AN EARLY MORNING CAMPAIGN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 149, 18 March 1908, Page 3

AN EARLY MORNING CAMPAIGN.

. There is<no end/to the devices'of thp_suffragists, '110 time at which their enemies aro safe from thoiif importunities. Half-past 9 in tho morning seems a good solid sort of tiniej-'when noshing particular, ought; ' to anil as all tho world knows, nothing much over.does happen at that:hour. But :it ,wiis then that a party of London suffragists,' who'.'had split-off from the: Wornon's, JL J 6litical Union,' ivirs. : Pankhufst's organisation, determined to go and call on unsuspecting Ministers. : ■'For diiferent excellent reasons', , fivq of'therMinisters were'not visited. 1 Mr.' John- Burns was upland out, which' proves how wise-' ; a it- is to rise, early. At Sir E! Grey's, -Mr. Haldano's, Mri Birrell's, and Mr; Lewis' Harcourt's, tho little parties of ladies persistently sued for admittance,'and when they failed to effect an entrance, ! they : addressed tho crowds from tho doorstop, and in several cases were arrested. The ladies who called on Mr. Lewis Harcourt gave, him a ; lively, time. After repeated refusals the.'order 'went forth: "A woman to each boll and one to the knocker." Tho dignified repose of Berkeley Square has never hoard such' an. uproar! -Naturally tho police soon intervened. But it was'only after a 'sharp"scrimmage that' they succeeded in' running three of the women in. One of them clung to tho bell arid seemed likely-to imitate •'Brugglesmith'' in' Mr. Kipling's story by pulling tho wiro away. Anothor began,a speech. A third stufEed a "Votes for Women" banner in to tho lotterbox. . ' At.length'theyi were lodged in; Vino Street Station. Their companions wont away. Tho , square, resumed . its! : wonted aristocratic ' calm.; ..' " ; Mr. Birrell was in bed, so Mrs. .Birroll received tho early morning, callers with kindness and sympathy. : Now, Mrs.' Birrell is . horsolf an. interesting woman. She was Miss Eleanor Locker; and her -first husband was Mr. Lionel Tennyson. It was something that sho was willing to_ support the claims of women to tho franchise. She consented to con- • voy. their protest against-tho lethargy of tho Government'; to.-Mr. Birrell, who was still . in bed. This document deplored the-omis-sionof:'Women'sl Sufltrogo from tho-King's Speccli,'and;invited tho Minister for Educa- ; tion to pledge his support to tho cause.' i It was not' long Deforo Mfs. 'Birroll'.re-' i appeared.' "My husband sympathises with i you," sho said, "but ho has nothing'to add to ■ what ho has so often said on this subject at ; publis meetings." ■ ■ : i "Oh, but do let us seo him," urged tho : suffragettes; upon which Mrs. Birrell wont in i doors, promising to seo what'coiild bo done, i For a'time the women waited with pa- , tienco. Then they began to suspect they were - boing tricked. . Mr. Birroll's son came out i and spoke to a ; policoman. They felt theer j was no time to bo, lost. t ', Sovoral agilo young figures ran tip ■ tho . steps and began knocking and. ringing with , persistent din. Nothing happened*-- - 1 - -

' .Suddenly a window opened and Mrs. Birrell was visiblo once . more.. . It was evident that hor patience also had given out. "Leavo off, please," she said sharply. "Your noise makes you a public nuisance. If you don't go away I shall have to send for tho police. This is a perfect disgrace." "I'orfcct disgrace yourself," answered tho demonstrators. "Treating women like thisj Send for tho police! We're not going without an answer." * "You'vo had your answer," said tho lady" at tho. window, and slammed it down. Still thero was no police interference, and tho'demonstration wont, on until 20 minutes to 11, when a taxicab drovo up, and, Mr. Birrcll made a rush from tho door to get into it. Thero woro somo police about now, and: they tried to close about him. But tKo women got round hiin first, everyone /of thorn calling out at tho t-op of her voice. ' , "You'vo had tho only answer you'll got," ho muttered, as he toro himself away and got into tho cab. "We'll como again," thoy cried after him, as ho drove rapidly away. •