The Women's Victory—and After: Personal Reminiscences, 1911-1918

I wish to dedicate this little book to the thousands of faithful friends and gallant comrades whose brave unwearied work, steadfastly maintained through many years, made Women's Suffrage in Great Britain no longer a dream but a reality. Many of them have passed away, but their work, its results, and our gratitude remain. Whether in the flesh or out of the flesh, I have been accustomed to think of them as the Goodly Fellowship of the Prophets; for they foresaw what was coming, proclaimed it, and devoted themselves in making it come in the right way. All my gratitude goes out to them, especially to—

E.G.A. : C.C.O. : E.F.R. : I.O.F. : A.G. : R.G. : E.P. : E.A. : R.S. : E.G. : H.A. : S.G. : I.H.W. : E.I.

Through the kindness of the Proprietors of Punch, I am allowed to use as illustrations some of their excellent pictures demonstrating the growth of the suffrage movement. For this permission, and also for their valued support and sympathy, continued over many years, my heartfelt thanks are hereby tendered.

MILLICENT GARRETT FAWCETT.

London, January, 1920.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE TWO DEPUTATIONS 1

II. THE DEFEAT OF THE CONCILIATION BILL 20

III. THE ELECTION FIGHTING FUND 30

IV. THE FIASCO OF THE GOVERNMENT REFORM BILL 39

V. THE PILGRIMAGE AND THE DERBY DAY, 1913 54

VI. THE TURN OF THE TIDE 68

VII. THE WORLD WAR AND WOMEN'S WAR WORK 86

VIII. WOMEN'S WAR WORK AS IT AFFECTED PUBLIC OPINION 106

IX. THE LAST PHASE 121

X. THE DIFFERENCE THE VOTE HAS MADE 156

APPENDIX 169

INDEX 173

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

(Reproduced by special permission of the Proprietors of "Punch.")

TO FACE PAGE

"AT LAST" frontispiece

THE CATCH OF THE SEASON 16

A PLEASURE DEFERRED 52

PRO PATRIA 113

THE MAN OF THE WORLD 117

THE WOMEN'S VICTORY—AND AFTER

CHAPTER I

THE TWO DEPUTATIONS

"I have a passionate love for common justice and common sense."—SYDNEY SMITH.

In 1911 I wrote a little book called "Women's Suffrage: a Short History of a Great Movement." My intention in the following pages is to bring my story up to February 6th, 1918, when the Royal Assent was given to the Representation of the People Act, which for the first time placed women on the register of parliamentary voters.

In 1911 I ended my book on a note of confidence. I felt quite sure that we were going to win soon, but I did not the least foresee the wonderful series of events which actually led to so complete and great a victory.

Not that all the signs were favourable in 1911—very far from it. There were many ominous clouds on the horizon, and one of the chief of them was the known hostility of Mr. Asquith, then Prime Minister, and at the zenith of his power. His acuteness and dexterity in offence and defence were unrivalled, and most suffragists believed that he intended to wreck our cause on the rocks of Adult Suffrage, for which there had been no demand in the country.