Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-04

II was not a loud. boisterous and un-
seemly crowd of suffragettes militant.
but a dignified. orderly and matronly
group OF Washingtons representative
women. that met Mrs. Enimeline Pank-
hurst. the leader of the English suffra-
gettes. on her arrival in this witty at the
Union station yesterday afternoon. There
were no cheers. no shouting, no unwom-
anly noise or demonstrations, but simply
a cordial. almost affectionate greeting. as
the noted English woman passed through
the great iron gates into the immense
lobby beyond where the trains arrive.
And Mrs. Pankhurst proved to be, not
the ''mannish'' woman that some have
affected to paint her. but quiet, digni-
fed, almost diminutive little person with
a sweet face on which smile seemed to
play continually.
II am here" she said. not TO stir up
the women of Washington to the doughty
deeds our home newspapers are fond of
crediting us with. Happily your Ameri-
can men all seem TO be gifted with a
courtesy and consideration for the weaker
sex which makes them at all times love-
able gentlemen. even though they may
not always agree with our notions of
what we believe TO be right. ! am come
because Washington is the capital Of
your great nation and no one should visit
your shores without seeing your chief
city. l am come also to tell Washing
tons good people of our movement abroad
to give them the facts and remove the
from fanciful newspaper reports of our
sacrifices for a high and worthy prin-
ciple.
What Men Fight For.
when men believe they are deprived
of a right that is inborn they go to war
about IL and fight with their deadly weap-
ons They are not ridiculed. but lauded
as heroes. But woman, poor woman, il
she dares assert her rights she is mis-
represented ridiculed and summarily
suppressed. We, too, have our methods
OF warfare. but they are not as brutal
as those of the men. i want to tell the
people of your good city and those | may
meet wherever ] go just what our meth
DDS are and why we have been forced to
adopt them. | want to tell them, too.
that We are going to win our fight and
get that coveted vote. ! want to tell
them the reasons which actIIate u.s. and
feel confident they will concede they are
both just and reasonable.
Il do not believe /: will ever be neces-
sary for American women to endure what
we English women have had to endure
We are weak in body, but strong i'll our
determination to have simple justice ac-
corded us. The worlds history shows
that millions Of lives have been sacri-
feed by men TO win what We contend for.
IL il be such a priceless boon to them.
why not TO us? To those who will listen
with fairness. not to our demands for a
right, but to the story of our wrongs that
make the vindication of that right i'm
perative. We will plead with soft voice.
intelligent argument, and back them up
with incontrovertible proofs of the JUS
tice and the expediency OF our claims
But i am not going TO make speech
now. You have asked my purpose In
coming TO your city and / nave tried III
a few words to tell YOU"
Suffrage Bound to Come.
Concerning this country. Mrs. Pank-
hurst said that the proposition TO give
| women the right OF the elective franchise
is daily gaining momentum and that pub
lie sentiment seems to be growing in
favor. of il. Ultimately womens suf
frage in your country is obliged to come. -
predicted Mrs. Pankhurst. and IL will be
q good thing for America. too. IL is one
of the most absurd things / have ever
heard OF that your women haven't the
right tn vote. There is every good reason
why they should exercise the full rights
of citizenship. through the franchise. and
none that l know of why they aren't just
as much entitled to IL as the men"
There was fire in the little woman 8
eyes she spoke that told of an energy
and determination behind, which might
well fit her TO lead any cause. just as her
gentle manner would command attention
| In any drawing room
Mrs. Pankhurst and her friend and COM
panion. Miss Pethick, sister of Mrs. Pc
thick lawrence the editor of the official
organ OF the English suffrag agettes. Votes
for Women" were greeted on their ar
rival by little group consisting Of Mrs.
A. l.. Barber and her daughter-in-law;
Mrs. Jessie w. Wright. president of the
4 S.,,$
NJ Gregory, president Of the Political
Study Club; Mrs. Anna +. Hendley. treas
| urer OF the district Womens Suffrage
Club: Mrs. Joel Hillman. former president
n Council. Mrs 4 NJ