Mr. Baldwin, who wound up the debate, explained why the
Government had omitted both redistribution and a revision of the Corrupt Practices Act. The Speaker had felt unable to preside over a conference to consider the whole matter as the non-party atmosphere had disappeared with the War and in these circumstances the Government thought it right to deal only with the one non-controversial matter—the bare extension of the franchise. They were quite ready, however, to add in Committee some pro- visions to limit an increase of expenditure at elections. Finally, Mr. Baldwin reproached the few rebel Unionists with impeding the fulfilment of representative govern- ment. He himself had been a convert to women suffrage ever since he saw that for the rebuilding of a ruined world half the human race was not enough. As Virgil had hinted, the-lighting of the hearth by a humble housewife was as essential in its way as the forging of the shield of Aeneas.
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