In Jan. 1913 the committee stage of the reform bill was reached, and the women's suffrage amendments were tabled. Then followed a parliamentary surprise; for, by the Speaker's ruling these amendments were declared so to alter the bill as to make it a different one from that which had already passed its second read ing. The consequence was that the whole bill had to be withdrawn, and the chances of women's suffrage seemed to be hopeless.
The militant outbreak which followed was met by the Govern ment with severely repressive measures. An act was passed, of ficially known as the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill Health) Act, but commonly known as the Cat and Mouse Act, whereby released hunger strikers could be re-arrested and sent back to prison when their health was restored. Many prisoners were recaptured under this act, and Mrs. Pankhurst, who was sentenced to three years in 1913 was re-imprisoned eight times; yet even so she only served 3o days in the first year.
After the fiasco of the reform bill the National Union adopted the election policy of supporting the party which officially advo cated their cause and at that time the only party to do so was the Labour Party. In 1913 the National Union organised a pil grimage of women, which marched upon London from all over the country, and culminated in a monster meeting in Hyde park. The reception of the pilgrims all along the route was so friendly, and the meetings they held in the towns and villages they passed through were so enthusiastic that they began to feel sure that public opinion was won, and that success was near at hand.
The course of the movement was interrupted in August 1914 by the outbreak of the European war, and the members of the suf frage societies at once turned their energies to helping the country through the economic difficulties of the time. "Let us prove our selves worthy of citizenship" said Mrs. Fawcett in a message to her followers, "whether our claim be recognised or not." The suffragette prisoners were pardoned and the Women's Social and Political Union ceased to exist, but the National Union remained as an organised body and undertook relief work of many kinds.
For a time it seemed as if the suffrage question was lost to sight; but the war work which women were able to do was of such value, and they revealed such unsuspected powers and abilities that public opinion became very favourable to them. In 1916 the question of a new registration bill arose owing to the impossibility of re-registering the men who were absent on war service under the old act ; and when the suffragists pointed out that any change in the basis of registration would be a change in the franchise, and that if it were made the women's question ought at the same time to be considered, they found not only the Coalition Govern ment, but the whole press and people of the country in agreement with them. After several unsuccessful efforts to settle the matter
without raising the whole franchise issue, H. H. Asquith invited the Speaker to call a conference representative of all the parties. The conference reported in Jan. 1917 in favour of a limited form of women's suffrage to householders and the wives of householders provided they had reached the age of 3o or 35 years; and this proposal, with the lower of the age limits, was inserted into the bill which D. Lloyd George's Government introduced. In June 1917 the clause enfranchising women was carried in the House of Commons by a majority of 7 to 1, with the general approval of the whole country. Early in the following year it passed the House of Lords, and received the royal assent.
The reason for the insertion of the age limit and the other dif ferences between the franchises of men and women was to reduce the numbers of women voters, so that they should not be in a majority; and the suffrage societies, although continuing to work for equality, accepted this as a first step. In Nov. 1918 the act making women eligible for election to Parliament was passed, and at the election of that year women not only voted for the first time, but stood as candidates. The only one elected was the Countess Markievicz, who, being a Sinn Feiner did not take her seat ; but in 1919 the Viscountess Astor was elected.
It immediately became evident that there was no danger of the formation of a "Woman's Party," and the extension of the f ran chise worked so smoothly that within a year or two all three political parties declared themselves in favour of extending the vote to women upon equal terms. In March 1928 the Conserva tive Government brought forward a new Representation of the People bill for this purpose. This was carried with only ten dis sentients in the House of Commons, by 387 to 1 o. The bill passed the House of Lords in May with a majority of 79, and received the royal assent on July 2, 1928. With its passage into law complete political equality was granted to women, and the Women's Suf frage Movement in Great Britain came to an end.