WOMEN’S FRANCHISE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 24, 27 January 1913, Page 5

WOMEN’S FRANCHISE.

OPPOSITION SPEECHES. (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright. (United Press Association.) London, January 25. Air. Harcourt’s sarcastic humour at the expense of his colleagues, particularly of Air. Lloyd George, delighted the House. He twTTced Sir Edward Grey that, with the full control of the Foreign Office, he had failed to ap- > point women clerks, ambassadors and consuls, who certainly would add gaiety to the nations. Referring to Mr. /Lloyd George’s advocacy of tUe Norwegian amendment, Tie was surprised that Air. Lloyd George was willing to enfranchise seven millions but reluctant to enfranchise eleven. What, he asked, was the sin of the remaining four million ? Surely it was not a fact that most of the domestics had not hesitated, or does he fear to take their opinions?” he asked. He quoted Herbert Spencer to the effect that the minds of men and women were both quantitatively and qualitatively unlike, and that no amount of culture can obliterate the difference. He added that women seldom contested local bodies’ elections. They were seldom elected, and when they were they proved that they were not well qualified even for that measure of public life. Referring to the campaign of violence, he said the suffragettes were mistaking arson for argument. The suffragettes had attempted to burn the children’s wing of his home. That was a type of their mental balance. He disliked the referendum, but it was a possible solution of the difficulty, H once the principle of women’s suffr. ga were conceded, he would suport adult suffrage, which was the only logical course.

Lord Hugh Cecil stated that Mr. Harcourt’s speech was the most damaging against the Government he had ever heard. Mr. Harcourt s antipathy to the Bill suggested that he had been recently spanked, and had never got over the indignity of being born of woman. Lord Hugh Cecil commented on the fun Ministers must have had at Cabinet meetings lately. Mr. Austen Chamberlain ins's ted that women were physiologically and physically different from men. The House of Commons were not entitled to make such a momentous change with the mandate they had received. The Conservatives would stultify the argument against the Parliamentary Act if they supported the enfranchisement of women by its aid.

The Speaker has given Cabinet a written opinion that if any women suffrage amendments ai’e embodied he wilf rule that the principles of the Bill are changed and therefore out of order to proceed. Cabinet, after a meeting lasting ninety minutes, failed to decide on a course of action.- It is expected the franchise will be withdrawn on Monday. It is understood the Premier is troubled at his inability to fulfil his pledge to the suffragettes. Lord Courtney, in -a letter to the papers, recalls Disraeli’s Bill of 1867, and Gladstone’s of 1884, when the same question arose. The Speaker then did not definitely object to the Labourites’ whip. He emphasises the importance of Monday’s sitting, and rays that if Sir Edward Grey’s, amendment is defeated the franchise may be dropped, and the House will then proceed with the Trades Union Bill. SPEAKER UPBRAIDED. (Received 8.55 a.m.) London, January 26. The Women’s Freedom League view the Speaker’s opinion as surprising, and asked Mr. Asquith what steps he was taking to fulfil his pledge to secure an unfettered vote upon Sir E. Grey’s amendment. Mr. Asquith replied that the Government was considering the difficulties of the League, and had written to the Speaker upbraiding him for not alluding to the earlier point raised.

(Received 8.40 a.m.) It is also denied that the Speaker’s intervention was part of a deep-laid scheme to cheat the women suffragists.