The Bill was read a second time on Wednesday, after
a somewhat acrimonious debate. Mr. Asquith admitted that it was "not logical or complete or anything but a very halting, lop-sided and temporary makeshift, which may or may not be seaworthy, but which is better than any substitute which exists or has been sug- gested." Sir Edward Carson complained that the Bill did not enfranchise all soldiers and sailors as such, and Sir John Sinus* argued that it would be simpler to grant adult suffrage. ' Mr. Churchill maintained that soldiers in the trenches and sailors at sea could be enabled .to vote. This was flatly denied by Sir Hedworth Meux, who compared Mr. Asquith to Solomon. and
reminded the House that Solomon was succeeded by Rehoboam the wrecker. The sailors, he said, were much more concerned about the threatened stoppage of their grog than with politics. The Bill will now be held up till the autumn, and perhaps longer.
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