On This Day, 20 February 1918

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Wednesday 20 February 1918

Women and the Vote

[To the Editor of the Birmingham Gazette]

Sir,—Will you permit me to say that I am pessimistic with regard to women’s suffrage, not merely because of the attitude of the Pankhursts and other opportunists, but because the attitude of women—in the bulk —to every historic enemy and obstacle to progress and civilisation? One need not cite more than two—twin obstacles. War, which never has, and never will improve anybody or anything. And the Church, whose “message” has never done anything but close the eyes and stretch the ears of the masses.

As women generally are the chief supporters of these institutions, I am, I consider, justified in asserting that the women’s vote will be a barbaric and retrogressive one. Freedom of thought must precede any other freedom worth having —Yours, etc., _ (Miss) Rose Berkeley, 216, Lozells-road, 17 Feb.