Evening star., 1927-04-21
English Suffrage Problem
ArOuses Interest In America

Fulfilling a political promise, Pre-
mier Baldwin of Great Britain has an
nounced his purpose to present legis-
| lation extending the suffrage 10
women between the ages OF Il and
| 80. Since British women outnumber
| the men, the result of such change
| is the subject of interested specula-
| ton, with most observers in this coun-
| try inclined to believe that there Is
| little reason for assuming that a feml-
| nine bloc will take over control Oh
affairs on the island.
"a permanent and extremely valu-
able gain for right and justice" is the
verdict of the Cleveland News, which
observes that "all changes in the suf-
| frage field which in any way concern
| one sex more than the other are in
the same direction. The tide which
flows toward entire equality in govern
ment," continues that paper, never
ebbs. Women may fall far short OF
such use of the ballot as they have
been expected to make, but their legal
status is not thereby affected. The
laws grow steadily more just to the
sex long disfranchised
Bringing the issue to a settlement
is placed by the Brooklyn Eagle to the
credit of Premier Baldwin, against
the vigorous opposition of members OF
his own ministry, who in the face or
experience would deny sex equality In
politics and continue a manifest IN
| Justice Noting that opponents OF
the proposal are blaming Lady Astor
for this revolutionary change" the
Watertown Times thinks they are
probably right" and adds that there
has been no more loyal friend OF
woman suffrage than Lady Astor, and
she worked for it in season and out OF
season"
Quoting Lady Astor's remark that
1--WE will eliminate some defunct tim
ber now decaying on the comfortable
benches of Parliament" the AsheVille
Times vet feels that Lady Astor rec
ognizes the truth that votes for
women have brought about no golden
age either in the United States or
Great Britain" Now, the Asheville
paper continues, with suffrage grant
ed to all women on terms equal to
mems privileges, both in Great Britain
and in the American States. women
most assuredly have their long-sought
opportunity to demonstrate their al
legged capacity to purify and uplift
political life"
4 y =
England is going to give them the
opportunity TO have precisely the KIM
of government they want" says the
ST. Louis Post-Dispatch. "How they
react to this tremendous responsibility
may be inspiring or disillusioning. AT
least, it should be instructive" But
the New Haven Register is skeptical
and argues: "If she has fought for
the ballot here with tooth and nail,
and then, having won 1t, cast it out
with other rubbish, such as undesir
able husbands and the like, she will
do the same in England" Also. re-
marks the Register, John Bull need
not fear any female will seek TO sub
stitute the name Genevieve Bull for
John in British literature of the fu-
ture. nor will any of the fair sex be
willing to be caricatured as a fat
woman, at all comparable with John
of cartoons"
observers in the United States,
where women at 81 years have voted
ever since the adoption of the suffrage
amendment to the Constitution, and
in some States long before that" ac-
cording to the Reno Evening Gazette.
referring to pessimism in England.
have failed to notice any especial
lack of ability on the part Of the se-
male sex 2ar rArs ng0 to understand
public qa4estsNstA Hirls appear to
know as naua# 2ont what they are
voting on AZ 49, ct equal years.