25 FEBRUARY 1911, Page 13

THE NEW PARLIAMENT AND WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SPEOTATOR."]

SIR.—May I enter a protest against the Spectator's strange suggestion (February 18th) that Members of Parliament who have pledged themselves in favour of Woman Suffrage are trifling with this question, and that their pledgee are not, and never were, intended to be fulfilled ? I appreciate the distinc- tion you draw between men and women when dealing in politics. The women Suffragists, you say, are "perfectly sincere." I do not doubt that the same may be said of the women who are Anti-Suffragists. But Englishwomen, whether for or against the suffrage, will learn with dismay that in 'natters political sincerity is to be regarded as a monopoly of their own sex. There is good reason to believe that legislation in the near future will be of a character menacing to the in- terests and welfare of women both in religion and in domestic life. The prospect may well cause us uneasiness when we re- flect that—if the Spectator is to be believed—our fortunes are in the hands of gentlemen who think that pledges need not be kept when they have been made to those of their fellow citizens who happen to be defenceless.—I am, Sir, ac.,