Lord Curzon, in the course of a long and able
speech, stated his belief that the bulk of thoughtful and intelligent women were opposed to this proposal. But they must not underrate the seriousness of the question. The proposed change VMS the most tremendous political revolution ever contemplated, and it was an experiment which, once made, could never be cancelled. Manhood suffrage was bad enough, but on the day that adult suffrage was carried they might put up the shutters of the British Empire. All sorts of confused issues were raised at a General Election, and without a Iteferendum—a device which he personally thought• they would have to resort to before long—neither the opinion of the women nor of the men could be definitely ascertained. Until, therefore, such machinery had been provided, they must protest against this measure being forced into law. Sir Edward Clarke spoke in no ukcertain tones of the mischievous folly of the Conservative leaders in encouraging the movement, and the non-political nature of the League was illustrated by an admirable and impressive speech from Mr. J. M. Massie, M.P., who dwelt on the social and moral issues involved in the proposed change.
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