| Main Performers | Mr W H Dickinson (Chairman),
Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith,
Sir W Angus (President of the National Liberal Federation),
Mr Winston Churchill,
Mr David Lloyd George - speakers |
| Set List | Singing of battle songs,
Welcome (Mr W H Dickinson),
'He's a Jolly Good Fellow' (organ, audience),
Speech (Mr Asquith),
'He's a Jolly Good Fellow' (organ, audience),
Resolution - 'That this meeting thanks Mr Asquith for his address, records its unabated confidence in his leadership, and pledges itself to support him to the utmost in resisting the Lords' attack upon the rights of the representative Chamber, and in establishing, once and for all, the principle that in all matters of national policy the will of the poeple, as expressed through the House of Commons, shall prevail.' (Sir W Angus - seconded, Mr Fenwick MP),
Vote of Thanks (Mr David Lord George - seconded, Mr J W Benn MP),
'He's a Jolly Good Fellow' (organ, audience),
Speech (Mr Winston Churchill) |
| Performance Notes | This was the debut appearance of Winston Churchill at the Royal Albert Hall.
"The Albert Hall last night presented a scene which might well have stirred the heart of the most practised campaigner in politics. The 10,000 persons gathered there were all men - itself a circumstance which, however it may be accounted for, gives a political meeting a grim aspect of strength and resolution. Black coats and dark faces filled all the great space between the platform and the remote doors in the arena, the red curtains of the three tiers of boxes and stalls which rise above one another nearly to the roof stood out in solitary brilliance among more black coats and masculine faces there; and then, in the highest gallery of all, there was another similar mass to that which filled the arena and the boxes, but again without the red curtains or other colour to make up for the absence of those feminine hats and dresses which sometimes mitigate the severity of political meetings. There was only one motto hung in the immense hall, and that was extended from wall to wall over the Chairman's table so that it could be read by every one present - 'Shall the people be ruled by the Peers?''
(The Times 11 December 1909)
The Times notes that, '...there were three slight interruptions in the course of the speech of the Prime Minister.' These came first from a man trying to unfurl a sheet with large letters written on it near to the platform who was ejected immediately before he succeeded. A second man shouted about votes for women. 'It is reported that a woman disguised as a telegraph messenger attempted to enter Albert Hall last night in order to interrupt Mr Asquith, but was stopped near the door.'
Mr Asquith's speech lasted an hour.
Among those on the platform were the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Lord Chancellor, Mr Birrell MP, Lord Crewe, Mr Sydney Buston MP, Mr Winston Churchill MP, Lord Carrington, Mr L Harcourt MP, Lord Wolverhampton, Mr Runciman MP, Mr Samuel MP, Mr Gladstone MP, Mr McKenn MP, Mr J Burns MP, the Attorney General (Sir W Robson), Lord Althorp, Mr C F G Masterman MP, Mr J McKinnon Wood MP, Lord Lucas, Dr Macnamore MP, Mr G Lambert MP, Mr H J Tennat MP, Captain Norton MP, Mr J A Pease MP, Mr Fuller MP, Sir J Dalzeil MP, Mr T Lough MP, Sir John Benn MP, Sir W Foster MP, Mr R K Causton MP, Mr C Fenwick MP, Sir W Collins MP, Mr E Wason MP, Lord Courtney of Penwith, Lord MacDonnell, Lord Glantawe, Mr A H Dyke Acland, Lord Marchamley.
"On December 10, (Suffragette) Jessie Kenney, disguised as a messenger boy, tried to get into a Liberal rally at the Albert Hall, where Asquith was speaking. The police, knowing Jessie well, were suspicious when they noticed her unmanly hands, and she was soon recognised and hastily turned away when a tress of her hair escaped from under her cropped wig.' (The Militant Suffragettes by Antonia Raeburn)
"ALL WOMEN were banned from this meeting including the wives of Cabinet Ministers." (The Times, 3 December 1909)
"ALBERT HALL DEMONSTRATION.
An enormous banner, measuring 120ft by 16ft, will be a striking feature at the Liberal demonstration in the Royal Albert Hall to-night. In letters 5ft deep will be displayed the words, "Shall the people be ruled by the Peers?" the motto hanging in front of the organ above the speakers' heads.
