for what they had done, for their promptitude, their courage, and their devotion
in that time of crisis. If they were not to be allowed to go to the House of
Commons to plead for themselves, then she herself would be the first stone-
thrower.^22 Emmeline then went on to speak about her three months’ tour, and
how the militancy of the women of England was arousing women in the States
and in Canada where a branch of the WSPU had been founded. That very day,
Brailsford wrote to Millicent Garrett Fawcett saying that he had seen Mrs.
Pankhurst who regretted ‘having ever looked at “that abominable Conciliation
Bill”, and declares that they will never tolerate anything but a Government
measure of full sex equality. She is optimistic & even triumphant. If she fails to
force the P. M. to take up Adult Suffrage (& for this she still hopes) she is
sanguine of destroying this and every succeeding Government.’^23
There was little time to rest as Emmeline continued her campaigning, yet
she was determined not to let physical exhaustion dampen her spirit. On 11
February she wrote an affectionate letter full of news to Alice Morgan Wright:
Since I saw you last I have been in many places. Last week I was in
Wrexham[,] Chester[,] Liverpool[,] Cardiff. This week Leicester[,]
Market Harboro’[,] Newcastle on Tyne[,] Sunderland[,] North Shields.
Tomorrow I go to Wolverhampton & hence to Lincoln. Then back
of [to] London for a few days. So you see I am kept well at it.
People here told me that I was 15 years younger for my American
trip but already the good effect is wearing off. Our beautiful English
climate plays havoc with me ...
Here all our minds are full of what will be in the King’s speech. We
are preparing for action so expect to hear of broken windows ere long.
... When the time comes for renewed action I shall be quite ready for a
rest. This work of rousing the women that I have to do is very
exhausting.
Write to me whenever you like to my dear child so long as your
work is not interfered with & you do not mind if I do not always
reply.^24The government in the King’s Speech delivered on 14 February announced,
as expected, a Reform Bill for men only. Emmeline’s anger intensified when it
became apparent that the bill, as drafted, might be impossible of amendment to
include woman suffrage, a point hinted at by The Times.^25 Although third place
in the private members’ ballot was won for the Second Conciliation Bill, the
WSPU leadership were convinced that the success of such a measure had been
destroyed and therefore expressed interest only in a government-backed
women’s suffrage measure. On 16 February, at a dinner at the Connaught
Rooms to welcome those window-breakers who had served sentences of two
months – including Helen Archdale, Sarah Benett, Olive Wharry, Francis
Rowe and Vera Wentworth – the charismatic Emmeline exercised her authority
THE WOMEN’S REVOLUTION