THE SUFFRAGISTS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 599, 30 August 1909, Page 7

THE SUFFRAGISTS

THE RIGHT OF PRESENTING PETITIONS A CONTRAST. "HUMBLY ASKING FOR THE VOTE. -, (By TitlcKraph.-I'resa Aaaoclillon.-OoDTrlcht.l (Rec. Auguet 29, 6.5 p.m.) London, August 28. Mrs. Despard and several other suffragists were oharged at Bow Street to-day connection with the disturbances arising ont of tho recent attempt to present a petition "to Mr. Asquith. Mr. Healy, in defending tho accused, maintained his clients wore' entitled constitutionally to present ' a petition ,to the,' Sovereign or the Sovereign's chief He contrasted the , toleration - allowed u> powerful combinations in regard to assembling outside factories 'under the 'Trades Union Act of 1906 with the treatment meted out to these ladies, standing day by. day in all weathers, humbly asking for the vote. Would a British jury blame'them, or a man for refusing to see them? If the magistrate declined to acquit 1 tho defendants, ho would' ask him to stato a case. It could then be ascertained whether tho judges of tho High Court thought the rights of 'millions could be swept away at the bidding of a casual, ephemeral Premier. If defendants had gono to applaud Mr. Asquith, or tho Liberal party, or the Budget they would not have been removed.

Mr. Curtis Bennett, the presiding magistrate, resorved his decision for a week. The Speaker of the House of Commons, in answer to a question in the House- recently, pointed out that tho right of petition was one thine and the right to compel the Primo Minister to receive a deputation—that- is, tho right of petition in person—was another thing