“Votes for Women."

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 12, 22 September 1909, Page 33

“Votes for Women."

HATEVER may be one’s feel- // I ings or opinions with regard yljL- to the tactics of the leaders of the women’s suffrage movement in England to-day, it is impossible to get away from the fact that political insincerity is the direct cause of the present insufferable condition. During the second quarter of the past century the cause of women’s suffrage made appreciable progress in the public mind. The movement seemed to pass into the range of practical politics in the early ’sixties. From that time second read ings of Bills for the purpose of extending the franchise to women have been passed in the House of Commons as pious opinions, without the slightest further evidence of giving effect to the principle beyond what has incidentally occurred in connection with Local Government reforms. Candidates by the thousand since then have promised support to the proposal without .the slightest intention of moving a finger to give effect to the promise, or with a certain knowledge that their party chiefs would never accord an opportunity for further effort, have heedlessly been willing to promise anything. Passing from that aspect of the question, a pamphlet, issued by the National Women’s Social and Political Union in the shape of a letter signed “J. D. Benson,” somewhat cleverly turns the tables upon those who express horror at the methods adopted by women .who so strongly resent the conduct of professed supporters of their movement, and is headed “The Suffragettes and their Unruly Methods,” and runs as follows: — “Dear Sir, —Having had, through illness, plenty of time on my hands this last week, 1 have made a calculation of the number of years which the lady suffragettes have put back their movement. I find that it amounts to somewhat about 235 years. The realisation, therefore, of their aims is, according to this mode of chronology, as far off in the future as the Plague and the Fire of London are in the past. Nevertheless, 1 shall not be surprised if they succeed within the next twelve month, or two or three years at the most. “Of course, when men wanted the franchise, they did not behave in the unruly manner of our feminine friends. They were perfectly constitutional in their agitation. In Bristol, I find they only burnt the Mansion House, the CuTtom House, the Bishop’s Palace, the Excise Office, three prisons, four toll houses, and forty-two private dwellings and warehouses, and all in a perfectly constitutional and respectful manner. Numerous constitutional fires took place in the neighbourhoods of Bedford, Cam bridge, Canterbury, and Devizes, Four men were respectably hanged at Bristol and three in Nottingham, The Bishop of Lichfield was nearly killed, and the Archbishop of Canterbury was insulted,

Are the Suffragettes Justified ?

spat upon, and with great difficulty rescued from amidst the yells and execrations of a violent and angry mob. The suffragists in those days had a constitutional weakness for bishops, and a savage vandalism towards cathedrals and bishops’ palaces. A general strike was proposed, and secret arming and drilling commenced in most of the Chartist centres. Wales broke out even into active rebellion, ami nine men were condemned to death. At London, Bradford. York, Sheffield, Chester, Taunton, Durham, and may other towns, long sentences of penal servitude were passed. In this way the males set a splendid example of constitutional methods in agitating for the franchise. I think we are well qualified to advise the suffragettes to follow our example, be respectable and peaceful in their methods like we were, and then they will have our sympathy and support, —Yours, T. D. Benson.” Notwithstanding the severe penalties that have been imposed, it is very evident that the movement in favour of the franchise is making big strides. Both Unions and Leagues are rapidly developing their propaganda. The walls of their offices are literally placarded with notices of meetings, conferences, demonstrations, etc. Dike all movements that spring up from an irresistible demand for liberty, the woman’s movement in England has gathered strength in adversity. History can offer many parallels in which progressive measures and their exponents have been derided, scoffed, and treated with all that is malignant and detestable in human nature. Mankind is ever ready to resent innovations that make for social betterment. The adherence to the conventional and the traditional in England is one of the most pertinacious

characteristics of the race. Although the decent average conventions of to-day will be the least of human things to-morrow, the man who has made up his mind to deny woman the right to vote will never be moved by argument or logic. It is this condition of mental stagnation, this frigid state of mind, that will never thaw, that gives desperation to a cause where its promoters are overwhelmed and blind to all things but the dazzling light of its truth. It is the co<m placent inaction of both Tories and Liberals that justifies the militant tactics of the Suffragettes. There is nothing more exasperating than ponderous political stagnation, and when the Whips of a Party in power tell a determined band of women, after a decade’s work, that there is “No hope,” can anyone reasonably expert that they are going to sit at home and wait and wait and wr«t? Has this been the policy of any male organisation that in the last century set forth an unmistakable demand for redress? Can, in fact, opponents to th? suffrage point to any reasonable prece-

dent by males in the political history of England which will justify the demand on their part that women should not proclaim the demand, “Votes for Women” by militant display or demonstration? Appended are a few biographical notes of the leaders, some of whose portraits we are permitted to reproduce in these pages: — Mrs. Pankhurst, founder of the Women’s Social and Political Union, came of a political family, her father and grandfather both being great Radicals- She married Dr. Pankhurst, who was an ardent supporter of John Stuart Mill (founder of the first Women’s Suffrage Society) and who drafted the Married Women’s Property Bill, which subsequently became law. Mrs. Pankhurst materially assisted her husband on the two occasions when he stood for Parliament. She is a powerful debater and speaker, and has great influence at elections. She is also a notable figure in the movement, and probably is one of the most widely known women in Britain. Miss Christabel Pankhurst, LL.B-, organising secretary to the W.S.P.U-, has

