General Elections - Dewsbury 1910

General Elections were held in January and December of 1910.

The first resulted in a hung parliament. The Liberal Party led by H.H. Asquith received 40.9% of seats, whilst the Conservative & Liberal Unionist Party led by Arthur Balfour received 40.6% .

The Dewsbury parliamentary seat had been held by the Liberal Party since the seat was created in 1868. Dewsbury's Liberal M.P. Walter Runciman was elected in 1902. In 1910 he successfully defended his seat against Conservative candidates: Ben Dent in January and Edward Overend Simpson in December with majorities of over 3,000 votes in each election.

Portrait of Rt Hon Walter Runciman M.P. From the Kirklees Museum collection.
Currently on display at Dewsbury Town Hall.

The Common Cause, the newspaper of the NUWSS reported on the union's campaign in the area in support of Runciman who had declared his support for the women's campaign.

Daisy Hill, Dewsbury, location of the NUWSS committee rooms during the Dewsbury campaign.
Image from the Kirklees Image Archive collection (K003109)

The Common Cause, 13th January 1910

DEWSBURY 

Candidates - Rt. Hon. W. Runciman, M.P., Liberal. Mr. Ben Dent, Unionist.

Committee Rooms - 85 Daisy Hill, Dewsbury.

Organisers - Miss Helen Fraser, Miss Goodman, and Miss Mayhew.

   The Rt. Hon. Walter Runciman's reference to Women's Suffrage in his election address reads that he supports "a wider and fairer franchise, not restricted to men only."
   Mr. Ben Dent states that he is prepared to vote for a measure granting the Parliamentary franchise to women possessing the same qualifications as men.
   Both candidates, therefore are friends, and this the electors are being told. The Budget and the action of the House of Lords are assuredly not the sole or even greatly the main topics of political conversation and warfare here.
   Free Trade and Tariff Reform loom large, and Women's Suffrage is going to play no unimportant part.
   There is something curiously quiet about a general election campaign where only the candidates, ourselves, and Tariff Reformers (who last night opened a wonderful foreign shop) are working. One feels there is something wanting when there are not from half a dozen lorries conflicting appeals made in the market places or at factory gates. Apart from the candidates we reign the chief attraction, and our committee rooms are a source of never-failing interest.
   Our first meeting, an open-air one held in a drifting fog in the market place, gave us an impression of a very critical feeling among our crowd. They were weighing us up, and on Thursday another great crowd seemed to decide we were satisfactory. Wednesday night, from a long-sought-for lorry which two Yorkshire boys helped the "Souffrigettes" to find, Miss Goodman and I had an excellent hearing and applause, a demand for "Common Causes" and postcards that was very promising.
   Thornhill Lees on Friday gave us a packed hall of voters and shawl-clad women who were delightful to talk to, who passed our resolution unanimously after a voter had seconded it from the audience. Signatures came in and papers vanished, and we stepped onto the car to which the friendly constable guided us to the sound of hearty "good lucks."
   Saturday we toured flag-decorated, and in our wanderings went into Morley Division. People came out to shop doors, men stood round and gazed, small boys evinced a decided interest in us. The opportunity was too good to lose, so Miss Goodman started and I took up the tale, and it ended up in a very satisfactory meeting. Through Ravensthorpe, Earlsheaton, and Chickenley we worked, talking and leaving a trail of red, white, and green bills behind us, and at Batley another huge meeting left the markets deserted during the time occupied. The local members are helping at meetings. Mrs. Leonard Firth will preside at our Dewsbury Town Hall meeting, and we hope a Batley member will at Victoria Hall. Miss Walker is helping, and Mrs. Parish is coming from Leeds to speak once. Huddersfield promises us two speakers later, and both will send workers for polling day, the 18th.
   Barnard Castle is also to be done (polling 19th), and some of our Dewsbury workers will go on there this week.
   I need not say how much we will welcome any helpers here or at Barnard Castle.
HELEN FRASER.

Walter Runciman duting election campaign, date unknown. From the Kirklees Image Archive collection. (K022185)

The Common Cause, 20th January 1910

Executive Committee's Special Campaigns.
DEWSBURY

Commitee Rooms: 85, Daisy Hill, Dewsbury.
Organisers: Miss Helen Fraser and Miss Goodman.

