Show BRITONS PROMISE WOMEN FRANCHISE PLEDGE tentatively GIVEN B BRITISH PREMIER IN SPEECH BEFORE COMMONS threat of women to refuse to recognize any change in franchise in favor of fighting men has ha its effect london the decision ol of the cabinet that the undertaking ol of new franchise and registration reforms in the midst of a great war was too complex and controversial a problem was announced iby by premier asquith in the house of commons on monday at a time said the premier when the war had reached a happy promising stage and when it more than ever required the absolute concentration of the gov ern eminent ment it was impossible to consider the large questions involved in a revision of the franchise lie he further implied that any new bill for franchise reforms in the future must of necessity include women after a brief criticism by sir edward carson who urged that every combatant irrespective of age was entitled to vote and contended there was no reason why the women claims should stand in the way ot of giving all combatants a vote the house passed the first reading of the bill extending the life of the present parliament tor for eight months A separate bill bringing into force a new register on the basis of present qualifications on may 21 next will te introduced in the house there is no doubt that one of the main reasons for the governments avoidance of the fran franchise q hise problem was the threat 0 of the women that they would refuse to recognize any change in the franchise in favor of fighting men which tailed failed at the same time to recognize rights to the franchise |