" VOTES FOR WOMEN."

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14406, 13 July 1912, Page 8

" VOTES FOR WOMEN."

THE CASK FOR THfc WINDOWBREAKERS.

A lady who is taking a prominent part among tho militant advocates' for " Votes for Women "' in England sends us an interesting letter explaining tho views of the party, and setting forth the reasons for adopting the policy which has created so much sensation. "Wo take from it the following extracts: — *' I am sending you ' Votes for Women ' with a special article on the rights of political prisoners, which will I hope, open your eyes to tho iniquity of tho treatment of women in this country, who denu.ad political equality. I shall quote an extract, from the letter of one who lias suffered imprisonment for tho cause, wliich explains the reasons for protests better than I can: —' Our women aro standing out for their own personal honour and the honour of their cause. The Government have taken from tho beginning the line of treating the movement as a species of brawl, and not a political affair, and tho action is taken of forcing by this passive resistance (the only form of protest possible to one under prison discipline, as Russian prisoners know) the recognition by the Government of tho political character of our demand.'

" I hope you will publish the explanation, and also the enclosed leaflet from the Rev*. Dr- Cobb, one of the most highly-respected clergymen in London. We havo tho support of the. real workers amongst tho clergy-of the Anglican and Free Churches. They understand the need of tho women's vote in securing decent conditions and wages for women, who are now suffering untold hardships, and who dare not speak. Do you know that there is a secret system of references, which makes it impossible for a girl to secure employment if she has offended her former employer. You win. understand tho danger in such a system. Any unprincipled manager has' tho bodies and souls of his workwomen at his disposal, and no ono can tell thkj state of morality that prevails where girls aro earning 7s Gd a. week, and dare not protest. In ono case tho girls, who aro living-in, complained that they could not live on the wages paid. Tho reply of the manager was: 'You have latchkeys—you know howto make it up. . Can you wonder that women who realise that helpless women aro suffering have got beyond caring what people say or how they may be shocked. There is no hysteria amongst the women who make these protests, but a determination that no vindictive sentences and no cruel torture can ever suppress. The militants aro tho most level-headed, calm, and gentle women in the world. Anyone might understand by this time that it is only tho very noblest women who dare, to suffer and sacVifice themselves for others, and that hysterical women could not go through with tho protest with calm deliberation. Mr , of Dunedin, came to tho meeting of the W.S.P.U. immediately after tho November protest, and lie'was quite converted and thought the demands were most moderate. Please ask him about it. No one can understand who has not been in contact with the workers. Tho hysteria is in tho House of Commons and on the Bench. The men lose their heads and make absolute fools of themselves on every occasion.

"Ono lady,* a sweet, gentlo Scotswoman, who broke windows, told the magistrate that John Bull -was asleep, and that it was not their fault that they had tn knock hard, but His, becauso ht> was so sound asleep and would not wake u^! "One'lady, who broke a pane of glass at the' Guards' Club, was remonstrated with by a friend, a member. He said: 'Why did you do that? Wo have never done you any harm. Wo aro not oven interested in the suffrage, and never mention tho subject in the Club!' Her reply was, 'That is why!' The subject would bo mentioned m tho Club not only amongst tho members, but in the servants' hall, etc., etc. "One lady at the Opera Houso meeting said that we had put London in a. panic, and if you don't believe it just let any woman go to tho nearest ironmonger's shop and ask for a hammer!

"The Rev. Hugh Chapman, of the King's Chapel, tho Royal Savoy Chapel, and Mr Maslin. Moulin, the vice-president of tho Royal College ot Surgeons, were on tho platform at the .meeting immediately after tho March smashing. The Rev. Percy Deamer 2 the Rev, Dr. Cobb, the Rev. Mr Hinchcliff, and many other clergymen and doctors uphold tho W.S.P.U., and no ono who knows anything about the women or their # methods would ever apply.the word hysterical to them, or speak of them disrespectfully. Public opinion is on their side and the meetings, are just splendid. I spoke tor them during. th"c week following the 'raid.' as you call it, and had a splendid hearing. I have been to Walthamstow and Ipswich, since, and everywhere tho meetings are splendid. "Hundreds have left the National Union for their meanness in abusing the militants. The National Union had. 5000 members in VJO6, and now has 30,000, all the result of the ventilation of the subject by militancy. John Bui! must be wakened up, and the "YV.S.P.TJ. are doing it, and should have the thanks of tho world and the reverence of all good men and women."

In a supplementary letter the writer says:—

"I am* surprised that you can't see that the militant action is absolutely necessary to push the. suffrage I also wonder that the cables don't open your eyes to the injustice with which women are treated in this benighted land. On the same page as the account- of the raids by suffragettes there was the account of an attack on the suffrage shops by a band of students, and also the account of a shot that was fired in the House of Commons by a clergyman in protest because Mr Asquith had not replied to his letter. No punishment was given to tho students, no arrests made, and they were not - making political protest against injustice. Tho clergyman was dismissed—no punishment. Since then he has cut his wife's throat and attempted suicide, .

'•The protests must be made, as there is no other way of redress for women. T suppose you did not hear of tho meeting presided over by Sir Alfred Mond, at which tho Church J.i«igiie, the R. C. Church League, the Constitutional Society, tho Tax Resistance League, and the Peoples' League, were all represented, and in sympathy with tho W.S.P.U. The- resolution blaming the Government policy for the window-smashing was carried unanimously in the big Opera House which was crowded. The meeting was got up in three days. The W.S.P.U. Is the most respected of all tho societies. Tho Albert Hall was packed, and £10,yO0 -contributed, and all loyal men and women stick up for the AY.S.P.U.

'' The ' Votes for Women, ' which 1 shall send to you explains the difference hi treatment between men and women. It is that which must be changed. There is not even humanity in the treatment of women.

" Xo one lost anything by the window smashing; the shop-keepers who sweat their workers on os and* 7s 6d a week made a good advertisement of it. The insurance companies have- boomed ever since. Contractors, builders, and glaziers were k?pt in work. London wn.s in a panic, but there was no cause to fear any injury to any museum, eto. No •injury was done to the goods in tho shops. Nothing makes more noioo

than breaking glass, and nothing does less harm.

''The post offices were not set on fire. Nurse Pitneld lit shavings and then informed tho ix>Hce. She got six months, with hard hibour; she was on her own account, not. connected with any society. She liae had two operations for cancer, caused by tho brutal treatment she received with a deputation. She is dying of the most agonisJnf; form of cancer, and was imprisoned !

"Public opinion was so aroused that the Government have' discharged her. They have also pretended to give political treatnipnt to the others who had to institute starvation to secure treatir.ent such as Russia would not deny. Mr Hooiey, who swindled thousands of ■women and children, is allowed to conduct his business, havo his own food, and every comfort—such is the difference between the treatment of women und men.

"I can't understand why the riien and women iv New Zealand don't send a strong protect against the brutality of the British Government to women."