unknown (1892) Women's Liberal Federation [186]. Women's Penny Paper, 5 (186). p. 8.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
The article is a very detailed description of the Annual Council Meeting of the Women's Liberal Federation. Lady Aberdeen occupied the chair and began the proceedings with some opening remarks. Mrs. Broadley Reid said women addressing the meeting must do so from the platform. Lady Aberdeen read out a letter from Mrs. Fry. Lady Carlisle gave a very long address (the whole address is given in the article) about many topics concerning the Women's Liberal Federation and some of its current problems. Mrs. H.J. Wilson requested that Lady Carlisle should read the resolution she had mentioned in her speech. Lady Carlisle read the resolution. Lady Carlisle and Miss Kemp discussed a point made in the former's speech. Miss Butler said the Federation was not a part of the Progressive Party. She herself was in favour of Irish Home Rule and she said that women would get the vote "when they were fit for it." Mrs. John Wimbolt, the President, Mrs. Wynford Philipps, and Mrs. Broadley Reid discussed some administrative points about the Women's Liberal Federation. Mrs. Eva McLaren spoke about the membership forms that had caused misunderstandings within the Federation. Miss Embleton said that to her knowledge, no woman belonged to more than one branch of the Federation at the same time. Mrs. H.J. Wilson said "she was delighted to hear from Mrs. Eva McLaren that there was no intention to repeat the printing of the unofficial forms". Mrs. Broadley Reid said they were going to circulate the forms through the hall so that people could take a look at them. Lady Carlisle, Miss Connell, and Mrs. Eva McLaren spoke again on organisational and internal issues. A discussion arose about the question of how many Associations could be affiliated with the Federation and the question whether one woman could be member of more than one association at the same time. Mrs. Willis, Mrs. Broadley Reid, Lady Aberdeen, Mrs. Stewart Browne, and Mrs. Sheldon Amis commented on this issue. Mrs. Maitland asked about the rumour that Miss Williams had been locked out of the Federation office. Mrs. Broadley Reid and Lady Stevenson commented on the question. Lady Aberdeen spoke a few words and then moved a resolution for the adoption of the report that was then carried with twelve dissentients. Mrs. Eva McLaren moved a resolution. Countess Alice Kearney urged the women present to withdraw an amendment concerning Women's Suffrage, and the amendment was withdrawn. Miss Cons and Mrs. Wynford Philipps moved amendments that were then discussed by a lady, Lady Carlisle, another lady, Lady Aberdeen and Mrs. Broadley Reid. Miss Slack proposed that more lady speakers should be sent out by the Federation to give addresses. Mrs. Bamford Slack spoke in favour of this idea. A lady, Lady Aberdeen, Mrs. Eva McLaren, and Mrs. Russell Cooke discussed the idea and some issues connected to it like possible venues for such public speaking or the financing of it. Lady Carlisle gave a long speech (and moved a resolution) about women's suffrage in which she said that the Federation should postpone their wish for enfranchisment out of loyalty to the Liberal Party and Mrs. Gladstone - the party had other issues to deal with first (such as Home Rule) before they could turn to female enfranchisement. The Federation should accept this fact and deal with it accordingly. Mrs. Fisher Unwin seconded Lady Carlisle's resolution. Lady Carlisle spoke again and said even though she was glad Mrs. Fisher Unwin supported her, the latter was not in the position to second the resolution as she had not attended meetings lately. Mrs. Unwin accepted that. Lady Aberdeen called on Mrs. Eva McLaren, who then seconded the resolution. Mrs. Bateson spoke in support of Lady Carlisle's speech and resolution. Mrs. Hall supported the resolution. Mrs. Bell supported the resolution as well, but she also said she felt disappointed because so much had been done for the cause of women's suffrage lately, and now they were again forced to postpone it. Mrs. Sheldon Amis spoke along the same lines, but was twice interposed by Lady Carlisle. Miss Southall suggested an amendment to the resolution that was subsequently discussed by Mrs. Stuart Brown, Mrs. Jacob Bright, and Mrs. Scatcherd. Mrs. Swan spoke about the Local Government Bill in Ireland that has as its only "bright spot" the enfranchisment of women. Mrs. Thompson "protested against the resolution being carried as one of the objects of the Federation." Mrs. Wynford Philipps then briefly spoke about Liberalism and in favour of women's rights.
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