THE TIMES, WEJJINESJJAY, JULY 22,. 1UU8. WOMEN'S NATIONAL ANTI-SUFFRAGE LEAGUE. -------o------_ ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. A largely-attended meeting was Iield yesterday afternoon at the Westminster Palace Hotel foT the purpose of inaugurating the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League, the object of which, as its name implies, is to organize the opposition which is manifest throughout the country on the part of women themselves to the extension of the franchise to women. The attendance at the meeting was so great that many had to stand, and a large number wero unable to obtain admission. Lady Jersey, who presided, explained fiat she was deputed by the provisional committee to open the proceedings, and they were all proud and happy to see such a largo gathering, which showed how many were deeply interested in ;md sympathized with the movement. (Cheers.) Sha introduced Lady Haversham as having acted as chairman of tho provisional committee They wero drawn from all parties and represented all shades of political opinion, and the committee honed thoy had arrived at a modus virendi which would mwt with their entiro approval. Lady Haversham, in bringing forward the report of the provisional committee, said they had been reproached for being laggard in starting their organization, but she would remind them that much had been done. Some two years ago a lady with a well-honoured name, Miss Lonsdalo, had written a letter to Tho Times in which she appealed to all the women vrho woro opposed to woman suffrage to make a protest. In a very short time a committee was formed of a few ladies, with one or two men acting with them, and with Miss Taylor as secretary, and it was owing mainly to Lpr exertions that, in a fortnight, a petition was signed by 37,000 women. This was presented to Parliamentandmade a decided impression at the tims. Tho movement had never actually died down. A few months ago a Parliamentary Committee took up the question and appealed to tho ladies, with the result that tho latter formed a committee. Lady Jersey, who was at Cairo, and whose strenuous work for tho benefit of women was well known, was telegraphed to., and, without a moment's hesitation, she gave her whole-hearted support to the cause. Circulars were sent out and committees were formed. What, sho asked, was tho moving spirit which acted on tho Parliamentary Committee as well as on themselves ? First, it vras the presumption of the suffragists who said that they represented the opinion of the majority of tho women of tho country. Secondly, it was the challenge that came from tho Prune Minister calling upon women to show whether or not there was a demand for tho franchise. Thoy had heard the challenge ! and had taken it up, and they believed that the answer of tho women of England would bo an emphatic " No." That, she hoped and believed, was the answer not only of the women, but also of the men to whom it was as great and as vital a question. Lady Jersey next proceeded to read tho proposed constitution, which stated that the league was an association independent of party, formed—(o) to re.ii.st the proposal to admit women to the Parliamentary franchise and to Parliament ; aiid (h) to maintain the principle of tho representation of women on municipal and other bodies concerned with the domestic and social affairs of the community. She explained tho various provisions of the constitution, one of which was that tho terms of membership wero to bo one guinci fur membership of tho council, 5s. and upwsirdy for membership of tho league, and from Js. to 5s. for membership of branches. Clauso 7 ¦was to tho cllect that men would be admitted as subscribing or alBliated members. There was some discussion on this latter claosa, in which Miss MliJfEK, Miss Bell, and Mr. Massie took part, and tho constitution as drawn, tho adoption of which was seconded by Mrs. FredkiUC HakuisoS', was subsequently unanimously agreed to. Mrs. Humphry Wa rd, who was received with cheers, movod tho adoption of tho manifesto which it was proposed to issue to the public. The manifesto was as follows :— " 1. It is time that the women who are opposed to the concession of tho Parliamentary franchise to women should make themselves fully and widely heard. The arguments on the ouhersido have been put with groat ability and earnestness, iu season and out of season, and enforced by methods legitimate and illegitimate. I " 2. An Anti-Suffrage league has therefore been j formed, and all women who sympathize with its objects I aro earnestly requested to join it. ] " 3. Tho matter is urgent. Unless those who hold ] that the success oi the woman's suffrage movement .