Bagley Wood, Oxford *
3rd May 1907

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE WIMBLEDON DIVISION OF SURREY

Gentlemen:
I come before you primarily as a supporter of the proposal to
GRANT THE SUFFRAGE TO WOMEN
on the same terms as to men. I consider that the exclusion of women from direct political action is unjust and inexpedient, and that no reason exists for prolonging this exclusion. If elected, I should urge the claims of women to enfranchisement at every opportunity.

Subject to the particular claims of this question, I shall, if elected, be a supporter of the present Government. In particular, I consider the
MAINTENANCE OF FREE TRADE ESSENTIAL
to the prosperity of the United Kingdom, and I believe that the imposition of preferential duties in favor of Colonial produce must raise the cost of living and tend to the disruption of the Empire, while a protective must foster trusts and promote political corruption.

The proper complement of Free Trade is, in my opinion, the
TAXATION OF LAND VALUES
which would, I believe, affect very beneficially the development of suburbs, and remove the heavy burden on industry which is caused by the present rates. As a preliminary to this measure,
I SHOULD STRONGLY URGE THE PASSING OF A VALUATION BILL
by which the value of land should be estimated apart from that of houses and other improvements.

I am in favor of a UNIVERSAL SCHEME OF OLD AGE PENSIONS
which I hope to see carried out by the present Government.

I am
Yours Faithfully,
Bertrand Russell

Committee Rooms
9 Victoria Crescent
Broadway
Wimbledon


*  “To the Electors of the Wimbledon Division of Surrey,” Election Campaign Leaflet, 1907, Repr. The Collected Papers of Bertrand Russell, vol. 12