    The Past week's meetings in Dewsbury have been a series of triumphs. Every meeting crowded, intensely interested, and enthusiastic.  Our resolution declaring the meeting's belief in equality of voting rights for women, and pledging it to support the reform by petition and through its Parliamentary representative, carried unanimously every time - at Ravensthorpe, where hundreds could not obtain admission, and the great hall was almost dangerously crowded - amidst the greatest enthusiasm.
   Monday : We were in the schoolroom at Earlsheaton.  Tuesday : The Town Hall of Dewsbury, holding about 1,200 people, was crowded before eight o'clock.  Mrs. Leonard Firth ably presided, and Mrs. Parrish moved the resolution, pointing out many of the absurd anomalies in our position now. In seconding it, I pointed out that every issue of this election affected us, and quoted statements of Mr. Runciman, Mr. Asquith, and Mr. Balfour in support of the contention, and every point was appreciated. One of the huge red-and-white-and-green petition posters, mounted on cotton, made a striking background to our platform here and at all our meetings.
   At Victoria Hall, Batley, where Miss Auty presided, we had another crowded meeting, and great appreciation of Miss Goodman's and Mrs. Montague Crother's brief speeches and my own. At Ravensthorpe we had to begin before eight - the crowded audience had waited so long. Miss Goodman presided, and Miss Kilburn moved, and I seconded, the resolution. At all these meetings we were overwhelmed at the end by requests for "Common Causes," badges, and postcards. members joined, and signatures went on to our petitions, and one or two helpers who stewarded, aided by friendly constables, and sold literature and got signatures, and were wanted everywhere at once, had a busy time. Questions came in - many about qualifications - one alarmed gentleman's query being : "Do you mean to say married women should have votes." Miss Walker kindly helped me to secure signatures for the written sheet, and Sir Mark Ollroyd, a former member, started it for us.
   Local press notices have been good and very sympathetic. Humorous incidents have been many ; but the outstanding recollection is the friendliness of our audiences and their enthusiasm ; and we only wish we had more workers for the nineteen booths on Tuesday. Local people are helping. Leeds sends two, and Huddersfield and Bradford some.

HELEN FRASER

 Since Miss Fraser's departure for Barnard castle we have had no hall meetings. Her audiences got larger and larger, till on Thursday at Ravensthorpe enough people were turned away to make two overflow meetings. On Saturday afternoon we toured the constituency in a motor-car, but rain prevented us from holding more than one meeting, at which the Misses Kilburn, of Huddersfield, spoke. Saturday evening brought us a good many signatures and much argument from friendly electors, who thought a petition signature should provide them with and audience of at least one, for a half-hour 's exposition of their views. Local helpers are nervous and unwilling to undertake polling booths, as election days in this neighbourhood are sometimes rather disturbed. But red, white and green meets with kindness from all parties and classes. The petition is 3,773.
M. GOODMAN

  The Common Cause, 27th January 1910

DEWSBURY AND BARNARD CASTLE
...Polling day at Dewsbury was fairly good, with only a few showers ; and the kindness of the people, the agents, and the police was great.  In some schools I found the workers inside, with tables, and friendly agents who said to the voters as they went out : "Come along and sign the ladies' petition." Friendly people brought those who stood outside mats and straw to stand on, and in one place the Liberals gave our workers lunch and the Conservatives tea. Both parties were equally kind, and both candidates and Mrs. Runciman exchanged friendly greetings and expressed good wishes. At dinner hour and in the evening the workers were quite inadequate for the voters, otherwise the numbers would have been doubled.  Counting showed 3,800 signatures. Just after we finished the result was declared - Mr. Runciman in - the return of the Cabinet Minister who said this question should be dealt with early in the new Parliament!
   At 10-30 Miss Goodman, Miss Wood, Miss Edwards, and I set out to motor to Barnard Castle, for polling the next day...
   We had altogether, for Dewsbury, workers from Leeds, Huddersfield, and Bradford, and several local people, and we are specially indebted to Miss Kilburn, Mrs. Bauer, Mrs. Akroyd, Mrs. Aspey, Mrs. Pritchard, Mrs. Lee Potter, Miss Sanderson, Miss Scott, and Miss Walker, who is going to fill in the petition numbers...
HELEN FRASER

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December 1910 election

The Common Cause, 27th October 1910

Deputation to Mr. Runciman.

