ENGLISH WOMEN'S VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 16

ENGLISH WOMEN'S VOTE

ANXIOUS QUESTIONING,

*• ?• ' G. Foulger, writing in the Sunday Pictorial, 'r declared that women, like most men, were confused about the _political issues, but that their numerical superiority would present no danger to % the nation's welfare. Mr. Fouiger deals with the question thus : —

Many politicians are puzzling their brains in the attempt to discover what will be the probable influence of the feminine vote at the forthcoming General Election.

Without venturing to -anticipate the issue, or touching upon controversial political questions, it may.be interesting to consider whether the wholesale ■ enfranchisement of women has effected any observable change, and, if not, whether it is-likely to do so. . So far as the last General Election was concerned, the dominant issue—confidence in the Government tha? had "won the war"—overshadowed all other questions, whether of class or sex. But there was certainly no evidence then given of the political upheaval foreshadowed by political pessimists, nor of the profound impetus, to ward social reform'predicted by the oytfcnistic advocates of women's suffrage.

As a matter of fact, women made- little use of their new power, arid its influence was not distinguishable from, that of the male voters. If one turns to the byelections, at which the issues were more numerous and detailed, and at which support of the Government was not the last.word in patriotism, the results tell pretty "much the same tale

The woman elector has neither responded, to the faddist nor reinforced reaction. So far as the secrets of the ballot-box* can be probed, there wo*l4 appear to" be no pronounced political cult peculiar to women, now that the propaganda of women suffragists has practically achieved its purpose. It may be said, with safety, that there is as yet no evidence of any considerable new influence in politics. The explanation is not far to seek, and will tend to dispose of the apprehensions of those who fear for the supremacy of the sterner sex in the political'field.

Woman's mode of life has left her but very^ ill-grounded in the art and arts of politics, and the average woman has been accustomed to accept without demur the legend that politics is the special sphere and prerogative of men. She is by instinct and experience an economist in relation to the domestic budget, which is compassed by elementary arithmetic, but 3he mistrusts her own judgment when confronted by problems in terms of tens and hundreds of millions. Furthermore, women have beeD introduced into the political arena at a time when •the problems" of government have reached a stage of unprecedented complexity, due in the first instance to the abnormal conditions produced by the war—conditions which baffle the wisdom of the most experienced statesman. . It is easy, therefore, to understand the bewilderment of women without settled political convictions and unaccustomed to be content with party ■ shibboleths—and those are the vast majority— when face to. face with the responsibility, for deciding on intricate questions of economics and high Imperial policy. True, the average man does not understand them, but he has been flattered into the belief that he does; whereas the woman has been tutored in the- belief ths^ she does not. Under the influence o&i, candidate's personality and arguments, supplemented by the blandishments of the canvasser, she may find some superficial beliefs, but they do not in the end prevail against the deeper consciousness of most women that they aa-e riotyet qualified to gjrasp the tremendous issues.

Then, too, the average woman is, like Martha, "cumbered with much serving." Her-domestic dnties, the cares of children, and the household are all-absorb-ing, and to many the unfamiliar ballotbox represents an ordeal rather than a privilege." Lastly, and by no means least, there is "hubby" to be taken into account.

The'present writer has canvassed many hundreds of women, with apparently conclusive and satisfactory results—barring the very frequent saving clause, "I'll see what my .husband says about it when he comes home." Woe, and rightly, to the canvassers who seek to penetrate that armour of loya.lty to hubby's judgment. And is not this, after all, the individual counterpart of the masses of men who follow a party leader and obey the crack of the party whip? Woman's vote will never become a danger by reason of her numerical superiority so long as the foundations of family remain. If women. ha.ye hitherto used their great power with diffidence, that is a tribute to their perspicacity rather than a reflection on their patriotism. They are beginning to understand politics better, and in due course will form definite judgments.

But there i 3 no reason to think that they will ever vote as one body or for purely feminine interests. They will veto variously, m romi do, fey what Ui&y . consider;-best for tlie country,