FRANCHISE BILL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1913, Page 7

FRANCHISE BILL

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE PROPOSAL PERSUADING THE NATIONALISTS i tWHO HOLD THE KEY TO THE SITUATION, By, Telegraph.— Pi«m AMoctfttfcffl.— Copyright. LONDON, 21st January. There is much canvassing in the lob» bies over the Franchise Bill. Some Liberals are so opposed to woman's suffrage that they threaten that if the clause is amended they will not support the third reading of the Bill. ' They state that to 'use the Parliament Act to carry women's suffrage would be a constitutional outrage. Mr. Asquith had been placed in an embarrassing position, which was influencing doubtful Liberals. Good judges believe that Sir Edward Grey's amendment to omit the word "male" from the measure will be passed by a small majority, as it only e&tab' lishes the principle, and that it will be i necessary afterwards to carry other amendments. Mr. Arthur Henderson, on behalf of the Labour Party, proposes adult suf. frage. Mr. W. H". Dickinson's amendment gives the vote .to women over twenty* five who. are occupiers or the wives of occupiers, thus enfranchising six million people. The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton proposes to add a provision to enable women to vote at municipal elections. This means enfranchising a million women. Thirty Conservatives have promised to support Mr. Dickinson's amendment, which has been amended to exclude the Irish in the hope that the Nationalists will be persuaded to abstain from taking part in the division. tlt is understood that fifty-eight Nationalists are against women suffrage and twenty-five in favour. The Nationalists hold the key to the situation. Lord Cur2on presided at a crowded anti-suffrage meeting in the Queen's Hall. The speakers included Mr. 0. E. Hobhouses Sir Edward Clarke, and MrsHumphry. Ward, who were supported by many members of the House of Commons. • Letters >' of sympathy were received from Hon. R. M'Kenna, Mr. T. Healy, and Mr. Austen Chamberlain DISFRANCHISING THE CITY. COULD MADNEiTGO FURTHER? ' CONSERVATIVE~ASSOOIATION'S PROTEST. (Received January 22, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 21st January. A meeting of the City Conservative Association passed a resolution protesting against the disfranchisement of the city. Mr. Balfour said he did not believe that madness had ever went further. All the characteristic institutions of the city would vanish as well as the importance of the city, which was nationally and internationally greater than ever. He pointed, out that if the Government passed the measure, permitting forty-two Irishmen to vote on affairs outside their interest, he and his colleagues would not spare their efforts to Bave something from the wreck.