During 1909 Emmeline’s life continued in a similar pattern to that of previous
years, namely touring the country to win converts for the cause, speaking at by-
elections, and short stays in London to lead deputations to parliament. Yet,
looking back on her life, she saw 1909 as an important point in the suffrage
struggle, partly because of the WSPU decision never again to submit to being
classed as ordinary criminals and partly because it was the year when the Liberal
government was forced to go on record, publicly, in regard to the oldest of
popular rights, the constitutional right of petition. ‘We had long contemplated
this step, and now the time seemed ripe for taking it.’^2
In the closing days of 1908, Asquith, speaking on the government policy to
be carried out in the New Year, commented on the number of deputations
which came to him, all asking for different things to be included in the King’s
Speech. ‘I am disposed myself to agree with them all’, he commented ‘for, as
each group in their turn come to me, I recognise in them some of our most loyal
and fervent supporters.’^3 Emmeline felt deeply indignant that Asquith should
listen favourably to the deputations by men and ignore the women’s demands.
Hastily, she wrote him a letter asking that a small deputation laying out the case
for the immediate enfranchisement of women should be received. Asquith
refused the request. On 25 January 1909, the day of the first meeting of the
Cabinet Council, a small deputation from the WSPU went to 10 Downing
Street and asked to see the Prime Minister. When the women, one of whom was
Mary Clarke, Emmeline’s sister, refused to go away, they were arrested on the
charge of obstruction and four of them later sentenced at Bow Street Police
Court to one month’s imprisonment in the Second Division. At the trial, Mary
Clarke voiced the views of all militants and many women and men throughout
the country when she asked, ‘Is it not time that some other method were found
of dealing with this question than by sending the women taking part in it to
prison?’^4
Emmeline had not been in London on the 25th since she had been speaking
in Leicester and then, in early February, shortly after the trial, in Torquay,
Plymouth, Brighton and Eastbourne.^5 She felt deep anger at the way the depu-
tation had been treated and was especially worried about Mary whom she
nancy kaufman
(Nancy Kaufman)
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