ULSTER WOMEN'S UNIONIST COUNCIL. LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "'
SIR,—An able and accurately descriptive letter, signed " Ulster Woman," appeared in your issue of June 15th : it touches on a few points which, with your permission, I would like further to amplify.
The Ulster Women's Unionist Council was initiated, under the leadership of Lady Londonderry, in Belfast on January 23rd, 1911. There are now affiliated associations in every county of Ulster except Donegal, which it is hoped will shortly join our ranks. We number 100,000 women, who consist of Liberals and Conservatives, women in favour of suffrage for women, and women opposed to it, Tariff Reformers and Free Traders, Presbyterians, Wesleyans, Methodists, and mem- bers of the Church of Ireland. Socially, our membership runs through the whole human sisterhood. Not the least striking part of our great meetings was the sight throughout the Ulster Hall of all classes of women sitting side by side, all swayed by one thought and all united in one effort and deter- mination.
In England, where women have for years been public workers, and where the population is so much greater, an association like ours might mean comparatively little, but in Ireland it means the rising of a people. For though Irish- women have for a long time carried on useful charitable undertakings, this is a very different matter from attending public meeting; being "heckled," or going about canvassing. Nothing but the sense of a great danger could have brought out this nation of women ; women with every diversity of upbringing, of outlook on life, of hopes for the future, and could have wielded them into one united effort. In making known their objections to Home Rule the svome of Ulster are working, not for themselves alone, but for the future happiness and prosperity of Irishwomen throughout the land—Nationalists, honest in their love of the country, and who have found out at the eleventh hour that Home Rule is not " the only way," women who dread the future, but cannot say so, women who think with us, but dare not join us ! And, indeed, how should those women dare when their men are afraid? That the demand for Home Rule is dying out and the people craving to be let alone to develop their newly acquired farms is plain to all who are willing to see. The object of our Council is to bring the true state of things in Ireland to-day before the English electorate.
This we try to do in two ways : by correspondence and by the sending of literature from those who cannot leave home, and by the providing of speakers and canvassers for work in England. These latter are selected from local associations by the secretaries, and their names sent to the Central Office in Belfast, where training classes are organized for those near enough to attend. Our workers speak only on the mainten- ance of the Union and on no other subject whatever. I should like to make it perfectly clear that all our workers are volun- tary; far from doing it for gain they are in many, many cases sacrificing time and money they can ill spare. We ask for hospitality for them when at work ; our Council pays their journey, beyond that they receive nothing. Further, these women workers belong to every rank of life, and in applying for a canvasser or speaker it is well to men- tion what kind would be most suitable, for a working woman might be given a hearing where the daughter of a professional man might fail, and vice versa'. Further particulars will be sent to any of your readers applying to our Secretary, John Hamill, Esq., Unionist Headquarters, Old Town Hall, Victoria Street, Belfast.
Lastly, we are told that Home Rule must be granted because we, who oppose it, represent one-third only of the population. In that case the remaining two-thirds of Ireland ought by now to have produced an association composed, like ours, of women of every class, ready, like ours, to toil and sacrifice everything, though for the exactly opposite cause. Where is that association ? It does not exist. There is instead a band of paid emissaries circling the world to collect a few pounds for the so-called " liberation of Ireland." And why is even that necessary ? Because the men of Ireland will no longer eubseribe to the party of Mr. Redmond.
If what we are prepared to sacrifice is the measure of what we deserve to attain, surely the women of Ulster have a claim to be heard. And we now appeal confidently to the English electorate, and to all whom it will hereafter so deeply concern, not only to listen to us, but to make it possible for us to be heard throughout the length and breadth of the land.—I am, Sir, &c., JULIA. TALBOT. Mid Armagh W. U. Association.
[We are not only deeply touched but deeply impressed by Mrs. Talbot's appeal to reason and good-sense. We most sincerely hope that the Ulster Women's Unionist Council will organize a well-thought-out campaign in England and Scotland, and will insist that the voters on this side of St. George's Channel shall listen before they strike. If they could establish an office in London a great service to the Union would be accomplished. Let them send small deputations of their members to the gatherings of all religious bodies and societies, whether in the Established or in the Free Churches, and implore them to listen to Ulster's cry for justice.—En. Spectator.]
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