published Richard’s pamphlet arguing for the abolition of the House of Lords.^47
Some League members found it all too much. Alice Scatcherd wrote in despair
in late October 1890 to Harriet McIlquham who had resigned her membership.
‘I had no idea that you dissented from any one of the League’s principles. ...
The Colbys retire because of Home Rulers & Socialists being on our
Committee. The Mallesons because of Divorce. ... What next? Who next?’^48
Emmeline would have had little sympathy with those who complained about
the radical views of the League’s leadership and its expanding links to the
socialist and labour movements since she and Richard had shown their commit-
ment to socialism by joining the Fabian Society, one month earlier. Although
her husband’s legal knowledge and varied talents were useful to the League, it
was Emmeline rather than Richard who was assuming a more prominent role
within the organisation. When Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy resigned as paid
secretary in May 1890, Emmeline took over for a short time, but in an unpaid,
honorary capacity.^49 She dealt, amongst other things, with correspondence. On
11 July 1890 she wrote an apologetic letter to a Mrs. Wood who had
complained that she had not received information about forthcoming meetings,
explaining that there were ‘incomplete lists’ in regard to future events and
membership. ‘We feel very much at how great a disadvantage Mrs. Elmy’s action
has placed us. Meetings were settled & then suddenly she discontinued acting
with us & we had to go on as best we could.’ Ending on a positive note, she
hoped that Mrs. Wood and her husband ‘will be able to come to me on the
19th. I think you have had a card already but to guard against any mistake I
enclose another.’^50 At the Executive Committee meeting of the League held
later that month, Emmeline announced her resignation as honorary secretary
and proposed that Ursula Bright and Countess Schack be appointed, jointly, to
the post, which was accepted.^51 Most probably she had found the work too
tedious and time consuming, especially since she was also acting that month as
honorary secretary to the International Congress on questions relating to
women, where her knowledge of French was particularly useful.^52 Within the
League, Emmeline was quickly learning a range of skills that related not only to
public speaking but also to committee procedures, radical agitation, and promo-
tion and representation of the League’s policy. At the Executive Committee
meetings she regularly proposed and seconded resolutions, occasionally acted as
chair, made a number of suggestions for promotion of policy, participated in
numerous discussions about effective political tactics and was often put forward
as a candidate for various forms of civic work.^53 One must, therefore, question
Sylvia’s assertion that, within the Women’s Franchise League, Emmeline found
it an ordeal, ‘evaded as far as possible’, to introduce a lecturer, to read out a list
of announcements, or to rise from her seat stating, ‘ “I second the resolution.” ’
Within the League, Sylvia continues, Emmeline regarded herself ‘as the helper
and understudy of her husband, and of that able woman, Ursula Bright’.^54
Although Ursula Bright often offered advice about political tactics to the
younger woman, she also acknowledged the initiatives that Emmeline took and
POLITICAL HOSTESS