   A deputation of Women Suffragists will be received on Tuesday, October 25th, at 4 p.m., by the Right Hon. Walter E. Runciman, M.P., President of the Board of Education, at the Town Hall, Dewsbury.  It will be introduced by Miss Fielden, and the speakers will by Mrs. Leonard Firth (president, Dewsbury W.S.S.), Mrs. Connor (president, Leeds W.S.S., Board of Education), Miss Maud Illingworth, Mrs. Grosvenor Talbot (committee, Leeds W.S.S., Poor Law Guardian) and Miss I. O. Ford (Executive Council, N.U.W.S.S.).  Mrs. Alfred Illingworth (vice-president, N.U.W.S.S.) will also be present.  All the West Riding and Mr. Runciman's own constituency Dewsbury will be represented by influential men and women.

The Barnsley Chronicle, 29th October 1910

YORKSHIRE SUFFRAGISTS AND MR. RUNCIMAN.

DEPUTATION AT DEWSBURY

   An important deputation of West Riding supporters of Women's Suffrage waited upon Mr. Walter Runciman, Minster of Education, at the Dewsbury Town Hall, yesterday afternoon. Amongst others present were Miss H.B. Walker, Dr. Pritchard (of Dewsbury), Mrs. Percy Reynolds (Wakefield), Mrs. Studdard, Miss Celia Wray (Barnsley), and Mrs. Gill (Sheffield). Mrs. Leonard Firth, President of the Dewsbury Women's Suffrage Society, who introduced the deputation, said the Suffragists thanked Mr. Runciman for the help he had already given to the cause. They did not wish to usurp the prerogatives of men, but simply to give of their best to the service of the nation.
   Mrs. Connon, President of the Leeds Women's Suffrage Society, devoted her remarks chiefly to a comparison of the position of women on the old School Boards with that which they now had on Education Committees. She objected to women now having to be co-opted on the education authorities. The Suffragettes she said, were not militant,, but they were very determined to obtain the enfranchisement of women.
   Miss Maude Illingworth, Bradford Women's Suffrage Society, emphasised the difficulty which Liberal women had in recognising what measure of enfranchisement for women would be acceptable to the whole Liberal party, and she stated that the speeches of Mr. Lloyd George had had a most depressing effect on those who were associated with the movement.
   Mrs. Grosvenor Talbot, President of the Kirkstall Women's Liberal Association, urged that if women were granted the Parliamentary vote they would take much more interest in both local and national affairs. She pointed out that in Leeds the whole of the four lady Guardians were returned at the head of the polls in their respective districts, and contended that such results showed that the public valued the service of women. There were, she observed, many other women capable by inclination and education to undertake public duties with zeal and efficiency, and therefore it could not be denied that they were capable of exercising the vote.
   Miss Mary Fielden, organiser of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, said there was such support for women's franchise in Yorkshire that she believed she could address a "scratch" audience in almost any town in the county that night and get a resolution carried in favour of votes for women, probably without a single dissentient. She mentioned that in Dewsbury a petition had been signed by 4,000 persons and at Barnsley by 8,000 persons in favour of women's suffrage, and those petitions, she maintained were really mandates from the electors. In fact, their movement was so popular in Yorkshire that she and her fellow organisers had been entertained at the hotels in the various towns free of cost. (Laughter.) Continuing, she said the position was becoming so intolerable amongst women who took an interest in political affairs that many of them had decided to take no further part in politics until their rights were recognised.
   Miss I. O. Ford, of the Leeds Trades Council, said she thought members of Parliament could not have realised how keen was the desire of women to have a vote. If they went to the House of Commons the members only gave them tea, and not what they wanted so much. (Laughter.) She asked Mr. Runciman to recommend some course by which they could bring their cause more forcibly before the House of Commons.

