The Washington herald., 1908-07-02

stratiOn by the suffragettes.
For three or four hours a vast multitude
Of men and women besieged the House Of
Commons. Five thousand policemen had
their energies tested 70 the utmost 10
protect the precincts of Westminster
from the invasion. A small fleet of police
boats was stationed on the Thames 10
ward off attacks by water The land
forces. including all the mounted men OF
the metropolis, had the warmest time
since the Trafalgar Square riots. twenty
years ago.
1t was the largest assemblage seen in
Parliament Square and vicinity within
living memory. II was not a violent dem
onstration. but those who took part in
IL were SO persistent that some rough
work was unavoidable, and the air was
filled from time 20 time with the shreks
and screams Of women who were being
crushed by the charges Of the police.
afoot and mounted.
There were many arrests. Those held
number twenty-nine. all women Two are
charged with breaking windows in Pre-
mier Asquth's official residence in Down
ing strv-t The others are charged with
obstrucung the police
Cnused by Mrs. PanIhurst.
This elimination Of the militant suf-
fragette partys agitation was the out
come Of Premier Asquith's suggestion
that the women Of England had not
shown any intense desire for the suffrage
Mrs. PankhurSts cohorts replied that
they would prove the contrary. They
met AT CcXton Hail this afternoon and
sent a delegation Of twelve women. Els.
Pankhurst at their head. to see Primo
Minister Asquith. lie refused to see them
and sent word 20 them to put their de-
mands In writing. They returned TO tha
hall with grim determination showing IN
their faces and hot words on their
tongues.
Mrs. Pankhurst declared that the hour
had come 20 show their strength.
Break All Records.
Mrs. Pethick Laurence said in an inn
FASHIONED speech that women had brok n
all records. IN 1884, women presented the
greatest petition Parliament had ever
known. on June 10. of this ,,Aor tbep|
had held the largest public meeting in
Albert Hall that had ever been held. and
on June p they organized the most i'm
pressive demonstration that ever appealed
10 any people or any government She
added that they would produce another
record tonight They kept their word.
They went 10 Parliament Square nO3
in procession. for that would have been
a breach Of the old statute and subjected
all participants 20 a penalty Of three
months Imprisonment. They joined the
great mass of their sympathizers. who
were already Converging on the square,
but they found a forest Of black helmets
and battalions Of mounted police await
ing item The mob grew as by magic
until it not only packed the great square
but filled Westminster Bridge as far as
the Lambeth bank, blocked Whitehall TO
the Horse Guards, the army headquarters.
packed the Victoria embankment. and
thronged Victoria street for several
blocks.
All streets Packed,
As far as the eye could reach all the
minor converging streets we're simply
dense masses Of humanity. It was. in
fact, a crowd stupendous and unparalleled
among human assemblages, comprising,
as it did. n large proportion of women.
Suffragettes mingled with the crowd
trying TO leaven it with their propaganda.
but the question OF votes for women
seemed to be the last thing the majority
were concerned about They were at
tracted by the prospect of a scrlmmage.
Now and then. however. the suffragetteS
were able to show that IL was really a
vote seeking demonstration, groups OF
them shouting unitedly. Votes for
women" or starting to harangue the mob.
Their reception was sometimes enthusias-
tic, sometimes derisve but always good
humored and never hostile
Police Dash In.
Whenever these Incidents happened. the
police dashed in with smiling but un-
cOnquerable insstence, and dragged out
the demonstrators, while the crowd cheer
ed or hooted. as the humor took them
Some of the arrests were dramatic as
when woman STROBE to the police sta
ton between constables with the air OF
martyr going to the stake. but others
were rather pathetic. for some of the
women, who were in the tumult for the
first time. locked frightened and their
lips trembled.
SO far as can be ascertained. the leaders
did not enter the crowd, keeping care
fully clear so as 10 be free 10 control
future demonstrations. Only one suf-
fragette managed 70 enter the actual pre-
cincts Of Parliament. She Joined a group
Of Mattresses bound for the House of
Commons restaurant. but was detected
and bundled out before she passed the
doors. One woman in a boat approached
the terrace overlooking the Thames. and
began shouting Votes for women
through a megaphone.
WOmhn's Boat Captured.
A police boat Immediately tied a rope
20 the offenders boat and towed it 10
the middle OF the river The woman cut
the rope, rowed back. and again began
megaphoning. The police then seized her
oars and towed her boat under westmin-
ster bridge where she harangued the
mob through her megaphone.
While the tumult was at its height Mr.
Asquith. against whom the demonstration
was nominally directed, left the House of
Commons on foot. emerging on the en-