Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/316

 The Moderates realized, though a little late that opposition to an address to Mr. Tilak would bring both defeat and bad repute; their chivalry and decency would be questioned. But the sentimental cry of simultaneous compulsory education to the boys and girls of Poona was catching. It did not matter that the taxable capacity of the Poona City Municipality did not allow an additional annual burden of Rs. 86,500. It did not matter that even in Western countries, when on economical grounds a choice had to be made, the compulsory education of boys usually preceded that of the girls. It did not even matter that Mr. Gokhale, the great apostle of moderation wanted to give free and compulsory education to boys first and to girls afterwards. The Moderates simply wanted to enjoy a little fun at the expense of the Nationalists who were in a majority in the City Municipality. The law demanded that the opposition must not exceed one- third of the total number of members. Taking advantage of this provision, the Moderates, " in defiance of precedence, prudence, practical wisdom and financial knowledge " of their own city were willing to see the education of a large number of boys neglected, because their opponents, the Nationalists could not guarantee the immediate education of all the girls in the city on account of financial difficulties.

The Moderates' concern for the free and compulsory education of girls at Poona was equalled by their keen desire for the free and unrestricted admission of peasant delegates to the Poona District Conference held at Junnar early in March (1920). Knowing that they would be in a minority at the Conference, the Moderates,