MR. RUNCIMAN AND DIVISION OF OPINION.
   Mr. Runciman said he felt highly honoured at being approached on the subject by the ladies of Dewsbury and the West Riding, and he would do his best to answer their questions. He must, however, first of all point out that it would be impossible to find any Government, Liberal it Conservative, who would be unanimous on the subject. It was one of those questions which cut diagonally across the House of Commons, and exactly the same remark applied to the present Cabinet, just as it would to a Conservative Cabinet if the other side came into power. He was by no means the only supporter of woman suffrage in the Cabinet, for the movement was supported by Mr. Haldane, Sir Edward Grey, and others. He must ask, however, that those who opposed the measure should be credited with sincerity in their opposition. It was true that Mr. Asquith was a strong opponent of women's suffrage, but he had been perfectly consistent, and his views were worthy of as much respect as were the views of those with whom he differed. There was the same division of opinion on the Opposition Front Bench, where Mr. Austen Chamberlain and Mr. Walter Long were against granting the franchise to women, and Mr. Balfour, Lord Hugh Cecil and other prominent Conservatives were in favour of it. It followed from the very facts of the case that they could not possibly have their Bill taken up as a Government measure, and the only way to make progress was to let the House of Commons, independent of Government control, take its own view and act upon it. If it were allowed to do that, he could not say what would happen with regard to detail, but he felt confident that before many years they would see their object attained. He did not see why it should not be attained next year, but he did not think there was the least possibility of facilities been given this winter. There would be only six weeks available, and that period must be filled up almost entirely with work connected with the Budget and other formal business, which would carry Parliament right up to Christmas. He reminded the deputation that when the Government gave two days to a full and formal debate on the subject, it was understood that that time was to be used for the purpose of ascertaining the views of the new Parliament, but if the passage of a great constitutional measure had been attempted, the effort would have been in vain. Now that the views of the House had been seriously ascertained the suffragists would be justified in pressing their claim next year for full facilities for the discussion of a Bill at every stage. Proceeding, Mr. Runciman said he realised that a large number of those who were represented by the deputation did not wish to have the franchise merely for the sake of a vote, but because they were in favour of a great number of important movements which affected every class of society. He could not say he held the view that all other questions were of less importance than the granting of votes to women. For instance, he held that the taxation of food was a more important question than the enfranchisement of either men or women. He would also be prepared to argue that it was more important that we should be a sober people than that we should be a vote-giving people, and the regulation of our social life was more important than that any one section of the community should be admitted to the franchise. It was because he believed that no great reforms could be carried out in their best way without a true expression of the opinion of all citizens that he was in favour of votes being granted to women. But he must urge the women themselves not to lose their sense of proportion. 

THE EXCESSES OF MILITANT SUFFRAGETTES.
   Women’s suffrage involved one of the greatest of constitutional changes, and when it was proposed to send the Bill to Grand Committee he had to vote against it, although he spoke and voted in favour of the Bill, for it was necessary that the measure should be fully discussed at every stage in the House of Commons. When that discussion did take place, he would not shirk his part in it, but the drafting of the Bill would have to be altered. As Mr. Lloyd George had pointed out, the Bill in its present form was so drafted as to safeguard the conservative instincts of those on the other side of the House, and that that precluded those who wish to extend the scope of the Bill from moving any amendment. Another consideration which he wished to impress upon the deputation was that the excesses of the last two years had really and definitely injured their cause. It had been said that the support was not worth having of those who had been driven away by the violence of militant suffragettes, but he reminded them that every vote counted, and that they must have at least 350 votes if there was to be any prospect of success. The municipal franchise, at all events had not worked badly, and that was his main reason for supporting the extension of the Parliamentary vote to women. The municipal vote for women had not lead to the degradation of public life or to making it less progressive, but, on the other hand, it had given many women a greater sense of local responsibility. His suggestion to the deputation was that they should concentrate their efforts on claiming that next year the House of Commons should have the right to express its views not only on the general question, but to deal with all the details of a Bill to be introduced as early as possible next Session, and that they should so modify the drafting of the Bill as to make it possible for amendments to be proposed for the extension of its scope. In conclusion, he said that next year was so full of political possibilities that he could not tell them exactly what his attitude would have to be. He could only give them a general expression of his sympathy, and asked them to accept it for what it was worth.
   Mrs. Leonard Firth thanked Mr. Runciman for the very sympathetic manner in which he had replied to the deputation. In answer to a question by Miss Fielden, Mr. Runciman said it would be necessary to introduce a new Bill with a new title next year. There was not the slightest chance of anything being done with the present Bill this Session.

