Letter from Caroline Phillips to Mrs Allan
WriterWritten by
Caroline Phillips
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1874 - 1956)
AssociatedAssociated with
Janie Allan
(Glasgow, Scotland, 1868 - 1968)
AssociatedAssociated with
Press & Journal
(Aberdeen, Scotland, founded 1747)
AssociatedAssociated with
Evening Express
(Aberdeen, Scotland, founded 1879)
Date28 November 1907
Object NameLetter
Mediumpaper and ink
ClassificationsSocieties
Dimensions26.5 × 20.8cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1988.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS082707
About MeThis is part of a collection of documents relating to Caroline Phillips (1874-1956), an Aberdonian journalist who was involved in the women's suffrage movement. The collection contains important correspondence between Phillips and key leaders in the suffrage movement, including Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst.28th Nov. l907
Dear Mrs Allan,
Mr Asquith has been dealt with so very effectively by the WSPU in various centres of political activity that our Aberdeen WSPU are in the mood to leave him severely alone. Sally Ramsay expressed our sentiments in such plain terms the other evening we feel we have contributed a sufficient share towards the disillusioning process so far as he's concerned. Other work we have on hand is moreover very fully occupying our attention.
There is some talk of women being excluded from Asquith mtg. in case of suffragette 'outbreaks'. I am not speaking with complete authority but I think that we as a Union will readily agree to keep away altogether, if other women here are to be thus punished on our account. Your Liberal leaders many of them have proposed friendliness & sympathy towards Women's Suffrage. Why then do they so persistently ignore the subject in their speeches? Having pledged themselves to it when do they not meet the question in their public utterances so that the country may be educated as to its significance?
Apart from the injustice — according to Liberal principles of withholding the vote from women it is surely the duty of Liberal Statesmen to initiate reforms & go forward to meet its own ideals, really great statesmen have always done so. Recent events have most plainly shown it to be the duty of Liberal Women to indicate in no uncertain terms that they deserve the subject to be dealt with on Liberal platforms. I would therefore urge you to send a requisition to that effect to Mr Asquith in a way he could with difficulty ignore. If you do this in Aberdeen you will have done well for the movement. There may be developments between
now and then which may compel us to take other decided action and meanwhile I have indicated our humour towards Mr Asquith & my own responsibility.
Truly you will do this at least for the cause.
With best wishes for success
I am your sincerely
CWP
Caroline Phillips
Caroline Phillips
