The electorate, Mr. Smith went on, would then be swollen
to twenty-three million voters, and women would have an actual majority. The Bill meanwhile would give votes to rich women, not to working men's wives. He was sure that the majority of women themselves did not want the vote, and they objected strongly to the idea of being governed by those who did want it. Under man-made law women were treated with an unparalleled deference. From the point of view of the whole Empire woman suffrage would be a calamity. The Empire contained three hundred million Orientals who were opposed to government by women, and the difficulties of Imperial rule would therefore be increased. At present the law was respected because force lay behind it, but women could have no part or lot in force. Mr. Haldane supported the Bill, though he did not approve its form. The exclusion of women from the vote would some day be looked back upon as slavery is now. Mr. Long, who opposed the Bill in a speech of great force and good sense, said that if it became law women would inevitably become Members of Parliament and hold the great offices of State. Mr. Lyttelton supported the Bill as a debt of honour. All politicians accepted the help of women.
