The Washington times., 1919-11-09
LADY ASTOR'S
SEATDEPENDS
ON VOTES Of
HOMEWOMEN

:. PLYMOUTH, Nov. Sit is the
women who will decide whether
Nancy Astor will be the first mem
Der OF the fair sex in the House of
Commons. They have the majority
Of votes in this ancient town, and
N their hands lies the fate of the
peeress who says she would rather
represent the fisher folk In Parlia-
ment than be the first duchess Of Eu-
rope.
Severely Heekled.
BUT ft's-hard work, eIectioneering
among these stolid, sIow-thinking
people Of Plymoth. and no one knows
IL better than Lady Astor. who is
making her campaign a personal is
sue with the mothers OF Plymouth.
They, have developed the aggravating
habit of heckIing her whenever she
makes a speech. Not withstanding her
quick repartee and humorous answers.
sometimes she is "stumped" when a
pointed question on an important po-
litical Issue is hurled at her. On
most such occasions she turns a deft
phrase and gets a laugh. but occa-
sionauy the heckling proves very
enbarrassing-
So she has quit talking politics, ex-
cept generalities. discussing merely
local issues where she is on familiar
ground, and always with a feminine
touch backing up her arguments.
-Kids- the Voters.
She kids" with man and women
voters, and jokes with children, most
of whom she calls by their first
names. The grown-ups she asks
about their jobs and their babies,
sympathizes with sickness in the fam
ily. and plays the human interest
stuff" generally.
She Is always followed by two or
three taxicabs crowded with British
and American newspapermen. who
hang on her trail despite her earnest
protestations, Nsuch as please go
back. there are no meetings today;
really Pm just making a few per-
sonal calls on my friends G'wan
back: It's tea time and you-all won't
get anything from me-"
, But they stick TO her and enjoy her
Southern talk; so she just laughs and
carries on" She goes on her cleo
tioneertng tour in an open coach, pi-
loted by a venerable Dickens type of
coachman- He's the boss. too. When
he thinks IL opportune. he tells her
ladyship when to go on yxsE -G
Meanwhile, all England watches
heracampafyn with lively Interest
for-1t will have esfsrredching effects
on the future decorum of the COM
mons as well as On the standing Of
woman as lawmakers, If any.
An England Interested.
Some Of the most noted politicians
In the land are Enthusiastically be-
hind this American woman, especially
Lord Robert Cecil, who said in q let
ter to her:r. -~--...
are a wopan. The commons, TO be
ents, should contain exponents of the
woman's viewpoint. Anyone who
knows YOU will be confident you will
be found on the side OF angels"
Even Lloyd George, harrassed by
the grave duties Of running a nation.
finds time to follow the Plymouth
terest in doing 50. He is a great
friend Of the viscountess, and may
appear here toward the close OF the
campaign and urge her election.
Lady Astor concluded a strenuous
csnpaign week last night with a
meeting OF fishermen here.
As she had no more meetings sched-
uled until tomorrow. she spent an
hour last evening at a girls club.
During the last few days Lady
Astor has received scores OF offers of
financial assistance forsher campaign
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