of the women promised to do both.
 Lady Astor next visited a tenement house, where, standing in the dirty roadway, she talked for several min utes with women and children leaning over the balconies in front of each of the four stories of the building, from which much washing hung. She in i vited questions, and the invitation was compiled with in considerable [ volume. Then she defended Premier Lloyd George and siIenced the cham pions of her Labor opponent, W. T. Gay, pointing out that he was really not the Labor candidate, but an in- dependent I.aborite, and had boasted that he had evaded military service. One question related to her attitude on prohibition, and she answered this by saying:
 ''No one can make me say that drink ever did any one any good. You can't make me smother my real opinions But I tell you frankly that I do not intend to take away what you want. I believe in giving you the opportunity to vote however you please in such matters
 Followed by Scores of Children. Wherever the candidate went, her carriage was trailed by scores of chil- dren calling Lady Nancy!'
 With reference to her attitude on various debated questions, Lady Astor informed The Associated Press today that she favored Federal devolution as ''the only practical solution of the Irish question:"
 What l do hope to bring into the House of Commons" she said. "are sound views pertaining to the inter ests of women and children"
 Questioned as to whether she thought prohibition would be forced into the forefront in the campaign, she said:
 q do not think my opponents will try to force the issue, but I am de- termined not to allow it to take pre- cedence, as it is not vital in this fight"
 Asked whether she thought women would meet with a more cordial re- ception in public life here than in the United States, she replied: There is nothing like the stubborness of the American men in such matters, is there?''
 Lady Astor declared. that 1t would not be necessary for the Commons to alter the aisles wearing their har- should she be elected, as she was quite willing to go hatless and adapt herself to all the rules, so that her advent would be attended with a mini mum of fuss.
 Ovation at Women's Meeting.
 At the afternon women's meeting, Lady Astor received an ovation from women of all classes, many of them carrying babies and market baskets. Her speech was frequently interrupt ed by questions. To one who asked whether she favored old age pen sions, Lady Astor replied, snilingly: You are too young and pretty to worry about old age pensions"
 Similar apt replies seemed to bring satisfaction to the questfoners. o.,
 The formal nomination of candi- dates for the Parliamentary elections has been fixed for Friday, Nov, '; the polling for Nov. 15, and the declara- ton Nov. 28.