The Washington herald., 1909-11-06

We can make ourselves nuisance, an
intolerable nuisance.
That is the whole gist Of practical poll
tics"
And then. Mrs. Pankhurst. the English
suffragette. went into the details of the
struggle OF the English women for suf-
frage In "A way which charmed and
amused d representative Washington audi
ence last evening.
Mrs. Pankhurst delivered lecture on
why women want to vote" at the old
Masonic Temple, under the auspices Of
the District Woman Suffrage Associa-
ton.
Capuvnted Her Audience.
AS Mrs. Pankhurst tripped up the aisle
OF the old hall in an empire gown OF pale
lavender velvet. she might have stepped
out Of en- old picture by one OF
the famous masters. She won the
support Of her audience the moment
she turned to greet 1t with a shy
composure, in which there was not a
trace OF the "man-pose." which perhaps
half OF her audience had been expecting
She curls her hair quite like other peo-
pie. wears elaborate jewelry, and a gown
Of a late cut.
She won the interest and admiration OF
her hearers and generally their SYM
PATTY by her absolute simplicity OF
speech and bearing. Her voice was sell
dom raised, always clear and there was
not an Ineffective word IN her talk Her
account OF suffrage in England as 1t has
so far progressed was clear and con-
secutive. She aimed to give a complete
picture, and she gave IL.
In the audience there was n liberal
sprinkling of men. and one man. William
+. Guide, president OF the Chamber Of
Commerce had the temerity TO sit upon
the platform with half dozen ladies'.
Mrs. Pankhurst related an incident
which was power I'm bringing about the
first suffrage movement in the early SOS
In Manchester. England, it's birthplace
a question Of the law on the subject of
vaccination arose. IL seems there is a
law IN England which grants the parents
the right 10 withhold vaccination from
their children II the court thinks the
parents views justihable
Brought Son TO Court.
The mother brought her son into court
The judge said.
Who are YOU. madam"
Il am the childs mother" she replied
NfAs NNAA gNU must ltLAl IT anu kel lLlt
child's legal parent TO come here 10
discuss this matter with me before 1
can consider It," was his rather remark
able rejOindcr-
IL then appeared, although the law used
the word person" a woman was only
a person under the law. so far as its
pains and penalties went When il came
70 the rights and privileges of the law,
as IN this instance. she was not person.
Only when she broke the law could she
be granted the right 10 serve a sentence
as a person.
Ever since women have been trying
70 be persons" said Mrs. Pankhurst
In speaking Of the fifty years that Eng
Ash women have tried patience and per-
suasiOn, and the comparatively few years
IN which they nave tried militant meth
DDS. Mrs. PankhUrst said. Whatever we
have OF have not done for woman suf-
frage. we have forced the issue TO the
foremost point in practical British poll
tics We have the biggest political party
IN England to-day, the biggest political
offices of any party i'm the very center
Of government
we found, after we had tried persua-
sive methods for these fifty years. that
some other method must be tried And
we also found our treasury 10 contain
just 81 We sent Annie Kenny the fac
tory girl. with this 60 in her pocket, to
rouse London. And she reused It,"
The American audience was enthusiastic /
In their applause al this point.
Use Of Wits.
You men say that we use our wor,- !
ems wit to gain our points OF course. |
we do, and we shall use # until we gain
the vote 10 use in its stead. What else
is there for us?
ITO the gentlemen in the audience
will say this
you VIII be happier II you give your
women the vote before they ask for IL /
In looking around this world as men have
made Il. I do not see that things are
perfect You've only had oue-half Of the !
great mind at work so far-the father I
mind.
You need the mother mind too. In /
the home you have both, and there IS I
less error and dissenslon than the gov
erument Make the nation q home"
on the platform were Mrs Jessie Waite
Wright, president Of the Washington suf-
fragists; Mrs. Georgia Ferguson. pastor
OF the Peoples Church. Mrs CasweH /
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