before the close of the Session for a full debate
and division on the second reading of the Woman Franchise Bill :-
"In view of the exigencies of other Parliamentary business, and their own announced decision not to prosecute contentious legisla- tion, they cannot afford any further facilities to the Bill this Session. The Government recognise that the House ought to have opportunities, if that is their deliberate desire, for effectively dealing with the whole question, and the course of the debate may be expected to throw instructive light on Parliamentary opinion, both in regard to this Bill and to other proposals."
This means, of course, that the tiger is to be allowed to taste blood, but that the moment its teeth have closed on the raw joint presented for its gratification, that joint is to be whisked away. Mr. Asquith, we must presume, knows his own business, but we are bound to say that the scheme seems to us rather a dangerous one, even if, as we must assume is the case, Mr. Asquith has obtained promises in certain quarters that the tiger will be good. The trouble is that the people who are promising for the tiger have very little control over its actions. To judge from the growls that have already greeted the announcement, its temper is rising. What will probably happen will be that, as Members know that their votes can have no effect this year in bringing about actual legislation, there will be a magnificent division, and the pledges to vote for woman suffrage will, for this occasion only, be fulfilled np to the hilt. There is nothing the ordinary Member of Parliament enjoys more than voting for woman suffrage when he knows that his vote will be resultless.
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