Monday, November 13, 1911, To the Editor of the Irish News, “Woman’s Suffrage”
Smarting from Asquith’s withdrawal of his government’s assent to the bill for women’s
suffrage, and his substitution of a universal manhood suffrage bill, Davison allies the suffrage
cause with the Irish home rule movement, citing Mr. O’Doherty’s broad sense of the power
of truly universal suffrage—male and female—in supporting the state. Undoubtedly the
intellectual alliance she feels would have made her even more suspect in the eyes of those
who opposed Home Rule for Ireland. This is one more instance of Davison’s willingness in
November, after Asquith’s rejection, to push back at the government wherever and however
she might.
Sir,–In your issue of November 6th there is an excellent report of the lecture on ‘Adult
Suffrage’ given by Mr. O’Doherty on November 2nd to the Dawn of Freedom Branch U.I.L
[United Irish League]. It is the most genuinely democratic discourse which it has been my
lot to read for some time, because in it Mr. O’Doherty recognizes that the strength of a
nation lies in the fact that every single member of it, woman as well as man, has a
responsibility, a pride, and an interest in it. This is true government by consent.
To read such a statement as this, in contrast to Mr. Asquith’s dictum repeated to the
adult suffrage deputation on Tuesday, that ‘a man’s right to vote depends on his being
a citizen, and prima facie a man who is a citizen of full age and competent
understanding ought to be entitled to a vote, but he ought not to be entitled
to more than one,’ is to fill us with amazement. As Mr. Asquith afterwards
proceeded to say that as far as he was concerned the term ‘man’ did not include ‘woman,’
he evidently does not allow women to be either ‘citizens’ or of ‘competent understanding.’
Compared to such an illogical attitude, Mr. O’Doherty’s view that the woman’s point of
view is absolutely vital to the State is most convincing. It is hoped that all democrats will
now show the reality of the faith that is in them by demanding without reserve that the
Government shall include women equally with men in the new Reform Bill. –Yours, etc.,
EMILY WILDING DAVISON
31 Coram Street, London, W.C.,
November 10th, 1911