SUFFRAGE CAMPAIGN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 146, 14 March 1908, Page 11

SUFFRAGE CAMPAIGN.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. ASQUITH. MINISTERS' HOUSES RAIDED. Women suffragists of every shade wero busy on January 30. A deputation waited 1 upon tho Chancellor of tho Exchequer, and, ( headed by Mrs. Fawcett, urged their views in speeches made, to uso Mr. Asquith's de- • scription, "with unusual persuasiveness." Tho Chancellor's reply was couched ' in friendly terms, but amounted to a frank refusal: tho present Government had been returned, writh a mnndato on many urgent matters, of which the question of women's suffrage was not one. Somewhat earlier in the day the militant section of the suffragists had distinguished themselves by another exhibition of their characteristic tactics, this time taking tho shape of a raid upon the privato houses of Cabinet Ministers. A number of arrests wero made, and the usual fines with alternative of prison inflicted by tho magistrates when the prisoners were brought up in the afternoon at various police courts. STREET SCENES. ' SUFFRAGISTS ON MINISTERS' DOORSTEPS. . The "phantom' of the threshold" in Bulwer Lytton's weird story will present itself in future to tho minds of,' Cabinet Ministers as a , militant woman suffragist. Tho representatives of one of the extreme societies .-in which these womon have, enrolled themselves organised for January 30 a plan of surprising the members of tho Cabinet by a simultaneous raid on their privato houses bofoi'o they left for their official duties. The four women who called on Mr. Haldane were informed by tho butler that it would be impossible to deliver any message to that gentleman for half an hour. Tbo reply was not deemed satisfactory, and tho deputation knocked and rang at intervals, affixed a placard to the door, and finally attempted to address tho crowd which had gathered. The police had by this time becomo aware of the demonstration, and they lost little time in clearing away both the crowd and the would-be speakers, making four arrests. ... . . At the house of Sir E. Grey, which is not far from that of the War Secretary, no "response whatever was given to the assaults made upon bell and knocker by, the suffragists. A solitary policeman, it is stated; watched tho proceedings for somo time with an air' of detachment, and one of the women plaintively remarked to a Press representative that "it took a very great deal to get arrested in these days." The policemen who arrived eventually upon the scene posted sentries at the doors of both Mr. Haldane's and Sir E. Grey's house, and cut short tho speeches which wero being delivered from tho doorstep of tho Colonial Secretary. Three, of tho suffragists were finally rewarded for their persistence by the captivity which they sought. The women who had teen detailed-to make tho First Commissioner of Works their victim were told that he was not up. They: announced their intention of waiting for him. The door, being closed, was assaulted with tho usual rings and knocks, and a banner, "Votes for women," was attached to tho knocker. Threo arrests followed. Complete failuro' waited on tho attempt to raid Mr. John Burns at his Batte'rsea homo. Emulating the fabled-'early bird, the President of tho Local Government Board bad already loft for his office, and tho deputation retired in chagrin. At Mr. Birrell's house the women suffragists wero admitted. Mrs Eirrell, who saw them, said that her liusbaud had , not yet risen. Sho pointed out, however; that it would bo useless to wait for him, as his* views on tho subject .of women's suffrago were already known, and it wan impossible for them to receive any new ,answer. As, they persisted, in declaring that they- would wait," Mrs. Birrell expressed her regret that sho should, have to seem discourteous; aud requested them to wait outside. The women accordingly came out, and, after waiting .for half an hour, began to attack the jjoor, apparently in: accordance with the preconceivcd plan. At eleven o'clock Mr. Birrell emerged and entered a taxicab, which was in waitirfg. He was assailed by the women with' queries, and ono of them took him by tho. arm. ' Tho Irish, Secretary, however, merely said: "You havo all tho answer that I can give' to-day," and departed. There wero no arrests. -, Tho Chief Secretary for Scotland. was tho | only Minister who saw and spoko to tho suffragists. / /. POLICE GOURT SEQUELS. J . Four of the prisoners, wero brought before Mr. Curtis Bennett at Westminster later in tho day. Tho polico having given evidence, ' two of the prisoners wero ordered to find one surety in £20, and themselves in £10 each, to be' of good behaviour for twelve months. The others wero ordered to find one surety in £10, and themselves in £20, to be of good behaviour, or in default six weeks' imprisonment. Threo of tho women preferred to go to prison, but in the case of the fourth the sureties wero produced. ,_ At\ Marlborough Street fines wero inflicted of 405., or one month's imprisonment. ■ Two of tho women declined to pay the fine. In the third case tho fine was paid. Mr. Plowden, at the'Marylobone. Court, discriminated betweon tho two prisoners brought beforo him. One of them,, a young married woman, appeared, 110 thought," to bo under, tho influence, of the other. He asked tKo former where her husband was, and was informed that ho was in India. The following dialogue ensuod: — Mr. Plowden: Oh I What a pity. Forgive my asking, have you any idea of joining him? —I hope to do so, some day. Any immediate prospect?— Yes, soon. . I have three children at home. Are you prepared to expross regret for this conduct, for the sake of the husband, your children, or tho name? The- prisoner hesitated, but finally whispered, "Yes, I think so." ; Mr. Plowden: All, I thought so. The case was dismissed against this prisoner, whom Mr. Plowden said he regarded "almost as a child and a repentant child"; and in the other case the magistrate inflicted a fine of 405., or 21 days' imprisonment. The woman elected to go to prison.