Suffragette by Carol Drinkwater Page A

against everything I want to see achieved, but Mrs Pankhurst and Christabel feel that our only chance is to win our
rights by degrees. I trust them, so I will back them.
    In order to help the Bill gain parliamentary support, Mrs Pankhurst has called a truce on all militant acts. We, the members of the WSPU, have agreed to uphold this. We will continue to lobby
vociferously but without militancy.
    Flora has declared the truce an excellent move. I do not agree with her. I am incensed by the treatment of suffrage prisoners, particularly those of my own class, who are suffering far greater
measures of cruelty. But our debate on these issues today was friendly.

14th February 1910
    I can hardly believe it! The Liberals have won the election, with the support of the Labour party. Perhaps this will force them to take notice of the women’s issue.
    Celia told me that her grandmother doesn’t want her to get involved with any political organizations. I tried to persuade her just to come along and hear what it’s all about, but she
said she didn’t dare go against her grandmother.
    20th February 1910
    I believe Mrs Pankhurst is also troubled by the fact that this bill is so narrow, but she is keeping quiet because she does not want to upset the apple cart. She is determined
that, one way or another, a bill will go through. Her policy is to think practically. Once the vote has been won for a few women, it will pave the way for the rest of us. If it goes through I
shan’t cheer too loudly because ALL WOMEN OF EIGHTEEN AND OLDER should be allowed to vote.

17th April 1910
    Mother has been released from hospital! At last! I went in a hansom to collect her and we travelled back to the East End together.
    “Please stay a while at Flora’s?” I begged as we approached the slums.
    She shook her head.
    “You have nothing to worry about,” I assured her. I reminded her of the money I shall receive when I am 21, and I promised, as I always do, that I will look after her. I offered
again to move her to comfortable lodgings.
    Her response was a shrug. “This is where I belong,” she answered.
    At least my brothers were there to greet her and welcome her home. But I left feeling troubled.

7th May 1910
    The most unexpected news yesterday was the death of our king, Edward VII. He was not a supporter of our work and some say that he positively encouraged the government’s
decision to begin force-feeding, so I do not feel a great desire to mourn.
    Visited Mother. She seems settled back at home but it worries me that the lack of comfort will make her sick again.
    20th May 1910
    As a mark of respect for the King, the mammoth peaceful suffrage demonstration that had been scheduled for the 28th of this month has been postponed until Sunday 18th June.
    Saw Mother today. She was in one of her difficult moods. I think I grew over-enthusiastic again about my work with the WSPU. She retorted with dismissives about what she describes as “the
crowd” I am involved with.
    “Education has got you nowhere, my girl,” she said to me. “Out in the streets with banners, ranting and raving about women’s rights. I don’t know what fancy notions
have got into that head of yours. A woman’s place is in the home with her family.”
    I sighed and attempted to explain again. “You were the one who sent me away. You were the one who thought that an education would give me opportunities.”
    “Yes, but I didn’t think it would fill your head with all this nonsense and make you dress la-di-da. I hope you’re not getting yourself into trouble with all your talk about
women in prison. If I thought…”
    “I am fighting for you!”
    “But what’s the point, Dollie? I don’t vote.”
    “Because you don’t have the right to, Mother.”
    “But even if I did, I wouldn’t. What damned difference would it make to the likes of me? Poor is poor, whoever is running the show.”
    “Not necessarily! Think how different your life might have been