New Britain herald., 1930-08-25
ASTOR CHAMPIONS W0MEN'S RIGHTS
JouStS With House of Lords in
 Their Interests

ideas of political chivalry-six times has jousted with the House of Lords for women's rights six times been defeated, but always comes back smiling and ready to fight again.
 The American born peer of Eng land, whose Virginia born wife, Lady Astor, was the first woman to sit in the House of Commons, has battled for years to secure for peeresses in their own right the legal power to sit in the House of Lords.
 Just now the champion of titled feminism is smarting under re- cent defeat. but already he is planning another assault upon the snug forces of fossilized con- servatism.
 Most Exclusive Club
 For the House of Lords is an old-fashioned body. Even more than the American Senate, it con- siders itself the most exclusive club in the world. You must be born into it or else be projected into 1t, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and the o. K. ot the King. Anyone, however weak his mental qualifications, who is the eldest son of Lord, becomes upon the death of his father a member of this heredi- tary legislative body. Among comparative outsiders are the commoners who were raised to peerages in the recent past be- cause they brewed a lot of beer or distilled a lot of whiskey, or contributed very large amounts Of money to the campaign chests of the old political parties.
 Of course, there also are com moners who were made peers for other reasons. They were dis tinguished generals or admirals, a few who rendered great services td the state in civilian fields, and some politicians who are kicked upstairs.
 Regardless of whether the Lorts are of ancient or modern vintage the majority of them seem to bc against women sitting in their aug uSL llluSt' lHlte Sedio dSo thcS beat Lord Astor by only two votes. Recently they beat him by four votes. But before they did so, they had to listen to some plain speaking from him and some of his supporters
 Women Gain Other Rights
 He said it was outmoded to con- tend that peeresses in their own right should not sit in that house iii day when every woman over 21 mad vote in Great Britain; when woman could sit on the throne of the country as it's heredi- tary ruler; when fifteen women were serving in the House of Commons. and one in the cabinet; when they were Lord Mayor of important cities, and also serving on county and city councils and other important governmental bodies.
 An objection was raised that the women's point of view was very different to that of men, but that was one of the very reasons why their presence in the House Of Lords would be an advantage. He caustically said that some of the Noble Lords seemed to re- gard their House as a sort of club, subject to the black balling of those they did not desire to admit.
 Lord Hanworth, in opposing Astor probably let the real cat out of the bag when he said if they were to grant admission to women on the same terms as men, by creating peerases for women in their own right, the succession would be to the daughters and not only to their sons. Then the die hards proceeded to kill the meas ure.
 Viscountess Rhondda, Britain's ccal and iron queen, and one of the leaders in this fight for recog milton, when apprised of her latest defeat, shrugged her shoulders and said:
 Tt is just one more vote for some of the men to keep their club to themselves as long as possible We will go right on fighting Those who vote against us are voting against the trend of mod ern events and they know it. The last two times they have won only by few votes. The time will ccme when they will not win"
 Domtnions Take Lead
 Miss Florence Underwood, sec retary of the Womens Federation League, said;
 There is no hope of convincing some of them before they die, but they will die off in time It is they who make Britain lag behind her progressive dominions. None pi the latter excludes women from ts upper legislative house. Sooner br later Britain will have to fol- lew suit
 Besides Lady Rhondda, others vho will have a seat in the House f it ever becomes a House of lords and Ladies, are the Duchess bf Fife, Countess Roberts, elder daughter of the late Field Mar hal, Earl Roberts; Countess lave, widow of an ex-Lord Chan kellor; Viscountess Wolseley, a laughter of the late Field Mar hal; Viscount Wolesey; and the 3aronessees Beaumont, Berkeley, Burton, Clifton, Furnivall. Ray nsdale, Wentworth and Zcuche.