WOMEN'S FRANCHISE IN SCOTLAND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9480, 6 December 1907, Page 6

WOMEN'S FRANCHISE IN SCOTLAND.

cial and Political Union, the Textile Workers' Union, and the Women's Coopeiative Guild as they journeyed home exchanged experiences, and agreed that they had spent one of the most interesting days they could possibly have dene.

TREMENDOUS EXCITEMENT.

GREAT PROCESSION IN EDIN-

BURGH.

(Written Specially for the Stab.)

(By Harry J. Dunbar, late Stab employee.) DUNDEE, October 7. When the banner of the Dundee branch of the Women's Social and Political Union was unfurled on Saturday, the Bth inst., for the first time in the precincts of the Tay Bridge station, there were gathered under its folds a group of women who were going to Edinburgh to take part in the national women's suffrage procession. As people passed by and read the motto, . "Votes for Women," one or two offered would-be humorous comments, which were listened to with as much sang froid as could be mustered. Some people had provided themselves with thirty-six yards of red and white ribbon, which they made into rosettes as they journeyed towards Edinburgh. They hung streamers outside the carriage window, but when Haymarket was reached the guard confiscated them in spite of vigorous protests. As he put them in his buttonhob and seemed to intend to wear them, the suffragist colors, he was forgiven. At Waverley station the suffragist badges were distributed, but there were not enough to go round. Tli a train reached Edinburgh about a quarter before three, which was the houi for the rally in King's Park. The Dundee contingent, which numbered over six hundred, began a strenuous fine by hurrying down the Cannongate, which looked dirty and picturesque as of yore. While passing John Knox's house came memories of the reformer's "Blast against the Monstrcus Regiment of Women," and surmises as to whether his spirit rebelled apainst the women gathering in the King's Park to testify as to the sincerity of their demand for some share Hi the government of their country. Tie red and white badges of the suffragists attracted to it many coruscation a of ■wit.

ANTIQUE SCONES

In King's Park the sun shone on a gay and. animated scene. Rows of gaily decorated vehicles awaited those who did not feel equal to the long walk. The Dundee rallying point was soon discovered, and under the direction of Miss Chapman, who, tall and iir-iosing, bore her marshal's baton witl" dignity, the procession was soon under way. It was composed of women of all ages and conditions. There were old ladies with white hair, of whom a wit in the crowd said, "Thie scenes waerna balrit yesterday," to young girls who were advised by another humorist whose wit was also delicate and pointed to "get a man." There were ladies richly dressed. There were working women clad in the clothes they could afford. There were stvdents, and there were factory girls. But, diverse as were the women, they nearly all wore an expression of quiet determination.

All along the route were crowds of people. There were many attractions in Edinburgh on Saturday. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was addressing a large audience just as the procession started, a great band contest was being held in the city, and there were sports and races; but the supreme attraction of the afternoon was the woman's procession. All along the routeup Alley Hill, along Regent Circus and Waterloo Bridge were crowds of people. At the Post Office and at the Register- Hoi? c were dense masses of people. So' that more could find room the procession WeXTC IQW& #n back of the Picture Gallery. At Costle Terrace and the Synod Hall Bit od thousands of people. The Chief Coustable— but surely he exaggerated — estimated the number of onlookers at a million. Whatever the number, and it was great, there they stood and looked at five thousand women demonstrating quietly and peacefully that they wanted to be enfranchised. THE UNSYMPATHETIC MAN.

Everywhere the women along the route waved the white handkerchief of sympathy. Any unsympathetic remarks made by onlookers were made by men. Occasionally a women stepped out; of the crowd and joined the procession. Sometimes cheers were raised ; occasionally hisses were overheard. Inose who were carrying banners got much advice as to the best way to carry them. Near the Synod Hall a man with a dissipated face boo-ed. _A woman in the procession pointed him out to a friend, who in her turn drew the attention of another processionist. The man sought to hide himself in the crowd, and the policeman on the spot nnrl the crowd laughed. The pace set by the bands was so fast that had it no'j been for occasional pauses while the police regulated the traffic some must have dropped out. As one lady wittily remarked, "The vote was to the swift and' the franchise to the strong." During these pauses there was leisure to study the faces in the crowd. Most of them wore an amused, critical toler-

ant, superior expression, which was both funny and irritating. The Synod Hall was reached, and the hot and tired processionists were refreshed with a cup of tea after that race for the vote. The Synod ' Hall, packed to its utmost extent, made a brave show. SCENE IN SYNOD HALL.

The platform was beautifully decorated with red and white flowers. Each of the speakers carried a bouquet showing the same colors. Miss Mair made an adequate and tactful chairwoman. Some youths who had come to scoff subsided after she drily remarked that since they had come she supposed they wanted to hear, and the huge audience settled down to hear Mrs Dcs-

As she spoke applause from the

overflow meeting filled the pauses. It was an inspiring occasion, and the speaking was magnificent. The meeting continued till seven. A resolution demanding the vote was carried by acclamation. In Edinburgh women from e^ery town of any size in Scotland demonstrated" in a peaceful, orderly, ladylike fashion that they wished to be enfranchised. During all .the proceedings not one woman raised a dissentient voice. They have made an earnest, orderly appeal. What is the resuH to be?

In < the suffragists'. - tcain,' as the

Edinburgh railway porters described it, the representatives of +^c Women's So-