INTRODUCTION
IT is barely three years ago since, in writing of the apathy of the nation towards the old Liberal ideals, I penned this sentence: "Until women realise more fully than, alas! most of them do, the vital importance of politics to them, there are many electoral anomalies, but no loudly asserted grievance." Even so, the expression "loudly asserted" was an afterthought for "deeply felt," due to the hope that thousands of quiet women might feel adequately the indignity of being denied the elementary rights of citizenship, while lacking means or courage to avow their discontent. No one would use either phrase now. Confined three years ago to obscure corners of the newspapers, to meetings in private rooms, to the conversation of a select few, the question of woman's emancipation has suddenly become the most insistent political problem of the day. Even the apostles of "Tariff Reform" play a less conspicuous part at bye-elections, even the politics of Labour are less discussed in the public Press than the agitation which then appeared so lifeless. In less than three years the movement
9