suffered imprisonment on several occasions for her political opinions. As a university graduate in law with honours, she has been excluded from practising her profession on account of her sex, by the inexorable laws of England, which have become so much a tradition as to almost amount to superstition. As a barrister, though without office, she is a logical speaker, and won her case against Mr. Lloyd George and other Cabinet Minis ters recently by the sheer force of her logic and oratory. Unlike the “Sawey Gamp ” caricature of the sufflagette, Miss Pankhurst is a remarkably pretty girl, still in her twenties, and is hailed amongst advanced people as the most remarkable figure in the movement. She has been to gaol no end of times, and at present is incarcerated in Holloway for “breaking the law.” Miss. Mary Gawthorpe is another charming suffragette who has suffered imprisonment on several occasions for demanding the vote- She is a teacher byprofession, having been self-supporting from the age of 13. When she was IS

she won a scholarship for the University of Leeds by teaching in the daytime and studying at night, and obtained a “Double First.” She has done much good public work among school children, and in educational matters. Her motto is: “It is not only the vote we are fighting for, but everything involved in it for the women of England.” Mrs. Despard, who is a sister of Gen era! French, is an author of some distinction, and a practical philanthropist. It was while working among the poor of London that the hopelessness of women’s work without the franchise was forced upon her. She joined the ranks of the suffragettes three years ago, and has taken an active part in the campaign all through, despite her age of over three score years. She served three weeks’ imprisonment in Holloway Gaol last year, as leader of a demonstration outside the House of Commons, and has since been to prison again. She is an eloquent speaker, and in appearance a typical refined English gentlewoman—the very antithesis of what is the “ popular” conception of a “ Suffragette.”

Mrs. Pethick Lawrence, hon. treasurer to the W.S.P.U., is a talented journalist and able speaker. Like Mrs. Despard, her work as a philanthropist among poor women forced her to the conclusion that their rase was hopeless until they could bring political pressure to bear through the franchise. She, also, has suffered imprisonment at the bands of the law. Mrs. Pethick Lawrence is joint editor with her husband of the paper “ Votes for Women,” a fine speaker and altogether a talented and refined type. Mrs. Wolstenholme Elmy, like Mrs. Despard, is another venerable supporter of the suffrage for women, having been bi in in 1833. She is legal and political adviser to the W.S.P.U., her knowledge of Parliamentary procedure and the legal status of women being profound. She is also a journalist ami author, and a frequent contributor to the “ Westminster Review.’’ As Miss Wolstenholme she was elected secretary to the first Women's Suffrage Society in 1865. Lady Grove, as a beautiful woman, and

a member of the aristocracy, many of whom are numbered among the suffragettes, serves to emphasise the fact that the demand is not confined merely to the working classes, but is widespread among all intelligent women. She belongs to the

Constitutionalist side of the movement, and has consistently agitated for the reform for some years. The Viscountess Barberton, another aristocratic suffragette, was one of the earliest supporters of the movement. Possessed of an intensely strong personality, whatever she undertakes is done thoroughly, and in her the cause has a towel’ of strength. Her vigorous mind is opposed to the passive submission of communities to the laws imposed upon them merely by the opinion of the majority—too often the merioerity—and who surrender themselves unquestionably as the slaves of public opinion. Mrs. How Martyn. B.Sc., Associate of the Royal College of Science, London, has sacrificed both position and prospects to become a suffragette ami help her fellow women. She has been imprisoned several times, arid is an indefatigable worker "behind the scenes.” She is at present lion, secretary to the Women’s Freedom League, is an example of the type who have sacrificed both position and prospects to become a militant suffragette. In the autumn of 1906 she gave up her post as Lecturer in Mathematics at Westfield College, in order that she should be free to go to prison. For taking part in the demonstration inside the lobby of the House of Commons in October, 1906, she was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.

Mrs. Billington-Greig is an intellectual woman of literary talent, who has helped the movement with her pen as well as by many a clever strategy, such as the "Grille Incident,” when all England was shocked by a band of women making a lively demonstration inside the House of Commons from the ladies’ gallery, of which she was the heroine. She also has suffered imprisonment for her political views. Joined the Women’s Suffrage League on finding that she was debarred from receiving equal pay with men as a teacher, although holding the same certificates. Has taken an active part in the campaign, and been a political prisoner on several occasions. Originated the motto: ‘‘Outlaws must be rebels until their outlawry is removed.” Miss Annie Kenney enjoys the distinction of being the first political prisoner under the suffrage campaign. She has a sweet face, and is an ideal daughter to her aged parents—another contradiction to the popular conception of a “suffragette.” She sprang from the working masses of Lancashire, having earned her living at the age of 10 in a textile factory. The miserable wages paid to wo-

men workers had caused her to realise the hopelessness of their position; and, after leading an unsuccessful agitation for better conditions, she joined the Women’s Soeia) and Political Union, of which she is now an organiser. She is a good speaker, and her winning personality makes her very popular at meetings, to which she can always draw a large crowd. Mrs. Amy Martel, who is an Australian, took an active part in the fight for woman’s suffrage in New South Wales (1889 —1902). She stood for Parliament in that State, and obtained 19,000 votes. She went to England in 1905 and was appointed an organiser of the W.S.P.U. Mrs. Martel has addressed meetings all oyer England, and is a very popular speaker. Along with Mrs. Pankhursi, she lias had to face a good deal of the derision of the mob for the sake of her cause. Only last year both women were rolled into the mud by a Devonshire gathering, and had to be rescued by the police. It is that sort of thing that makes intelligent women desperate?