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Mr. Proudfoot (Centre Huron), who followed Dr. McQueen after waiting some time for a Government speaker to take up the cudgels, said he had hoped a question of such importance would have received some considera-- tion from the Government side of the House. ERither the silence of Gov-- ernment members was an assent to the principle of the bill or it would be voted down for reasons so inde-- fensible that no excuse was to be offered. He had always doubted if members on the Conservative _ sgide would make good their pre--election pledges to support a measure to give votes to women when brought up. There was no possible reason for the discrimination against women, and ifp municipal elections candidates for County Councils were glad 'efr--xv(ifi:gh. E«.) get the votes of the widows and spinsters to put them in office. Government Are Slow . Referring to women's influence on social questions, Dr. McQueen point-- ed out that the conditions affecting the employment of women and chil-- dren in factories had been greatly improved through the influence of women, and largely through their in-- strumentality had the bars been abolished in places where local option was in force. Position Indefensible. Dr. McQueen answered the criticism that women would not exercise the vote if they had it by referring to figures compiled in New -- Zealand. The first clection in which women voted 85.16 per cant. of those on the list used the franchise. The next election the number went up to 91.88 per cent. In Colorado the number of -- women voting was -- 80 per cent., and in --Wyoming 90 -- per cent. The better class of women were better qualified to vote than men who qualified under present registration conditions. The great mass of men who registered were the purchasable eclement in the elections in Ontario. The Government, he said, were so chockfull of prejudice and their old Conservative ideas that it would take them a long time to make up their mind to extend the franchise to wo-- men. "Tence against the rules of the I:I'ouse! and the rules of good breeding." _ ! n the resumed debate on the socond reading of the bill introduced by Mr. William MacDonald (Centre Bruce) to extend the Provincial fran-- chise to women entitled to vote at municipal elections, that is widows and spinsters, Dr. James A. McQueen (North Wentworth) said the whole question of extending the franchise to women in Ontario was in the air. One of the factors which had con-- tributed to bring about a high stand-- ard in public life was the high status that women occupied in social life. Cynics might say that the place for women was in the home, but he thought if a comparison were made in this regard between the men and the women, the much larger propor-- tion of men would be found absent from their homes, spending the leis-- vre time in clubs and other places of amugement and recreation. It was quite true, said Dr. McQueen, that many woinen indulged in social excesses. The suffragette movement in England was largely detrimental to the cause of the enfranchisement of women. Women Use the Ballot. O The Speaker said the same thing bad happened in the House before, but he hoped when it was understood! that any appfause from outsiders was forbidden the offence would not bhe repeated. Mr. MacDonald's Plea. "«ppealed to the common sense of the| members to see that the bill was giv-- en a substantial majority. Not yet did the Government make any attempt to reply, and Colonel T. R. Atkinson (Norfolk North) gcored| a few more points on behalf of the| Opposition. He thought the provi--! slons of the bill before the House| were quite moderate, and saw no rea-- son why the proposed _ legislation should not be advanced a stage. Government Silence Broken. Then the silence of the Conserva-- tives was broken. Sir James Whit-- ney said his own kindness of heart would not permit him to allow Mr. Proudfoot to suffer longer over the silence on the Government side of the House. So far no member who had spoken had addressed himself to the question before the Chair. Hon. gentlemen had talked platitudes and high abstract opinions on the gener-- al question of woman suffrage. "I would ask the Prime Minister if I did not confine myself pretty well to widows and spinsters," interrupted the mover of the bill, amd lavghter from Treasury and Opposition benches. Sir James thought that remark at any rate would identify the inten-- tions of his hon. friend. But the question of woman suffrage was much more important than the provisions of the bill before the House. Not on Property Basis. Referring to the provisions of the bill, the Prime Minister said that the municipal franchise had been given to widows and spinsters who owned property, because it was desirable that the property they owned should. be represented. The Parliamentary' framnchise did not rest upon that basis; therefore, if it was a good| thing, as it might be, to give women the municapal vote in respect of pro--. perty they held, was that any reaso.n} why they should be given the Par-- liamentary vote, with which prupertyl had nothing to do? It was well un--. derstood that legislation was enacted. at this time in response to public de-- mand, but, while there were & few individuals in Toronto asking for the vote, there was no general feeling throughout the Province that the Par-- liamentary franchise should. be ex-- iended to women. On the other hand, if there was a demand for adopting the principle of the bill, no 'reason had been given by hon. gentlemen opposite, and from that standpoint the passage of the bill would be an illogical act. In view of that circum-- stance, there was no duty upon the House to pass any bill into law."with reference to which there is no public demand whatever." The division was sixty--eight to eighteen. Liberals Support Principle. In the absence of Mr. J. C. Elliott (West Middlesex), who wired that his train was late, Mr. Rowell moved the western Ontario member's bill -- to amend the consolidated municipal act, which was defeated by 70 to 18. Mr. Rowell felt that no handicap or dis-- ability should be placed upon married women. The bill of Mr. Elliott was designed to remove the disability of coverture, and to give every married woman the same right to vote as widows and spinsters. The bill placed married women on the same basis as male persons, widows and spinsters with respect to the right to vote in Provincial _ elections. Mr. -- Rowell pointed out that throughout the Prov-- ince in voting for the Board of Edu-- cation both husband and wife were entitled to vote. He gave the analogy that if a farmer owned sufficient land to qualify himself and his son both might vote in municipal elections. If suflicient land was owned to qualify the farmer and two sons, all three might vote in municipal elections. He thought that was a good thing. He was in favor of anything in the na-- ture of a bonus to the farmer. In ap-- pealing for votes for married women he pointed out that if two strangers were joint owners of property they were both entitled to vote, and he san Referring to the bill introduced by Mr. Macdiarmid (Elgin West), Mr. no reason why two members of the same family, if they were joint owners, should not be accorded the same privi-- Different Bill. lege.