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Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

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_0-MEETINGS OF WOMEN AT ABERYSTWYTH.

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_0- MEETINGS OF WOMEN AT ABERYSTWYTH. EXTRAORDINARY SCENES. BUARTH HALL CAPTURED. In connection with the Women's Freedom League a meeting for women only was held at the Buarth Hall on Wednesday, when Miss Muriel Matters, who chained herself to the grid in the House of Commons, was the speaker. There was an large attendance of women, and these included Mrs Elizabeth James, North parade, Miss Marles Thomas, South terrace, Mrs T E Ellis and Miss Davies, North parade, Miss Winstanley, U.C.W.,Mrs Morgan Lewis, Mrs T Williams, Miss Owen, North parade, Mrs John Evans. North road, Mrs Dr Morgan and Mrs T Z Jones, Mrs Richard Hughes, Mrs Hugh Hughes, Glynpadarn, Mrs J R Rees, Mrs Colby, Miss Kimpster, Miss Vobes, Miss Dalrymple, Mrs Penry, and Mrs Green. The meeting had been announced for eight o'clock, and some time before a large crowd of men had assembled outside the hall. Finding that they would not be admitted they con- tented themselves by singing comic ditties, &c. As the time went on the crowd outside had reached many hundreds, some banged the doors with great vigour, whilst some tapped "violently at the windows, others cheering the women as they entered the hall. There were but faint echoes of the crowd when Miss Tilley took the chair at eight o'clock. In the course of her remarks Miss Tilley said they did not ask, what some people asserted, that the parliamentary vote should be given to all women. What they wanted ^as that women, qualified for the vote as men 'Were qualified, should have equal rights in Aspect of the parliamentary franchise. There were a million and a quarter of women so qualified by paying rates and taxes, and, as a Matter of justice, should have a voice in saying how the money should be expended. Anti- suffragists, she added, contended that the vote wonld result in unsexing women. She would call on Miss Muriel Matters to address the Meeting. She was one of those terrible women Nvllo had a vote in Australia, and the audience, she was sure, would agree with her who had j long known Miss Matters, that she certainly was not unsexed. (Applause). I Miss Matters then took the platform, and prefacing her speech with the remark that wherever masses of men and women occupied a Country some form of government became a Necessity, gave a resume of the history of the franchise from the time when the barons Wrested from King John the right to take part 111 government, on to the Reform Bill of 1832, when the franchise was extended to the fiddle classes, and on to subsequent Reform ■"ills, when there were further extensions to forking men and agricultural labourers. In ^agna Charta the word person was to include ^oixien as well as men in legislative instru- ments unless otherwise specified. In the Act '(If 1832 the word "male" was inserted in the jJctension of franchise. Strenuous attempts ^ad been made from the time of John Stuart Mill to remedy that unjust inequality, but though some thirty Bills had been introduced <.Into the House of Commons giving the franchise to Women—more Bills than had been introduced ■°& any other subject-and those Bills had Reached various stages, some of them passing the House of Commons, women had been and "ere still denied the franchise. When it was Proposed that the vote should be given to the Agricultural labourer, it was contended that it not be given because the agricultural labourer had not asked for it. Mr Gladstone ^id that the fact that it was not asked for was valid reason why the vote should not be 8aid that the fact that it was not asked for was valid reason why the vote should not be -Rivet,. When, however, women claimed the "ote, and urged the same argument, a threat Wa.s made to withdraw the whole Bill if an Amendment to extend the franchise to women Was persisted in. The crowd had by now got within the rail. ings and on to the building. They struck the ?°or with sticks, and cheered and booed until was impossible to hear Miss Matters. ,°ting men had also climbed on to the window ?