THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1913. THE SUFFRAGIST MOVEMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 13 May 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1913. THE SUFFRAGIST MOVEMENT.

If one thimg is clearer than another in respect to the suffragist movement in the Old Country—a movement that has alienated many sympathisers on account of the militant methods adopted—it is that it will have an important influence in sealing the fate of the Liberals at the next elections. One cannot help thinking that the Asquith Government has deliberately broken faith with that section of tli3 British women who, for some years past, have been urging the extension of tlie franchise. The •suffragist paper, "Votes for Women'," states that in 1905 Sir Edward Grey refused to answer a direct question put to him at question time by two women in the audience, in consequence . of which they were violently ejected from the hall. This led to the inception by a new suffrage society of the militant methods, including deputations to Parliament, interruptions at Cabiia-t Ministers' meetings, and the anti-Government policy at by-elections. From all of these the Liberal I'artj suffered; but

the now organisation was a small one, j the older suffrage s.ie.cty did not f adopt the new policy, and there was still left intact the solid phalanx of Liberal women who gave to-the party their full support. The next few . saw a continued succession of provocations offered to women who claimed their omranchispment as a necessary embodiment of Liberal principle. Sir H.inry Campbeli-Ban-nerman told a deputation of women that though they bad an irrefutable case they had nothing to hope from a Liberal Government. Mr Asquith, after his accession to the Premiership, declined altogether to s'e any deputation of women, and persistent ly refused either to brii :g in a Government measure or to allow time for the discussion of a private Member's Bill. Thus provoked, many of the most alert of the women Liberals left the party. Some joined tli older suffrage society, others associated themselves? directly with the militant organisation and worked actively against tlie government. At last after four years, in which many hundreds of women had suffered imprisonment as common criminals for purely technical offences, a way of compromise was suggested by which the Government might save their face. The Conciliation Bill—a measure scrupulously fair to all parties —was devised by a non-party committee iirii the House of Commons. Every section of suffragists accepted the compromise. Not so the Government. They block it in 1910. Ir J9ll they blocked it again, but promised full facilities in 1912, and Mr Asquith undertook that this pronfise should lie kept not only in the letter but in the spirit. Th »n came th? great betrayal of November, 1911, by which the whole basis of the franchise was thrown into tlje meltifl'gpot, with the result of which Mr Lloyd George announced in memorable words, that the Conciliation Bill was torpedoed. The older suffragists and the Liberal womeij decid d to trust the Prime Minister's honour, and s«till remained friendly to the Government. The militants at once saw the trick that had been played. They "demonstrated" ; and because the. treatment meted out to previous peaceful demonstrations had been brutal, they demonstrated by breaking windows Another twelvemonth passed. The Government's breach of"faith of No vembar, 1911, fructified in the failure Of January, 1913, and iin the substitution of th? worthl: v ss> promise for the following session. This time overy one of tlie suffrage societies became anti-Government, and up and down England unrest has been spreading among th? women Liberals. Step by step the Government have provoked these actions. At every stage they have made the counsels of moderation look foolish,, and have justified, and more than justified, the predictions of the extreme party. Already they have driven militancy into, crime,, and tli3 devoted loyalty of their women followers into disaffection. How much longer, asks the paper, are they going to pursue this disastrous course? Are tiny go ing on until every woman in th. country is in active revolt? If not, they had better make haste and review their position, for women are determined to have the vote, eithei with therconsent of the Government or over thir politically-prostrate body. The only effect of continued delay will be to bring final disaster upon the Government and humiliation upon the country.