The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-28
HARLEM HOOTS SUFFRAGETTES
"VOTES FOR WOMEN" CAUSE GETS
SCANT COURTESY UPTOWN.
Mrs. BOrrmAn Wells and Mrs. Batch Jeered
When They Try to Make street Corner
Speeches Reserves Out to Keep order
After the Women Had Been cried Down.

When They Try TO Make street Corner
Speeches Reserves Out to Keep order
After the Women Had Been cried Down.
The sunngettes held their first open air
meeting in Harlem last night at i2Sth street
and Seventh avenue. As soon as Mrs.
Loeblnger mounted the grandStand a crowd
began to collect and within fifteen minutes
its number had swelled to nearly 1900.
The Harlemites were evidently not In
the mood 10 listen TO a discussion OF women's
rights and when Mrs. Borrman Wells
mounted the grand stand a hundred voice
shouted. Get the hook
Mrs. Wells didn't seem TO mind and went
right on to tell them that they ought to
be ashamed OF the way in which they had
been governing the country and that their
denial Of the vote TO women had recoiled
on their own heads in the form OF wage
cutting.
See The Merry Widow hat, chorused
the crowd.
Mrs. Wells then had something to say
about New York tenement houses and added
that the conditions Of life therein we're
producing degenerates whom the tax
payers had TO support in institutions.
These remarks we're followed by a per-
feet storm Of catcalls and Kisses, and the
crowd surged forward, fairly p~recipitating
themselves on the grand stand. which was
a soap box, and knocking several wearers
Of the yellow button Of their feet.
"Ah, | see you pay attention when
speak Of something that touches your
pocketbooks,' said Mrs, Wells,
After that the speeches resolved them
selves into a mere dumb show.
Mrs. Wells, whose voice has more carry
ing power and moro endurance than that OF
any American sunraRette. retained the
platform for ten minutes longer and shouted
at the top of her lungs, but nothing could
be heard but groans and Kisses, demands
for the hook and questions as to why she
didn't give another hat a chance TO talk.
At intervals OF about a minute the crowd
repeated its stampede toward the centre,
and each time the rush assumed larger
proportions and increased in violence.
Occasionally the two policemen who
we're on duty managed 70 make a large
enough wedge to drag out one or two OF
the toughest Of the attacking party. but
their presence produced only a momentary
effect. The yells and hisses and personal
remarks about the speakers we're resumed
right under their very noses, and the
screams Of women who were afraid that
they would be trampled on became more
frequent,
The yellow b]uttoners looked ~pleadingly
at Mrs. Wells, but she insisted that the
women's Progressive Union should not
retreat before the enemy.
Mrs. Harot Stanton Batch then made
an attempt to conciliate the crowd by tell
ing them that she had seven brothers and
that she adored boys. IL was OF no use.
They only yelled the louder and made
another rush, apparently for the purpose
Of compelling the speaker to give up, but
she stood her ground.
She talked and talked and talked, but no
one heard more than an occasional word
that she said. When she finally retreated
a wild cheer went up, which increased In
volume az Mrs. Loebinger again mounted
the platform.
Swing around, Mabel, SOS we can look
at you they began.
When Mrs. L~oebinger managed to intro
duce Josephine Casey Of Chicago they
emitted shrieks Of delight, Strike her
out!' they yelled,
But they didn't do it. Not a bit OF it.
She was a slight, pale little woman with a
firm mouth, and she didn't mind a bit when
they called for the hook. She managed to
tell them that she was a trade unionist.
but that that fact was not sufficient to
secure for her proper conditions OF labor
or adequate wages.
The Harlemites had made up their minds
that there should be no more PRONUNCIATION
of sufragette sentiments on their territory
and they enforced their decision by a COM
bination Of the methods which they had
previously employed.
Mrs. Wells created a diversion by cross
! ing the street and taking up her stand on
| a pile OF dirt just a little below the Alham-
bra Music Hall. She managed 10 make
the announcement that another meeting
would be held at the same time and place
| on Monday evening next before her voice
vas drowned by the yells Of her hearers
Policeman Baer, seeing that the affair
had grown too big to be handled by two
men. sent to the West l25th street station
for reserves, which arrived In a few mo-
ments under charge Of Sergt McNulty
The police had a hard time getting things
In order, as several Of the toughs put up a
stiff fight.
Mrs. Loebinger, who in the absence OF
| Mrs. Commander was the chairman OF the
meeting, was escorted TO a westbound
l25th street car by fifty Harlemites and a
policeman. As soon as she was safely on
board she attempted to make a speech
from the rear platform. but was quickly
silenoed.
Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Blatch, not fortunate
enough to be protected by an oficer Of the
law, Jared rather badly. A crowd Of
toughs followed them as they walked east,
bound for the LenoK avenue subway,
and succeeded after repeated attempts in
tripping Mrs. Wells up. She lay for a
moment on the sidewalk, half stunned
with fright. When she had been helped 70
her feet by a repentant enemy It was
discovered that she had sustained no worse
injury than a few bruises.
Mrs. Blatch said that although she was
not thrown down she had been kicked
several times in the scufie and had also
received bruises. The crowd followed the
two women down the subway steps laugh
ing and jeering.