THE SUFFRAGETTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 764, 12 March 1910, Page 14

THE SUFFRAGETTES.

CLAIM TO'HAVE INFLUENCED- - . .. ELECTION RESULTS. " ' The leaders on both sides, of the great , political battle have been fighting for a Liberal or a Conservative Government. Some are talking of victory and some of wounds. Bnt a "Daily Chronicle" representative had an interview with the captain of a force which has been fighting neither , for Liberals nor for Conservatives, but only "agin the Government." This -doughty captain (for her valour has been proved in many a pitched battle and hot skirmish) sat back in a cane-bottomed chair at headquarters, shook her dark ringlets (which make her look like an. early Victorian Miss), and smiled with the air of a warrior who lias given' some hard knocks to the enemy, in fact, Miss Christabel. Pankhurst was very pleased with herself ' and othe: things. ' "What do you think of the results?" The question was answered -with candid enjoyment by a young lady who is prepared to be equally generous with her cruelty 1 to both parties. ' ' "Excellent. Thoroughly . satisfactory. I We have no reason .to complain at all." "Then you think you have had some,influence on the results?" Miss Christabel was surprised that'such a question should be necessary.'' The simplicity of it amused her- exceedingly. "Of course! And a very considerable influence, too." ■■ "But you have all been, very quiet. It almost seemed that the suffragettes had bean forgotten." . ' Miss Panklinrsi smiled. She is always quick to smile. She finds men so delight-' fully stupid and comic. "We have been quiet, but not forgotten. We have been working hard, but we have not used militant methods. You see, we want to appeal during an election not to Cabinet Ministers (who never listen to reason and therefore must be -taught by other lessons) but to the electors,-who may be won'over by argument." • "And you think that you have won some of them to your.cause?" "We know," said Miss Christabel. .. ■ There is 'no answer to.those two words, rapped out with , such decision. But Miss Christabel.became quite merry again at' the thought of the awful things sho has done to .the Liberal Government. Her eyes sparkled, and the colour in her cheeks deepened at the vision of all her women warriors shooting ' their little darts, and using all theiringenuity in guerilla warfare, against the enemy— which is ourselves. "Our women have been splendid," she said, "and our organisation, has been perfecting itself. Of course ■ the field ofwar has a long front, but we have been able to concontrate our efforts in certain districts. In North Kensington, for instance, we undoubtedly had a great influence. . In Liverpool we gained a great deal of support. In the .'Midlands and in London wo made great ,headway. Many of our meetings were ticket meetings—a new thing in elections—and people were willing to pay to hear us when Mr. Asquith and Cabinet Ministers were 'free to the public.' We went into the homes and converted many women, who used their influence with tho men, and we addressed mass meetings of men and won over many of them' also. Some of' our women -have been stoned and roughly'handled, but on the whole the crowds 'have treated us admirably. ' ' "Indeed, all through England they are beginning to understand us better, and to ! be more in sympathy : with us, and to realise how men who pose as -the defend- ' ers of Liberal ami- Constitutional ideals forget thoir Liberalism and the Constitution v;hen women 'are concerned.- That ■ more than anything has hurt tho Gov- ] ernment." ' . ' ' [ , Miss Christabel was confident of future 1; victory.' The financial condition of thoir I lion, she £a,ys, is on /a sound basis, and |i

the election has taught them many useful lessons in organisation, ana has brought forward many new and able speakers and women workers. , "Our movement . has. . now reached'a' stage when it cannot'; be stopped or checked. , It is increasing with its own momentum. The day,, will, come when we shall be in the position of the Irish ..party today, holding the balance o£ power." . Thisidea seemed to please Miss Christabel Pankhurst, and her ■ merry eyes sparkled again at the thought of holding the fate of the Empire in the hollow of her hand.