*jls and kept up a running fire of comments as ^iss Matters tried to proceed. .Miss Matters said they evidently were ^'staking the Freedom League for the "omen's Social and Political Union, but this ^xPlanation did not pacify the crowd outside. Proceeding amid the continued noise, Miss Matters contended that it was impossible for One sex to understand the position of the other A man's point of view was absolutely different from a women's point of view. She believed it was because women represented different principles running throughout the wbole scheme of nature. Women alone could SUPply the maternal element. Men had for ages been trying to mother the nation as ,^eU as to father it, and it could not be done, ^he two elements must be utilised in legislation, help of women was needed in framing ^tQestic legislation. In the Children's Bill instructive remedies were needed as well as 5aina and penalties. The sallies of those outside, such as Mother, come home and get my supper Come and have a drink now, Miss" • Give it milk," &c., caused much laughter to those in the hall. The interruptions were now such as to make it impossible for those sitting in the front row to hear the speaker. T After a conversation with Mrs Morgan .r^wis, Miss Matters addressed the meeting tQm the centre of the room, where she ^ponted a chair. In the course of a few Routes one or two lads appeared on the plat- and they were sent out by a number of iris. The excitement was now at its highest, Or the doors had been forced open and a large fowd of young men had entered and took ^session of the platform. Miss Matters .;led to address them, but she was invited to Gome and have a drink." The owner of the ?aU (Mr Colby) asked that no damage should done to his property, and he was assured by crowd that they had no such intention, p Miss Matters remarked that had it been a > abinet Minister's meeting the hall would ave been surrounded by the police. 11 There was much cheering when P.C. T. a8coe Davies appeared on the scene. He was J>ked by Miss Matters to make an arrest, but ls was only received with cheers for Lloyd j,.e°rge and cries of What about the j^teddfod ? whilst one young man confronted lss Matters and told her she would have to e,11ember that they had disturbed meetings. Again Miss Matters appealed to the officer ° hiake an arrest, but he refused to do it. Mrs IJI EI]is appealed to Miss Matters to j,es'st, and at length Miss Matters very "elUctantly acceded to the request. She :secured her coat and left by a side door. s invaders, still on the platform, now "Antonio," Sospati Fach," and "Hen t 'ad fy Nhadau," whilst the audience began M i avG tlie iia!l* ^ne young man started to tfress the meeting, and there was general Voar. '.(1 ^j-^ho crowd then dispersed, and followed lSsi Matters along Thespian street and North to tbe Police Station, where she ,i''teL.ec| j'or protection. At length the cro vd cl sufficiently dispersed so as to allow of her ^6Parture, and escorted by Inspector Phillips ,'e returned to her apartmei.ts in No/th '^rade. On Friday evening at the New Market Hall another meeting was held under the auspices of the Women's Freedom League. The students, who had been so much in evidence at the Buarth Hall meeting were conspicuous by their absence, for at the same hour the inaugural address was being delivered at the College. The meeting was announced to com- mence at 8 o'clock and long before that hour a crowd of townspeople had assembled. On the handbills distributed it was stated that the admission would be free to all women and duly-accredited men." On the doors being opened there was a wild rush for admission and several got to the top of the steps, where they were informed they would not be admitted unless accompanied by a woman. The hall filled very slowly and when about half-full the doors were bolted. The conduct of the few men who were admitted was exemplary but at times murmurs of dissent could be beard. One man only interrupted, and be had to be ejected for he was under the influence of drink. The meeting was addressed by Miss Tillard and Miss Muriel Matters. The crowd outside increased considerably as the time went on and some exciting scenes were witnessed. The police bad to protect the door and there were some ugly rushes. A motor car driven by some young men passed through the crowd on two occasions and proved an effective instrument for clearing a path. When the doors were open there were shouts of here they come and the crowd surged to the front of the hall. The demon- strators eagerly awaited the appearance of the leading ladies and hooted them, when escorted by lady friends, they left by the side door.

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MAILS DESTROYED.

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OCTOBER TRAINS.

TALYBONT.

ABERYSTWYTH BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE.

MAIN ROADS COMMITTEE.

WORK FOR S rEAM ENGINE.

ABERYSTWYTH WEATHER REPORT.|

TALIESIN. |

AJJtKYSrWYTH DISTRICT ED U…

MACHYNLLE TH.

THE POOR MAN'S SMOKE.