MARCH OF SUFFRAGISTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 10

MARCH OF SUFFRAGISTS.

BRILLIANT PACEANT. ' DIGNIFIED DEMAND FOR VOTES. "What women want women will win" was the lesson of tho procession in which 10,000 women marched oil Saturday, Juno 13, in London, from the Victoria Embankmont 1 to the Albert Hall to demonstrate tho ardour of their desire for tho parliamentary voto. With the exception of one section they worn tho Suffragists, tho promoters of tho cause by constitutional methods, not, tho militant Suffragottos. Nover, suroly, sinco tho days of pageantry lias a more artistic procession been seen in this country. Tho personal beauty of tho majority of tho demonstrators, their, youthful gracofulness, their pretty air of feminine resolution, their dignified yet modest carrieg, their dainty costumes, their caps iind gowns, tho wealth of artistic banners, and the numbers of tho throng impressed even tho most'prejudiced that tho desire of women for tho suffrage is no mero fashion of tho moment, but a demand that'must bo treated seriously.

Magnificent Banners. In spite of an overclouded sky, eilormous crowds assembled to witness the progress of tho fair demonstrators. Critical at first and inclined here aud thoro to jeer, tho onlookers wcro soon impressed as group after group of well-dressed women defiled before them, old and young alike with heads erect bravely marching forward;' serenely, smilingly confident. One of tho most interested observers. was Mr. John Burns. Fifteen bands of music to keep tho feot of the marchers in timo, and right well thoy marched, too, four abreast, in. ])orfcct Order and alignment, and every contingent in its proper place. Every group marched under its own banner, each ono of ,thorn a work of art, and all when grouped at the Albert Hall representing hundreds of .pounds value!. At tho head of the procession tramped Lady Frances .Balfour, Mrs. Henry Fawcott, Dr. Sophio Bryant, and- tho pioneer Suffragist, Miss Emily Davis. They wcro followed on foot by delegations from, all ,tho principal towns in England. _ The oolonial and international delegates followed, with the Rev.'Anna Shaw at tho head of tho'American contingent, and tho Australian section benoath a banner showing Australia appealing to Britannia' to ''Trust tho woman, as I, have done." A 'French lady boro tlio banner of Mmo. Curie, inventor of radium. . 'So far tho crowd had contented itsolf by feasting its eyes; it let tonguo and hand iooso in a roar of praiso and-,a hand-clap of wolcomo when under a banner depicting tho Goddess of Health the medical women came into viow in their caps and gowns, in which'glaring scarlet mado a glorious show. And then came tho university women from Oxford, Cambridge, London, Manchester, and Edinburgh—all wearing thoir acadomic robes with hoods of various colours. • Meant to 'oo taken seriously. It was the advent of these sections that convinced the onlooking crowd of tlio reality of ■ tho demonstration. Tho Suffragists wero evidently no light-headed or fashion-follow-ing folk, but womfcn with brains, who meant to bo takon seriously, Tho women doctors and graduates won over tho crowd. The womon writers, • artists,, musicians, the nurses (tho Servico Clubs paid a tributo to ;the banner of Miss Florence Nightingalo), gardeners, office-workers, and home-makers, co-oporativc guilds and Fabian' delegates completed tho conversion. -The Woilien's Freedom League, headed b.v Mrs. Dospard, Mrs. Billington-Griog, and Mrs. How Martyn, formed ■ an important part of the procession, which' also'included representatives from Women's Liberal associations and pi small section of Conservative: and Unionist-women. .

Tho procession of those afoot took fifty minutes to pass a givon point, and was followed by ono long, long line of brakes, cabs, motor cars, and broughams, in-which rodo those demonstrators . unable' to bear tho fatigue of tho long march. ' Albert Hall Meeting. Mr. Yorko Stanger, K. 0., M;P., tho champion of votes for women in tho present session, welcomed tho demonstration at the Albert Hall.-

. Brief but stirring wore the speeches Mrs. ■ Fawcctt, in the chair, calm and dignified in the hour of success, spoko of tho women's final triumph as now within measurable distance. As an "old-fashioned woman,". Lady Henry Somerset told with oloquonco of -her twonty-fivo years' adherence to tho principlo of votos'for women..

Miss Francos Stirling,, a granddaughter of John. Stirling, boro to tho platform a slioaf of scarlet and whito flowers, tho tribute of the executive committee to Mrs. Fawcott's forty years' work. Tho audience rose, handkerchiefs waved, tlio organ pealed forth, "For ho's a' jolly good follow," and forty womon laid their floral offerings at the feet of Mrs. Fawcett. Almost buried in flowors Mrs. Fawcett spoko her thanks. Now Taotlos. Tho militant suffragettes havo mado a now move. Chartering a stoam launc'h at Putney, about a dozen - members of tlio Women's Social and : 'Political Union, led "by Sirs. Drummond, and accompanied by a small band, steamed down tho river, and tho boat was stopped opposite tho centro of tho Terrace of the Housos_of Parliament. The band then struck up an inspiriting tune to attract tho attention of tlio mombors of Parliament, and their friends who wero taking toa on tho Tcrraco. . : Tho first to catch sight of tho Suffragettes' steamer was a waiter, who rushed to the .telephone and informed tho river police. By tho timo tho polico boat arrived, however, Mrs. Drummond, who had mounted tho small cabin, had finished a speech and givon the order, "Full speed ahead."'