SUFFRAGE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1658, 27 January 1913, Page 5

SUFFRAGE BILL.

A CAUSTIC SPEECH.

MINISTER TWITS HIS LEADERS

THE BILL DOOMED.

Teleeraph—Prc6a Associa.Uon—Copyright

London, January 24. The Speaker's warning has increased tho probability of Sir Edward Grey's, amendment being defeated. An anti-Suifrago petition containing tho (signatures of 47,881; men and women, has been presented to the House of Commons. .

Mr. Lyttelton, in moving Sir Edward Grey's amendment iu committee, contended that the amendment simply demonstrated that the aubjeot was worthy of discussion. ■

Mr. Lewis Harcourt (Secretary of State for the ( Colonies) said the introduction of isuch gigantic proposal under the Parliament Act would be a grave blow to that. Act. He did not like tho referendiim, but it would bo the best method. A year ago Mr. Lloyd-Goorgo had declared that he had not had a mandate, yet he was now endeavouring to pas 3 an amendment under the Parliament Act, A SARCASTIC SPEECH. MR, 8 HARCOURT FLAYS HIS \ COLLEAGUES. (Rec. January 2G, 5.5 p.m.) ' London, January 25. Mr.. Harcourt's sarcastic humour at, the expense of his colleagues, particularly Mr, Lloyd-George, delighted the House, He twitted Sir Edward Grey with the fact that although he had full control of the Foreign Oflico he had failed to appoint women clfrks as ambassadresses and consuls who would certainly add to the gaiety of - nations. Referring to' Mr. Lloyd-George's advocacy of the Norwegian amendment, he expressed surprise that Mr. Lloyd-George should be willing to enfranchise seven millions, but reluctant to enfranchise eleven millions. What was the sin of the remaining four million? Surely not the fact that most of tWn were domestical He had not hesitated to take their threepences. "Why," asked Mr. Haroourtj "dpes lie fear to take their opinions ?" He quoted Herbert Spencer in the statement that thp minds of men, and women were qyantatively and qualitatively. unlike. No amount of culture could obliterate the difference between them. He added that the fact that women seldom contested local bodies, and .were seldom . elected wlien they did, prpved that they were not well qualified for $yon that measure, qf pulilio life, '' Referring . to. the "campaign of violence," Mr. Harcourt said that these people were mistaking arson for argument. "These Suffragettes, attempted to bum the children's wing in my home," ho aaid. He disliked the referendum, tut. it might bo a possible solution of- the difficulty if once the principle of women's suffrago were conceded. Ho would support adult suffrage, which was the only logical course. . .

Lord Hugh Cecil stated that Mr. Harcourt'a epeeoh ivas tho most damaging attaok against tho Government ho had ever heard. His antipathy' to tho Bill suggested that ho had been recently spanked, pr that ho had never got aver the indignity of being born of woman. Lord Cecil commented on .the fun Minis-, tors must .have had at the Cabinet meetings lately.■ , '

Jlr, Austen Chamberlain insisted that women wero physiologically and physically different from men. Tha House was not entitled to make suoh a. momentous change -without a mandate from the country. Tho Conservatives would stultify their argument against jhe Parliament Act if they supported tho enfranchising of women.. ;

, The Speaker.has given Cabinet a written opinion to the effect that if any women suffrage amendments were embodied in the Bill he would rule that the principles of the Bill had been changed, and that therefore it would bo out of order to proceed. , ' i Cabinet, after ninety minutes, failed to decide on'a oourse of aotion.

, It is'expected that the Franchise Bill! will bo withdrawn on Monday,

It is understood that the Prime Minister is troubled about his inability to fulfil his pledge to the Suffragettes.

Lord Courtney, in a letter to the press, recalls Mr. Disraeli's Bill of 1867, and Mr. Gladstone's Bill of 1881, when tho same question arose, and the Speaker definitely had npt objected. 1

The Labourites' Whip emphasises the importance of Monday V sitting.'

If .Sir Edward Grey's amendment is do-. feated the Franchise Bill HW be dropped and the House- will then proceed to the Trades Unjon Bill. .