The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-25
AMERICANS UNJUST,
SAYS SUPFRAGETTE
Mrs. Rachel Avery Lauds Her
English Sisters.
PRAISES MEN OF THE WEST
wOmen's Political Rights Advocate
Asserts that Children Will BE Neg
lected Unless Suffrage Is Granted
Mothers = starvation striISe'' in
London JaiIs Caused by Poor Food.

Americans are more unjust than the
citizens Of Europe. the English suffra-
gettes are warranted in their outbursts
against the London police, and the IA
nous starvation strike is caused by the
quality Of the food served in English
jails. according 20 Mrs. Rachel f. Avery,
vice president of the National Woman
Suffrage Association. who is stopping in
Washington for a few days.
Mrs. Avery is making her home at the
headquarters OF the association, al 1873
II street northwest. She has Travelled. as
secretary TO the international association,
in all parts Of the world in the interest
OF women's political rights.
THE work of American suffrage in
America" she said. as progressing
faster In the West than in the East; at
least should so suppose from personal
observation. In Seattle the working and
business men Of the town are unani-
morsly arrayed In the cause Of women.
sympathy with Women.
Regarding the trouble in England I
must say that my sympathies are with
the women leading the suffrage move
ment. Not that I would care 10 intro
duce such methods into America, for I
do not think they would accomplish any
thing here.
I'm England the women lighting for
their sex have a political majority in the
House Of Parliament and have had Il
for eighteen years. Enough members IN
both houses have promised to support
the suffrage bill to pass it when # comes
up for a vote. Yet these men-these
avowed supporters OF women's rights
will allow members OF the opposition to
arise time after time when the bin comes
Up and talk the measure down.
Those opposing II can send il TO the
foot OF the list OF new bills in a single
day by simple discussing II. It has never
been allowed 10 come 20 a vote Such a
condition Is maddening. Il Is impossible
for women TO stand such treatment for
ever
They have been accused OF breaking
the law by their 'riotous demonstrations
against the House OF Parliament As a
matter Of fact II Is the government
which Is breaking the law by preventing
them from seeing the prime minister.
whose duty Il IS 70 receive all deputa-
lions Of citizens calling upon him. Their
methods. are. 10 my mind the only
methods which can be pursued under the
circumstances.
The London policemen. I am told by
friends on the scene, who intimately
know conditions. are IN favor of the
womens movement While they are not
allowed by their Office 70 aid the women
in the demonstration, they are really IN
sympathy with them and the reports
concerning the brutalities practiced on
both sides I firmly believe are false.
1T is ridiculous TO suppose that the
women In English prisons who are set
free because OF their starving themselves
20 death. do this premeditatively. Those
who have been released have announced
as their first move on getting in power
the changing Of conditions IN the Eng
lish jails II is probable the impossible
quality Of feed served 20 them IS re-
sponsible for the failure on the part OF
the prisoners 10 thrive"
Americans Termed Unjust.
Mrs. Avery is hypercrItical regarding the
treatment Of women in America L be-
Heve," she said, that Americans are
more unjust to women than the citizens
OF any European nation. Women in this
country are given less political consid-
Grafton than those in any other country
l know Of Just why this should be /
cannot say. unless II Is because the
American citizen has not yet arisen to
the appreciation 4 the other sex in the
manner Of his European brother
Even in London, where the present
crisis is at it's height, the women are
granted municipal suffrage. Even there
they are allowed 20 vote on questions re-
lating 70 their own district.
Il believe that when the suffrage ques-
ton Is treated sensibly by American men
will at once become notice
able IN our civic conditions. Until we
have suffrage. the greatest condition az
law-the raising of the child-will remain
as II Is to-day, unjustly neglected"