Underlined in red ink, at the top of the programmes, is the instruction, "Will the audience kindly keep their seats in case of interruption?" An army of several hundred stalwart stewards will be scattered about the building, and these have detailed orders as to the most expeditious manner of getting any disorderly person out. Without a ticket nobody will be able to approach the hall, and large numbers of police will be on duty."
(The Daily Telegraph, 10 December 1909)
"SUFFRAGIST RUSE.
WOMAN AS TELEGRAPH MESSENGER.
Despite the heavy downpour of rain large crowds assembled outside the Albert Hall last night. The Suffragists turned out in large forces, and in contingents of between twelve and twenty marched round the hall several times, distributing pamphlets advocating their cause. Each woman wore round her hat a band inscribed with the words "Votes for Women." Shortly before the arrival of the Prime Minister the police cleared the footway in front of the main entrance. Immediately this was done the Suffragists proceeded in a body across the road and lined up on the parapet by the Kensington Gardens railings, singing "The Marseillaise" on the way.
Later a clever ruse on their part to gain admission to the body of the hall almost succeeded. A young woman attired as a telegraph messenger succeeded in passing the janitors and was walking directly towards the Press table, when the Suffragist was discovered in the presence of a large number of people, who laughed heartily at her discomfiture. She was immediately ejected from the hall. The young woman's hair was rolled up underneath and concealed in the cap she was wearing.
At the conclusion of the meeting two members of the Women's Social and Political Union [WSPU] obtained an entrance to the corridor nearest to the speakers' room, and as Mr Asquith was coming out they approached him, shouting "Votes for Women," and saying "Practise what you preach; put your Liberal principles into practice." Mr Asquith made no reply and quickly hurried away."
(The Daily Telegraph, 10 December 1909)
The previous day (10 December) the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) better known as the Suffagettes, had held as meeting in the Hall to welcome Mrs Pankhurst back from America. Following this meeting several Suffragettes hid themselves around the Royal Albert Hall in the hope of remaining in the building overnight and into the next day so that they could interrupt this meeting:
"SUFFRAGISTS IN HIDING.
EJECTED FROM ALBERT HALL.
Another instance of woman's persistency was afforded yesterday in connection with the Liberal meeting in Albert Hall addressed by Mr Asquith. On Thursday night the Women's Social and Political Union [WSPU] met there to welcome Mrs Pankhurst on her return from America. It would appear that six at least of the Suffragists in attendance on that occassion bestowed themselves in varius dark corners and hiding-places in order to present at the Liberal demonstration and to interrupt proceedings by raising their particular war cries. However, after the women's meeting had terminated, and Mrs Pankhurst and her friends had gone away, the firemen and other custodians of the hall, on making their rounds to see that all was clear and safe, found them all. Two were brought out from behind pillars and curtains, and two others from near the organ, one having screened herself behind the pipes. Another was discovered near a trap-door in a slumber-room, and finally, towards morning, the sixth was found, owing to the sagacity of the watchman's dog, artfully ensconced behind a curtain.
In accordance with instructions, all the captured women were permitted to leave, no charge being preferred by the attendants. During the course of yesterday forenoon and afternoon a very careful and complete search was made from roof to basement of the hall, but evidently there were no more Suffragists in hiding.
The Liberal organisers charged with the preservation of order were early in attendance at the Albert Hall yesterday afternoon. Before four o'clock over 100 stewards had arrived and been "told off" to their respective posts. Later on others - in all about 400 - presented themselves, and, under Mr Rattey, or the Liberal Offices, Parliament-street, were assigned to their stations, and received their instructions. Until the specified hour no one except those in authority was permitted to enter the hall."
(The Daily Telegraph, 11 December 1909) |
| Related Archival Material | 'Illustrated London News' illustration of the meeting (RAHE/9/1909/1/OS) and a page from 'The Sketch' of Suffragette, Jessie Kenney who tried to gain admittance dressed as a Telegraph-Boy. (RAHE/9/1909/1) |