- ^,.M hfi'i^ H>Tnr+r»• jf'27. EV^IhtuI *>rA x>rpp<%rpc!a! and political, before it has realized the dangers i. jlvod. " 4. It is somotiDvs said that tho concession of the franchise is ' inevitabh ,' and that a claim of this kind, once started and vehemently pressed, must bo granted. I Let those who take this view consider tho caso of l Amorica. A vigorous campaijyi in favour of woman's > suffrage has been carried on in the States for more than [ a generation. After 40 years tho American agitation has been practically defeated. Tho English agitation must be I defeated in the same way by the steady work and argu- [ ment of women themselves. " 5. Let us state tho main reasons why this league opposes the concession of the Parliamentary vote to women :— " (a) Because tie spheres of men and women, owing to natural causes, are essentially different, and, therefore, their share in the public management of the State should be different. I " (b) Becauso 1ho complex modern State depends for its very existence on naval andmilitary power, diplomacy, linance, and the great mining, constructive, shipping, and transport industries, iu none of which enn women take any practical part. "Vet it is upon these matters, and the vast interests involved in them, that the work of Parliament largely turns. " (c) Because by the concession of tho local government vote and the admission of women to county and borough councils the nation has opened a wide sphere of public work and influence to women, which is within their powers. To make proper use of it, however, will tax all the energies that women ha.vo to spare, apart from the care of the home and the development of the individual life. ' " (d) Because the influence of women in social causes will bo diminished rather than increased by tlio possession of the Parliamentary vote. At present they stand, in I matters of social reform, apart from and beyond party j politics, and are listened to accordingly. The legitimate I influence of women in politics—in all classes, rich and I I poor—will always bo in proportion to their education and I common sense. But the deciding power of the Parliamentary vote should be left to meu, whoso physical force is • ultimately responsible for tho conduct of the State. , " (e) Because all tho reforms which are put forward as I reasons for tho vote can be obtained by other means than '' the vote, as is proved by the general history of tho laws ,< relating to women and children during the past century. \ Tho channels of public opinion are always freely open to " women. Moreover, the services which women can with j advantage render to tho nation in the Held of Eocial and i educational reform, and in the investigation of social problems, have been recognized by Parliament. Women * have been included in Royal Commissions, and admitted . to a share in local government. The true path of pro-i gross seems to lie in further development along these s lilies. Representative women, for instance, might bo a I brought into closer^ consultative relation with Govern-s ment departments, iu matters where tho special interests j of women are concerned. 3 | " (/) Becauso any measure for the enfranch isement of . 1 women must either (1 concede the vote to women on the ' same terms as to inc.i, and thereby in pnid ice involve an s mijust and iiividi..¦ y \ oio Iu wiViiS cf**?r.^i^ tv.iii.1 TO" ilA> Ti.u.Mlu:::. -,; .r political differences into domestic life ; or (3) by the " adoption of adult suffrage, which seems the inevitable i result of admitting the principle, place the female vote in an overpowering majority. " (y) Becauso, finally, the danger which might arise S from the concession of woman suffrage, in tho case of a 3 State burdened with such complex acd far-reaching responsibilities as England, is out of all proportion to 3 tho risk run by those smaller communities which have 3 adopted it. The admission to full political power of a number of voters debarred by nature and circumstance * from tho average political knowledge and experience 1 open to men, would -weaken tho central governing forces 1 of tho State, and be fraught with peril to the country. Women who hold these views ruust now organize in their " 6. Wo appeal, therefore, to those who disapprove t the present suffrage agitation to join our League, ; ui j , to support it by every means in their power. ' " Tho women-suffrage movement can be defeated—it must bo defeated—and by women themselves. "Women of England ! We appeal to your patriotism, and your common sense." Mrs. Ward said that tho first part of ths manifesto dwelt on the urgency of tho situation, and as to that there could be no doubt. When a Woman's Enfranchisement Bill had passed its second reading in the House of Commons by a large majority, when thoy had a militant society, amply supplied with money and served by women who seemed to give their whole timo to its promotion, when they had beforo them tho spectacle of marchings and counter-marchings, alarums and excursions, on behalf of tho suffrage cause in all parts of England, when "Ministers' houses were attacked, and when, in addition to the pennyworth of argument, added to an intolerable deal of noise, which the Women's Social and Political Union provided, they had the serious and impressive sight of Mrs. Fawcott's procession of a month ago, then, indeed, it seemed to be time for those women who, with no less'seriousness and with, sho hoped, no less tenacity, and with certainly as much public spirit as Mrs. Fawcett and her supporters, held the view that woman suffrage would bo a misfortune for England, and first and foremost for women themselves—it was time, indeed, that they should bestir themselves. The fight would be a tough and a long one. They would want work, money, and enthusiasm ; they would not meet lawlessness with law-leanness. The leaJzna could not. in bat ttoioioa^ unhokl ] too strongly the old English standard of fair-play and courtesy in debate, of law-abiding and constitutional methods. She went on to refer to the fact that in America the cause of woman suffrage had to a great oxtont lost groirnd. As to the reasons