The Common Cause, 3rd November 1910

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
   On Tuesday, October 25th, Mr. Walter Runciman received a deputation organized by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies.  The deputation was introduced by Mrs. Leonard Firth (President of the Dewsbury Women's Suffrage Society).  The speakers were Mrs. Connon (President Leeds W.S.S. and Leeds W.L.A., member Leeds Board of Education), Miss Maude Illingworth (Vice-President Bradford W.S.S., member Executive Yorkshire Council of W.L.A.), Mrs. Grosvenor Talbot (P.L.G., President Kirkstall W.L.A., member Executive Leeds W.S.S.), Miss Mary Fielden (Organizer N.U.W.S.S.), Miss I.O. Ford (Parish Councillor, Hon. Life Member Leeds Trade Council, member Executive N.U.W.S.S.).  These were supported by representatives from Dewsbury, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Barnsley, and Sheffield.
   Mrs. Leonard Firth introduced the deputation, first thanking Mr. Runciman for his support of our cause in the past, and telling him how much we hoped from his help in the future.
   Mrs. Connon referred to the moral education for which women had always worked, instancing Mrs. Josephine Butler's campaign, and made a most emphatic point in explaining how women's work for education has been injured and cramped since the last Education Bill, and how few are now co-opted.
   Miss Maude Illingworth in a telling speech referred to Mr. Lloyd George's words at Criccieth, and also spoke of the growing impatience the Liberal women are feeling at the manner in which the Suffrage is deferred.
  Mrs. Grosvenor Talbot took the local government aspect, and dwelt particularly on the fact that women, after having been elected to fill certain offices, found how seriously they were handicapped by their low political status.
   Miss Fielden sought to impress Mr. Runciman with her experience of the interest and support given to the cause.  She pleaded how urgent it was that the matter should be settled, and that women would be as deeply affected as men by the great issues likely to arise, and that their industrial position MUST be raised before further taxation was attempted. She then dealt with the Bill, and particularly with the fact that so many Members are opposed, on principle, to Grand Committee, and even as friends voted against it.
   Miss I.O. Ford spoke of the democratic spirit of the Bill and the class of women who would be enfranchised.  Also that there is no practical demand on the part of the men voters for Womanhood Suffrage, and that an Adult Suffrage Bill means Manhood Suffrage.  She referred to the growing enthusiasm four cause, and asked Mr. Runciman if, as our friends in the House are willing to ask for leave to recommit the Bill pro forma in respect of its title, what would he do?  What would happen?  And what did he advise our doing about the matter?
NOT A PARTY MEASURE
   Mr. Runciman, in replying to the deputation, said that the division of opinion on both sides of the House made it impossible for this Bill ever to be taken up as a Government measure by either side.  "I therefore fell," he said, "the only possibility of any progress being made is by allowing the House of Commons itself, independent of Government control, to express its own view and to act on its own view on the Woman's Suffrage question.  If it is allowed to do that, I cannot say what would happen to every detail of the Bill, but I am quite sure if it is allowed to do that, we should see our subject attained before many years passed.
NO FACILITIES THIS SESSION
   "I don't see why it should not be done next year, but I ought to tell you at once that I do not think there is the least possibility of the necessary facilities being given this winter.  There will only be six weeks of the fag-end of the session, and those six weeks must be filled up almost entirely with work on the Budget, which will occupy the bulk of our time, and then there will be other formal business that will carry us to Christmas."
   He urged that we should not waste our energies on a struggle to facilities this winter.  "Indeed, I for one should not feel free to ask for further facilities for this winter, because it is well known that when we secured the two days for a full and formal debate in the middle of the session it was on the understanding that the debate was to be used as a very serious occasion on which to ascertain the views of the new Parliament.  I am quite sure, if we had endeavoured to obtain the whole time necessary for the passing of a great constitutional Bill of this kind, that it would have been impossible for us to succeed in persuading those who were opposed to our view to have given the time of the House of Commons to what was necessary.  They agreed ultimately to a serious ascertainment of the views of the House of Commons.
NEXT YEAR.
   "That view in being ascertained, I think we are quite justified in pressing our claim next year for fuller facilities to be given for the discussion of this Bill in every stage."

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