Having being warned that the stance of the WSPU at Cockermouth would
be discussed, Emmeline had agreed to attend the Conference as the sole repre-
sentative of the Manchester Central Branch and to defend the policy. She had
urged Sam Robinson not to press Christabel nor Teresa Billington to accom-
pany her since she thought neither would agree to do so. ‘I will if sent’, she
argued, ‘speak for all. I have greater claims in the forbearance & regard of the
Party than they have & am I believe more disposed to make allowances than
the younger women.’ If after her case was heard, the ILP decided that ‘we must
go out then we can part good friends. ... I should like to go to the Conference
this time so as to clear up everything in a friendly spirit.’^71 At the Conference,
ILP member Margaret McMillan read out a message on behalf of Charlotte
Despard and Annie Cobden-Sanderson, both WSPU members, and Ethel
Snowden and Isabella Ford, who were not, condemning the independent stand
at Cockermouth and reaffirming a pledge never to go down to any constituency
or take any part in elections unless it was to help the Labour Party. With trem-
bling emotion in her voice, Emmeline disclaimed all connection with the
declaration, pointing out that it was only by putting pressure on the present
government, by opposing all government nominees, that votes for women could
be won; in this policy they were following the tactics of the Irish Party, under
Charles Parnell. ‘Women could not afford to wait till a Labour Party was in
power’, she pleaded. Were she a man she admitted her action would be disloyal,
but as a women with no political rights she pleaded for special consideration.
On every other point she had been loyal to socialism and to the ILP. ‘If you
think my conduct inconsistent with my membership I will resign’, she
concluded in a broken voice. ‘And if I am to go I will go alone.’^72
Emmeline’s plea caused a stir amongst the delegates which she described in a
letter written immediately after the event to Helen Fraser, WSPU Organiser for
Scotland:
I was quite overcome by the response on the part of the men at the
Conference to my declaration of independence. It was received with
deafening cheers. I was able to make them understand our position as
women. It was all a genuine tribute to the righteousness of our fighting
policy. ... Men & women cried & protested that we must not leave the
Party. Now the ground is cleared our enemies are defeated & we have
only to go on with our work.^73Despite Emmeline’s stand, she was popular enough with the Conference
members to be elected as a delegate for the next Labour Party Conference. But
that was a long time away and now Emmeline enjoyed the more immediate
pleasure, on 9 April, of seeing the first performance of Elizabeth Robins’ awaited
play, Votes for women, at the Court Theatre, London.^74 She went back up to
Manchester, where she was soon busily immersed in packing up her belongings
at 66 Upper Brook Street. ‘I am giving up housekeeping & am in the midst of
TO LONDON