WOMEN’S FRANCHISE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 20, 22 January 1913, Page 5

WOMEN’S FRANCHISE.

PROSPECTS OF THE BILL,

JBy Electric Telegraph.—Copyrights

(United Press Association.) (Received 8.0 a.m.)

London, January 21. There is much canvassing in the lobbies.

Some of the Liberals are so much opposed to the suffrage that they threaten that if the Bill is amended, they will not support the -third reading, and state that, to use the Parliament Act to carry women’s suffrage would he a constitutional outrage. Mr Asquith is in an embarrassing position, and is influencing doubtful Liberals.

Good judges believe Sir E. Grey’s amendment wil be passed by a small majority. It only establishes the principle, and it will necessary afterwards to carry other amendments. Mr A. Henderson (M.P. for Durham), on behalf of the Labour Party, proposes adult suffrage. Mr Dickinson’s (Liberal) amendment gives the vote to women over twenty-five, who are occupiers or the wives of occupiers, thus enfranchising six million. The Hon A. Lyttelton (U.) proposes to add women’s voting to municipal elections, enfranchising a million.

Thirty Conservatives promises support to Mr Dickinson’s amendment, which will be amende to exclude the Irish in the hope that the Nationalists will be persuade to abstain from tak ing part in the division. It is understood that fifty-eight are against women, and twenty-five in favour.

The Nationalists hold the key to the situation.

ANTI-SUFFRAGE MEETING

Lord Curzon presided over a crowded anti-suffrage meeting in Queen’s Hall. The speakers were the Hon. C. E. H. Hobhouse (M.P. for Bristol),' Mr Edward Clarke, and Mrs Humphrey Ward, who were supported by many members of the House of Commonts, as well as letters of sympathy from the Hon. R. McKenzie, Mr. T. Healy, K.C., and the Hon. Austen Chamberlain.