The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-21
British Suffagette Leader Is
Given Hearty Welcome
WILL STUDY SITUATION
Mrs. Pankhurst Displays Medal She
Earned by Serving Term in
Prison But She Stoutly De-
fends British Methods.

New York, October DA quiet little
group of New York women, bearing BAN
ners labeled votes for women,' stood on
the wharf of the White Star line tonight
and welcomed to America Mrs. Emmeline
Gould Pankhurst of Manchester, Eng
land, the leader of the militant suffra
gettes of Great Britain.
In accordance with the rulings of the
customs authorities, less than 20 persons
were admitted on the dock and the re-
ception of the little woman who has
served two terms of imprisonment for her
activity in the cause, was devoid of
clamor and smacked nothing of the milit-
ant methods of which Mrs Pankhurst has
been sponsor. Immediately she set foot
upon the shore she was whisked away
by her admirers and supporters of the
cause in this country to the suffragette
headquarters at SOP Fifth avenue.
Mrs. Pankhurst is slight of stature and
has wealth of brown hair which is just
turning gray.
She looked typical English woman
and was dressed becomingly in dress
of dark material.
Il am coming to America She said to
the reporters. Ito speak on the subject of
equal rights for women and to study
the situation in this country | think we
are away ahead Of you in this natter
AS she talked Mrs. Pankhurst displayed
a little medal she wore and explained
that 1t was a distinguishing mark worn
by those English women who have peeu
2 "a h.
Il suffered confinement, she continued
''and had only one hour of exercise out
( of the "a. During the other 2s was con-
fined in a little cell eight by ten feet.
wore the regular prison garb, too but
l did not bring this costume to New
York with me-
"The movement is progressing satisfac-
toriy in England. We have pledges
from practically two-thirds of the mem
bers of parliament to vote for us as soon
as a bill is prepared by the government.
We expect sooner or later to compel the
government to introduce the bill just
when this will come to pass 1 am not
prepared to say"
Mrs. Pankhurst stoutly defended mill
tant tactics. "All great movements have
been worked out by violence" she said
'1'he American people secured their lib
erty by violence, so why not rush the
House of Commons to obtain what we
regard as our rights The ballot granted
| TO women will make them more independ-
! ent and on the whole much better cit
izens''
| Don't you think there would be cor
| rupt women politicians and women ward
| heelers'?'' Mrs. Pankhurst was asked
| She laughed outright. Then, after a
| pause she said:
We'll, / don't think II could make poll
! tics any worse, at any rate
! Mrs. Panlkhurst declared she had been
| suffragette as long as she could re-
member. She had gone to meetings in
favor of the emancipation OF women when
she was only IA years of age, accompa-
MED by her mother, who herself was
an ardent advocate or the cause.
| Mrs. Pankhurst will remain in the
| United States until November 3 but will
not be able to get far west Colo
rado where woman suffrage is being
| tried. She will speak at Boston Friday
and Worcester, Mass. Saturday, return
ing to New York Sunday for a reception
by the national and New York Stale
| Suffrage associations.
| On Monday night next she will appear
at Carnegie hall and deliver an address
before what will probably be the largest
| audience she has faced in her career.
| The box-holders will include Judge e.
H Gary, Mrs o. II. P. Belmont. herself
a suffragette leader of note. and others.
Lady Cook (Tennessee Clafiin). suffra-
gette who does not favor militant meth
| DDS, is also expected to attend.