440 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



from various constituencies indicate that they polled in about 

 the same number as men. 



There is, of course, no record as to the way they voted — 

 a fact which the statistician may regret. But three deductions 

 may be drawn from the existing evidence. (I) There were 

 several strong women candidates, but only two women were 

 returned, and those already Members of the last Parliament. 

 Women are therefore not inclined to vote for women ; and 

 two or three women canvassers have more than confirmed 

 this, by telling the writer that in their experience the average 

 woman voter is distinctly prejudiced against the woman 

 candidate. (" She don't know any more about politics than 

 I do ; she only wants to join a man's club, the hussy ! " was one 

 typical and surely libellous objection to an admirable female 

 candidate.) (II) The average woman has no political traditions. 

 If she does not follow her husband (or make her husband follow 

 her) she plumps for the man, not the party. This probably 

 accounts for bad candidates everywhere being beaten — a fact 

 which every political headquarters will have to note care- 

 fully. (Ill) The re-emergence of temperance questions (local 

 option, prohibition, licensing hours) is directly due to the 

 woman's vote. Several candidates, fully primed with " health 

 and home " matters, have admitted that " mother-and-baby 

 speeches " fell flat at their meetings for women, but they were 

 badly heckled by the ladies about drink restrictions. It is 

 clear that the working-class woman hates the public-house, and 

 likes her man to drink at home — or, better still, to add to the 

 housekeeping money. This is obviously a permanent factor 

 that will affect future elections. And it may eventually affect 

 indirect taxation. 



On the other hand, women have shown little apparent 

 interest in public in the divorce laws, but most Members have 

 been asked privately to facilitate reform in this direction. 

 Most candidates are rather timid in this matter, partly from 

 ignorance of the subject, partly from fear of the Church ; but 

 experience indicates that women generally resent the existing 

 divorce law, and will disregard the Church in this matter. 



B. — The voting figures (excluding uncontested seats, and 

 universities, where the plural franchise still exists) are : 



Conservative .... 5,361,650 



Labour ..... 4,225,823 



Liberal ..... 2,570,316 



National Liberal . . . 1,548,286 



Independent .... 343,890 



But when a seat is uncontested, it is reasonable to assume 

 that 60-70 per cent, of the voters will poll for the unopposed 



