WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1377, 1 March 1912, Page 5

WOMAN SUFFRAGE

A GREAT PROTEST. MASS MEETING OPPOSES THE VOTE. MINISTERS TAKE PART. Ui TelecraeU-l'resi Assuclailon-CeDyrlfikt (Rec. February 29, 11 p.m.) London, February 29. Ten thousand persons attended a muss meeting at the Albert Hall in opposition to the granting of women's suffrage Viscount Peel, Lord St. Aldwyn, Mr. Austen Chamberlain, and many other prominent people were on the platform. Lord Cromer, who presided, read a telegrain from the I'rimo Minister, Mr. As- | qnilli, as follows: "I have always held that the granting of the suffrage to women of Britain would be a grave political mistake." Mr. Joseph Chamberlain telegraphed from Cannes: "I entirely approve of the agitation against women's suffrage." Lord Lansdowne, Leader of tho Opposition in tho House of Lords, sent a letter declaring that the electors should pass judgment on so profoundly disturbing a measure. The Lord Chancellor, Lord Loreburn, moved the resolution against the suffrage. He -said it would be constitutional outrage if such a change were made without tho express sr.nction of tho constituencies. Lord Curzon. seconded the motion, and Mr. F. B. Smith supported it. Mr. Lewis Harcourt, Colonial Secretary, said that to dilute the male electorate with a larger mass of less stable female judgment must result in disaster to the State. Tho true basis for the franchise was manhood with tho ultimate sanction of force. The Conciliation Bill would always bo a farce.

The resolution was carried with enthusiasm.