But, like I told you before, it's a libel to say it's only the well-off women wot's wantin' the vote. Wot about the 96,000 textile workers? Wot about the Yorkshire tailoresses? I can tell you wot plenty o' the poor women think about it. I'm one of them, and I can tell you we see there's reforms needed. We ought to 'ave the vote (jeers), and we know 'ow to appreciate the other women 'oo go to prison fur tryin' to get it fur us!
(With a little final bob of emphasis and a glance over shoulder at the old woman and the young one behind her, she seems about to retire, but pauses as the murmur in the crowd grows into distinct phrases. "They get their 'air cut free." "Naow they don't, that's only us!" "Silly Suffragettes!" "Stop at 'ome!" "'Inderin' policemen—mykin' rows in the streets!")
Voice (louder than the others). They sees yer ain't fit t'ave——
Other Voices. "Ha, ha!" "Shut up!" "Keep quiet, cawn't yer?" (General uproar.)
Chairman. You evidently don't know what had to be done by men before the extension of the Suffrage in '67. If it hadn't been for demonstrations of violence——
(His voice is drowned.)
Working Woman (coming forward again, her shrill note rising clear). You s'y woman's plyce is 'ome! Don't you know there's a third of the women o' this country can't afford the luxury of stayin' in their 'omes? They got to go out and 'elp make money to p'y the rent and keep the 'ome from bein' sold up. Then there's all the women that 'aven't got even miseerable 'omes. They 'aven't got any 'omes at all.
Noisy Young Man. You said you got one. W'y don't you stop in it?
Working Woman. Yes, that's like a man. If one o' you is all right, he thinks the rest don't matter. We women——