Concerning the Suffragettes.

White Ribbon, Volume 12, Issue 141, 13 February 1907, Page 4

Concerning the Suffragettes.

in the Sew York Press, some few weeks ago Mr Charles Hviig llall gave a graphic account of a visit lie had made to tin* head-quarters of the Womens Political and Social I nn n in London. He found that the Suffragettes were good-looking girls and stately matrons. “ The headquarters of the Cnion .s in Clement's Inn, a line pile of buildings overlooking Aldwvcli and the Strand. The offices are on tin* second floor Overhead is a fourtee \-rooin flat, artistically furnished, belonging to Mrs Pethick Lawrence, tin* author, who is the I nion’s treasurer. She has given over her library, a beautiful corner room, to tiie Union for a council chamber. I asked for the A tapering, well - manicured forefinger pointed to the ceiling. ‘ I pstairs,' the fingers owner said. I went upstairs, and into tin* council chamber. “A subdued light was pouring into the octagonal, oak-paneled library, through t lie oriel windows Across the greensward * I the lawn I could see the stalely towers of the Courts of Justice. At a flat-top desk in the central how window sat ( 'hristabcl Pankhurst. At the round oak table of the council, sat her secretary, a young girl, busy with her typewriter.” Mr Hyng-llall was impressed with Miss Pankhurst’s beauty and intelligence. She told frankly of the origin of their work : “ About tin* Women's Political and Social Union V Oh, yes, I will tell you a secret about its organisation. ! mi* not violating any confidence, althoug! tin* meeting was private. My mold* r and 1 called on Mr Hal four, the burner Prime Minister, in tin* interest of Woman Suffrage. He was most cour-

teons We asked him to introduce a Government measure. He said. * I will sjx*ak franklv. I cannot do it. The question of womens suffrage is not one of practical politics. I! it were, my answer would he different “ I asked him if we could make the question one of practical politics, lie answered. ‘ Yes. “ Kick up a 1* rss.” “ I asked him how ? And *nis is wluit he said : ‘ Work hard. Work up a thoroughly hit; and representative organisation throughout the country. I'nhliely sou nt 1 all the Parlii '.limitary candidates on the question. Next, agitate freely. Kick up e fuss. Keep on kicking it up. Get in the public eye through the newspapers and stay tiiere. Should interest and publicity wane, kick up a new kind of fuss And all the time keep knocking at tlit* door of Parliament and keep organ i si lg.’ “ The I ’nion is the result of the Prime Ministers confidential advice. Our tactics, as the world knows, have been out of the way. Hut they will succeed in getting us the vote. Our whole course of action, extraordinary to many, no doubt, has been schemed out just as if it were a problem of mathematics. FROM PRISON TO SAVOY. On the release of the eight suffragists who were committed to llolh way Gaol in connection with tin disturbance at Westminster, a dinner was given at the Savnv in honour of the brave women who had deliberately faced the horrors of prison life, “with its skilly, iron spoons, and unclean cells. Mrs Fawcett occupied the chair, and among the gentlemen sympathiser present weie. Sir (Mias. McLaren, Mr I. Zangwill, Mr Hernard Shaw, Mr P. Snowden, M.P., Mr l 'obden Sanderson, and other public men. Mrs Fawcett presided and remarked that their object in breaking the law was to call attention to Woman s Suffrage in the House of Commons. In that object they had entirely succeeded. WILL YOU ? ‘ Will you let me In* a voter? ” said the female to the male, •* There's a serjeant just behind me, and he’s hustling me to jail. 1 • G rMadily I’d eit on your committees, councils, boards; It you will not join the ladies, let the ladies join the Lords. London Chronicle.

SONG OF THE INSURGENT WOMEN We conn*! We are here at last Sisters, ye waited long Hut tin* cold dark night is past. And the day breaks clear and strong. What are the gifts we bring Hope in the place of despair. Truth in everything, And ju>tice everywhere. These are the gifts we hr ng. And their magical power shall last Till the Ite&st in man is slain. And man is Man at last Then Love, undying Love Shall shape this old world anew, Brighter than heaven alatvi, Fresher than morning dew. And our beautiful human lif », Free from all sad alloy. No space for empty strife, Shall he charged to the ful with joy We come! We are here at last Sisters, ye waited long, But the cold dark night is pa. o '., And the day breaks clear and strong Elizabeth C. Wolstenholme h'lin