r was defeated by a vote of 196 to 73. In 1870
a woman's suffrage measure drafted by Dr. Pankhurst and introduced in
the Commons by John Bright passed its second reading by a majority of
thirty-three, but was subsequently rejected. During the seventies and
early eighties a vigorous propaganda was maintained and almost every
session produced its crop of woman's suffrage bills. A determined
attempt was made to secure the inclusion of a woman's suffrage clause
in the Reform Bill of 1884. The proposed amendment was supported very
generally by the press, but in consequence of a threat by Gladstone to
the effect that if the amendment were carried the entire measure would
be withdrawn the project was abandoned. The next chapter of importance
in the history of the movement was inaugurated by the organization, in
1903, of the Women's Social and Political Union. In 1904 a suffrage
bill was introduced but failed to become law. Within the past decade,
however, the cause has made substantial headway, and by the
spectacular character which it has assumed it has attracted wide
attention. In March, 1912, a Woman's Enfranchisement measure was
rejected in the House of Commons by the narrow margin of 222 to 208
votes. Premier Asquith is opposed to female enfranchisement, but his
colleagues in the ministry are almost evenly divided upon the issue,
and it is not inconceivable that a woman's suffrage measure may be
carried through in the guise of an amendment to the pending Franchise
Bill. If it were to be, and the qualifications should be made (p. 092)
identical with those of men, the number of women voters would be
approximately 10,500,000.[132]

[Footnote 131: May and Holland, Constitutional
History of England, III., 61.]

[Footnote 132: K. Schirmacher, The Modern Woman's
Rights Movement, trans. by C. C. Eckhardt (New
York, 1912), 58-96; B. Mason, The Story of the
Woman's Suffrage Movement (London, 1911); E. S.
Pankhurst, The Suffragette; the History of the
Woman's Militant Suffrage Movement, 1905-1910
(London, 1911). The subject is surveyed briefly in
May and Holland, Constitutional History, III.,
59-66.]

*96. Qualifications for Election.*--The regulations governing the
qualifications essential for election to Parliament ar