A. largely attended non-party meeting, convened by the Women's National
Anti-Suffrage League, was held at Queen's Hall yesterday week, Mrs, Hamphry Ward pre- siding. Lord Cromer, in proposing a resolution deprecating the attempt to thrust upon women the same political duties and responsibilities as are borne by men, insisted on the revolutionary and far-reaching results involved in conceding the principle. He knew of no reason. for supposing that public opinion was really in favour of female suffrage. It was supported by a small but noisy portion of the female population, but the question had not yet been adequately put before the country, and the forces of resistance had not yet shown their full strength. His principal objection to giving votes to women was that they were not men, and ought not to be sullied by being dragged into the hurly-burly of . political conflict. He altogether demurred to the argument of innate rights, and to give votes to all who paid taxes led us direct to adult suffrage. The injustice of the law had been greatly redressed, while the argument that the vote would raise wages disregarded the true economic causes on which the rate of wages depended. There was abundant room for utilising the services of unmarried women without allowing them to govern us. In conclusion, Lord Cromer urged on his hearers the importance of closing their ranks and showing a united front to their opponents. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Austen Chamberlain, who observed that when Nature had made men and women different, Parliament could not make them the same.
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