SUFFRAGIST “COMPOUND.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9067, 6 February 1908, Page 7

SUFFRAGIST “COMPOUND.”

WOMEN PENNED IN. ' 'London, December 10. “Oh, dear -Gustave, please go gently 1 PlSSse go gently!” This refrain from the Gaiety song was seriously impressed by the organisers 6f Mr Asquith’s freetrade meeting last- night at Nottingham on the stewards who were deputed to eject any stray suffragists who might have gained admission. The Liberals, who have with vehemence expressed their abhorence of “compounds” in South Africa, put all the women admitted to the meeting in what one of the suffragists called a “compound.” This was a couple of front rows, with twenty large stewards posted over them with the admonition that they 1 were to eject very gently, in accordance with Liberal policy. Mr Asquith began:— “There are a number of columns in to-day’s papers which, under other circumstances, might supply me with some appropriate texts for what is called a party discourse. But I am going to resist the temptation. I shall confine myself to the main purpose of the gathering.. A question which most suggest itself »» “Is whether you are going to give votes to women!” interposed a fashionably dressed woman in the front row in a loud voice. She was removed, protesting violently. Then another woman rose and shouted the same question. She also was removed, bowing politely as she passed Mr Asquith. The third suffragist was carried out and, the fourth, a pretty girl about 17, fled for the door after she had shouted, “Votes for Women!” The next victim was a man, who cried “I should like to ” Six stewards descended on him, and he was thrown out, to thq delight of the audience. In their excitement the stewards forgot all their admonitions about gentleness, and ejected the suffragists with lightning rapidity.