WOMEN IN GREAT BRITAIN.

White Ribbon, Volume 14, Issue 151, 16 December 1907, Page 5

WOMEN IN GREAT BRITAIN.

The appearance of another strong paper, “ Votes for Women,' gives fresh evidence of the strenuousness of tin* fight for the franchise. From its pig ->‘ .. * learn that a great wint 1 - can o*.igi was entered upon in (h'.oiin. The programme included meet'.ngs in tin* great halls ot the towns and cities (such as tin* Town Hall in Birmingham, and the Free Trade 11 all in Manchester*, great open-air meetings, and, not less important, “bicycle" meetings, i.c.. meetings in the open, conducted in suburbs and small centres by the “ Suffragette scouts." on Saturdays. Several of the Free Churches had already thrown open their doors to tin* women for meetings.

On October f>th. grand old Edinburgh was stirred by a national procession and gathering of women.

Women from Edinburgh and Leith, Aberdeen. Dundee, Dunfermline, Glasgow, and West of Scotland assembled in Kings Bark, between St. Margaret's Loeli and St. Margarets Well, round tin ir respective banners. A procession was formed tbreeipiarters of a mile in length. Smile of the women walked, but most wen* in carriages. The arrangements for tin* procession had tin* sanction of tin* Chief Constable, and by order of tin* Magistrates traffic was regulated. In front of tin* process ion rode a detachment of policemen. Then came tin* carriages with tin* leaders of tin* movement among them several ladies of title then a hand, ami then the rank and fib* of tin* women. The route was to Synod Hall, where, and also in the hail below, great meetings were held. Thousands of spectators lined the whole route. Bannerettes. rosettes, sashes. badges, and dowers of red and white the franchise colours —were everywhere displayed. Many of tin* drivers, of hired carriages bad be-ribboned their whips, and wore white sashes inscribed in red: “ Votes for Women." One of the inscriptions read: “The Woman’s Suffrage movement began in 145.1, 8.C.. when equality was decreed (Numbers 27. 2 to 7*. When was it repealed?" Another was: “Scots wha hae votes —men, ' followed in tin* next carriage by “ Scots wha hae nae votes — women. ” The “ Englishwoman's Review says that tin* new Suffrage Bill Mr Dickinson's gives the votes to the wives of practically all working men. 44 It provides that the wife of a voter, if living with her husband, shall ipso facto lx* entitled to a vote on tin* strength of his qualification."