Page:The Feminist Movement - Snowden - 1912.djvu/130

 which provided that in the interpretation of Acts of Parliament 'words importing the masculine gender shall be held to include the feminine unless the contrary is expressly provided'; the Municipal Corporations Act, of 1882, which contained the following clauses: Sec. 63. 'For all purposes connected with and having reference to the right to vote at Municipal Elections, words in this Act imputing the masculine gender include women.' Sec. 11. 8. 'Every person shall be qualified to be elected and to be a councillor who is at the time of election qualified to elect to the office of councillor.' In 1888, the County Councils Act incorporated these two sections of the Municipal Corporations Act.

The appeal of the women was dismissed, all the judges agreeing that the Municipal Corporations Act, by specifically stating that 'feminine' applied only in regard to the right to vote, implied that, in the matter of being voted for, women were not eligible. The Lord Brougham Act was thus contemptuously tossed aside, making it, unhappily, of non-effect for the future. It is only since the Qualifying Act of 1907 that the right to be elected to a County Council as well as to vote has been held by women.

Another curious thing happened in 1899 which was responsible for a great deal of new-born enthusiasm for woman suffrage. It was