Cadwalladr Jones (who succeeded as Vicar of
Pontystrad by a wise nudging and monetary pressure on the part of
the late Vicar's son), David returned to London at the close of
1910, took off his clothes and shed his personality. It was bruited
that he had gone abroad to nurse a health that was seriously
impaired through his incredible exertions over the Shillito case. He
left his cousin Vivie free to espouse the Suffrage cause, even unto
the extremest militancy.
CHAPTER XIII
THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT
The Conciliation Bill which was intended to give the Parliamentary
Vote to a little over one million women had passed its Second
reading on July 12, 1910, by a majority of 110 votes; in spite of
the bitter opposition of the Premier, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, the Home Secretary, the President of the Board of Trade,
and the Secretary for the Colonies. The Premier's arguments against
it were, firstly, that "Women were Women"--this of course was a
deplorable fact--and that "the balance of power might fall into
their hands without the physical force necessary to impose their
decisions, etc., etc."; and finally "that in Force lay the ultimate
appeal" (rather a dangerous incitement to the sincere militants).
The Chancellor of the Exchequer took up a more subtle attitude than
the undisguised, grumpy hostility of his leader.
His arguments at the time reminded me of an episode in East Africa
thirty years ago.
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