The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1908. WOMEN TO THE FRONT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 128, 1 June 1908, Page 4

The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1908. WOMEN TO THE FRONT.

A few issues ago we published a rather interesting account of a strike of. waitresses in a large London restaurant, and the sequel to it shows that, despite the Spectator's dictum that women are not fit subjects for the franchise, yet occasionally one is found who can move a stolid London crowd by her eloquence, or manifest her equality with man by her ability to successfully manage a large business concern. Such a woman appears bo be the leader of the upheaval in the Piccadilly restaurants. This was a Miss Ware, known amongst her associates as "Ken" Ware. It was her eloquent appeal to the public that first aroused general sympathy with the rer volt which she led,'and under the influence of her moving appeal money poured iri from all quarters in aid of the strikers. We hear that contributions towards the strike fund in one day reached £80, amongst them being a shilling from a policeman on duty near the scene of the trouble. The Woman's Freedom League and the Women's Trade Union League assisted to organise the strikers' plans, and j Malcolm Scott, the comedian, retailed their grievances at the Pavilian Music Hall, and appealed for public sympathy on their behalf. He wound up by introducing Miss Ware to the audience, certainly a striking and "effective advertisement. We are told that "Subscriptions pourejd in so fast to the strike fund that the girls soon found themselves with nearly £400 capital. This enabled them to open a restaurant of their own in Brompton Road, and they called it "Ken's Cabin," in honour of their leader, Miss Ken Ware, who was installed as manageress. Only one room, had been furnished on the opening day, but between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. over 1000 customers were served, and £60 was taken in cash. The first customer paid 10s for a glass of lemonade, and refused to take any change. At noon thare was an opening ceremony, and the customers sang "God Save Our Ken." The crowd stretched right across the pavement, and a party of ladies in a motor-car, finding that /the restaurant was full, had tea served to them in.the car, to the delight of the crowd. The new restaurant is run by the strikers on co-operative basis, and they are doing so well that another branch will probably be opened in Leicester Square. • Thus (says the writer) ends one of" the shortest, pluckiest, and most successful strikes on record." And this was capably organised and led by a woman! How the good old Spectator must rub its eyes at the appalling spectacle of a woman, unworthy of exercising the franchise, yet capable of leading to a successful issue a small revolution!