Visit of David Lloyd George to Huddersfield - 20th March 1914
The Suffragette, 27th March 1914
THE FIGHT AGAINST COERCION.
MR. LLOYD GEORGE GUARDED AT HUDDERSFIELD.
Women Torturers Relentlessly Heckled.
MR. LLOYD GEORGE GUARDED AT HUDDERSFIELD.
Women Torturers Relentlessly Heckled.
Members of the Coalition which tortures women rather than give them the vote have been reminded of their injustice and cruelty every time they have spoken in public. The extraordinary precautions taken at Huddersfield to protect Mr. Lloyd George did not prevent his being rebuked by women as he both entered and left the Town hall, and by men Suffragists inside the Drill Hall. Members of the Nationalist and Labour Parties have also been challenged in the subject of their support of this brutal and cowardly Government…
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| David Lloyd George, 1915 |
MR. LLOYD GEORGE’S CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE.
HUDDERSFIELD GUARDED AS IF FOR GERMAN INVASION.
WHO PAYS EXPENSES?
HUDDERSFIELD GUARDED AS IF FOR GERMAN INVASION.
WHO PAYS EXPENSES?
Last Friday when Mr. Lloyd George paid his much-announced visit to Huddersfield, that town presented the appearance of expecting, not a popular Cabinet Minister, but a German invasion. All churches had been closed by police order, and Lenten worshippers found themselves confronted by shut doors. The Town Hall, where Mr. Lloyd George was to deliver his two speeches, was thoroughly searched and the place was alive with police and detectives. It was understood that many Suffragettes were staying in the town, and a strict watch was kept on the houses of the district.
Mr. Lloyd George spoke at two meetings at the Town Hall on Saturday, and at on overflow meeting at the Drill Hall after the evening meeting. An enormous force of uniformed and plain-clothes police were on duty, and among the crowds of people who thronged round the Town Hall the Suffragettes formed the one topic of conversation. There was such a demand for the SUFFRAGETTE that the paper sold out early in the day, one man who bought a copy telling the seller, “I’m an old man, and I remember the days when men were fighting for their votes.” A solid line of police kept the pavement in front of the building clear.
A Woman in Disguise?
The authorities had reached such a pitch of anxiety that every man entering the Town Hall was obliged to remove his hat, for fear a woman might enter in disguise.
After the afternoon meeting a woman, closely guarded by two detectives, stationed herself opposite the main entrance, from where, by various signs, she recognised that Mr. Lloyd George would make his escape. A car was kept there with the engine running for over half and hour, until at last an elderly gentleman entered it. He shook his head at the Suffragette, trying to give the impression that she had been outwitted this time.
When this car had driven away, another very shabby car drove up, and Mr. Lloyd George was hurried down the steps and into it. However, the Suffragette was able to deliver her message to him in spite of the two detectives, and another woman, not far off, also shouted a reminder.
Wrong Woman Arrested.
At the evening meeting a woman succeeded in getting fairly close to Mr. Lloyd George as he was entering the Town Hall. Immediately she was seized by two men and dragged across the road into an office, where they demanded her name. She refused to give it, and indignantly asked what right they had for their action. The men said that they were detectives, and again demanded her name and address, which she still refused to give. The woman then overheard one of the detectives say, “It’s the wrong one – she’s too dark!” The other man the approached her, lifted her hat and stared at her. After being detained for about an hour she was allowed to go.
Men Ejected from Drill Hall.
Mr. Lloyd George spoke at two meetings at the Town Hall on Saturday, and at on overflow meeting at the Drill Hall after the evening meeting. An enormous force of uniformed and plain-clothes police were on duty, and among the crowds of people who thronged round the Town Hall the Suffragettes formed the one topic of conversation. There was such a demand for the SUFFRAGETTE that the paper sold out early in the day, one man who bought a copy telling the seller, “I’m an old man, and I remember the days when men were fighting for their votes.” A solid line of police kept the pavement in front of the building clear.
A Woman in Disguise?
The authorities had reached such a pitch of anxiety that every man entering the Town Hall was obliged to remove his hat, for fear a woman might enter in disguise.
After the afternoon meeting a woman, closely guarded by two detectives, stationed herself opposite the main entrance, from where, by various signs, she recognised that Mr. Lloyd George would make his escape. A car was kept there with the engine running for over half and hour, until at last an elderly gentleman entered it. He shook his head at the Suffragette, trying to give the impression that she had been outwitted this time.
When this car had driven away, another very shabby car drove up, and Mr. Lloyd George was hurried down the steps and into it. However, the Suffragette was able to deliver her message to him in spite of the two detectives, and another woman, not far off, also shouted a reminder.
Wrong Woman Arrested.
At the evening meeting a woman succeeded in getting fairly close to Mr. Lloyd George as he was entering the Town Hall. Immediately she was seized by two men and dragged across the road into an office, where they demanded her name. She refused to give it, and indignantly asked what right they had for their action. The men said that they were detectives, and again demanded her name and address, which she still refused to give. The woman then overheard one of the detectives say, “It’s the wrong one – she’s too dark!” The other man the approached her, lifted her hat and stared at her. After being detained for about an hour she was allowed to go.
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| Drill Hall, Huddersfield, about 1910. Image from the Kirklees Image Archive (K04099) |
Men Ejected from Drill Hall.
As Mr. Lloyd George was entering the Drill Hall, where a large overflow meeting was held, a man got close to him and called out, “Cad, traitor, stop forcible feeding.” The protestor was then struck by a man in the crowd, but another man interfered on his behalf, saying, “I admire your pluck. I have a ticket for the meeting, and you can have it.”
In spite of all of the precautions taken, six men were thrown out of this meeting for asking questions about justice to women and forcible feeding. When Mr. Lloyd George arrived flushed with triumph and began to talk of democracy, a man instantly rose and asked how the principle of democracy was being applied to women. He was thrown out by police, who were inside the building. Another interruption followed, and then another. “This is sickening,” said Mr. Lloyd George, and a man answered him, “Yes, sickening for the women.”
Meanwhile Huddersfield is wondering a little about the confidence in the people which Liberal politicians are always eager to express in words, and many are asking themselves “Who pays for all of these elaborate precautions to protect Cabinet Ministers?”
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| Ticket for the meeting at the Town Hall. From the Kirklees Collection. |
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