for the fight they were all pretty much agreed. Women were not " undeveloped men, but diverse," and tho more complex tho development of any State the more diverse. Difference —not inferiority—it was on that they took their stand. Tho modern State depended for its every existence on the physical force of men combined with the trained and ! specialized knowledge which men alone were able to get, because women, on whom tho child-bearing and child-rearing of the world rested, had no time and _ no opportunity to get it. Women's influence exercised through the ciiannels provided by special knowledge and experience was increasingly great, and to give them tho vote would add nothing to it, and would, in her opinion, provo little short of a national disaster. (Cheers.) The Dowager Lady Iloiiester seconded tho adoption of tho manifesto, and expressed the gratitude they all felt to those who had so ably drawn it up. The manifesto having been unanimously agreed to, the Chairman announced that a secretary would bo appointed at once, aud that offices had already been ongaged st rooms 515, Caxton-houso, Tothill-street, Westminster. The Hojj. Ivor Gdest, M.P., submitted the names of 18 ladies nominated to serve on the executive committee. Ho said that one-tbird of the number would retire annually. No other names being submitted from tho body of the meeting, the list was adopted, it being understood that if any of the ladies wero unablo to serve tho vacancies would be filled by tho executive. Upon tho motion of Sir Ricttakd TemtI.e, a voto of thanks to Lady Jersey for presiding so admirably and to the speakers was carried by acclamation. The following wore elected to serve on the executive oomroittco :—Lady Haversham, Lady Jersey, Mrs. Clarendon Hyde, Mrs. Massio, Mrs. Humphry Ward, Miss Ermino Taylor, Mrs. Fredoric Harrison, Miss Lonsdale, Tady George Hamilton, Mrs. Simon, Miss Beatrice Oh:niber?ain, Miss Gertrude Boll, Lady Wcardale, Miss Janet Hogarth, Miss f.'. K. Low, Miss Nina K. Shuttleworth, tho Dowager Lady Desart, and Mrs. Burgwin. All communications should bo addressed to the secretary of the Women's National Anti-SuUrage League, Caxton-house., Tothill-street, Westminster, fflid subscriptions should be made payable to tho Hon. Ivor Guest, M.I'., who has kindly consented to act as hon. treasurer to the league. j CONSTITUTION OF THE LEAGUE. . ! Tho following is the constitution of tho league adopted at the meeting :— 1. The Women's National Anti-Suffrage League is an association independent of party, formed— (a) To resist, tho proposal to admit women to tho Parliamentary franchise and to Parliament. (6) To maintain tho principle of the representation of women on municipal hihI other bodies concerned with the domestic and social affairs of tho community. '2. The headquarters of tho league stall bo in London, and all members of tho council, aud delegates from local branches, shall be summoned to a general meeting to be hold in London in thn month oi' June in every year. 3. Tho league shall consist of a president, vice-presidents, and a council which shall include delegates from tiie branches of the league. The council shall, at its first meeting, elect an exocutivo committeo of 18 women members (exclusive of tho officers), one third of whom, to be determined by ballot, shall retire annually. The executive committa) shall have tho power to co-opt, for one year, additional members of either sex, notj exceeding six. It shall also have power to appoint subcommittees, and to delegate to them and to its officers such duties or responsibilities as it may think fit. , 4. The executive committee shall meet at least once m every month, and it shall appoint the. honorary officers (who shall bo cx-ojjicio members of the executive), control tho finances, and direct the work of tho league. 5. The executive committeo shall have power to establish at its discretion alfiliatod local agencies and local blanches, representing towns or counties, or parts or groups of counties, in tho United Kingdom, with such rules and regulations as it may from time to timo approve It shall have power to organize, to assist, and to suhsidizo such agencies and branches in any way it may decido, and to recognize-, by a special resolution passed for tho purpose, any existing anti-suffrage or non-suffrage organization as a local branch of tho league. 6. Terms of membership shall be—Members of council, not less than ono guinea ; members of the league, 5s. and upwards ; *membcrship of branches, Is. to 5s. 7. Men will be admitted as subscribing or affiliated members. *Note.—Branches can arrange for the collection of smaller subscriptions and enrol associates at their own discretion, subject to tho approval of tho central executive. Among those who have already expressed their sympathy with tho objects of tho league are :—Lord Armit-stead, Lady Ancastor, Lord AmpthUl, Mrs. K. N. Buxton, Lord Burrington, Mr. Bollairs, M.P., Lord and Ijiuly Montagu of Beaulieu, Lord Burton, Sir Randal Rdward C,i?*ke, £.UV,"".U>rd ^"Ei»ulr,'jft^*fy'di^t^ iJimlton, M ..jc-r Konton, M.P., Sir J. West Ridge-iray, Mrs. (ieoir- Macmillan, Professor Knight, Jlolc-n Mathers" (:^3. Henry Reeves), tho Hon. Mrs. Chapman, Admiral the Hon. Sir E. K. Fremontle, Sir Richard and Lady Temple, Mr. Clarendon Hyde, M.P., and Mrs. Jlvde, Mr. Stuart M. Samuel, M.P., Mr. J. S. Stuurt-Gicnnie, Dr. Bertram Wuidlo, F.R.S., Julia I